Prisons in the United States have an abundant amount of repeat offenders. Once released from incarceration, prisoners are returned to their communities to lead productive lives, however, a large percentage find themselves unprepared to deal with the challenges and hardships that come with the process of social reintegration. Many small towns, communities, and neighborhoods are hesitant in welcoming ex-prisoners and would prefer that they reside in other areas of town. Neighborhood associations often go so far as to put political pressure on their elected officials to keep ex-prisoners out of their community fearing an increased crime rate. Without support and guidance, released prisoners find it difficult blending into communities, and
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Each year in the United States 750,000 to 800,000 prisoners are released into society with up to 68% being arrested and re-incarcerated for a new crime or violating their parole conditions within three years of their release, and 43% of those are re-incarcerated in the first six to twelve months (Pettus-Davis, Scheyett and Lewis 3). Ireland, Europe, and Canada all have the same issues of repeat offenders that affect the United States, only at slightly lower rates (Pettus-Davis, Scheyett and Lewis 3). Even locally, with its population growing at record speeds, Texas has easily become the top state in which the prison system is seeing a high rate of returning repeat offenders (Duwe and Clark 2). Variations of social support solutions have been found to assist released offenders with their re-entry into society, all intent on helping them to avoid becoming repeat offenders who would return to an already overcrowded prison system. The common controversial issue associated with each solution surrounds funding sources. On the one hand, advocates question whether investing money in inmates is actually a savings to taxpayers; on the other hand, many insist a lack of adequate funding, jeopardizes the quality and …show more content…
In Texas, Bishop T.D. Jakes formed a partnership program called Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative (T.O.R.I) spanning five cities—Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio. T.O.R.I. is a one-year religious ministry program provided by licensed, professionally trained volunteers aiding in social services, housing and employment assistance, health care coverage, education opportunities, family reunification, and spiritual guidance. Ex-prisoners are paired with faith-based mentors and required to participate in monthly community service projects. To ensure a healthy lifestyle, health education, and other training programs are part of their re-entry program goals. Volunteers and mentors with T.O.R.I “passionately feel that providing solutions to the many barriers our ex-prisoners face...can reduce the rate of recidivism and slowly but surely build back the integrity of their families and provide a safe place for future generations to live”(“Bishop Jakes Texas Offenders” 1). The ministry has served more than 10,000 ex-prisoners with only a 9% recidivism rate compared to the national rate of 52%. Prisons utilizing faith-based mentor programs have seen fewer inmates returning, while the ex-prisoners are on track to a new lifestyle receiving help on
Each year in the United States 750,000 to 800,000 prisoners are released into society with up to 68% being arrested and re-incarcerated for a new crime or violating their parole conditions within three years of their release, and 43% of those are re-incarcerated in the first six to twelve months (Pettus-Davis, Scheyett and Lewis 3). Ireland, Europe, and Canada all have the same issues of repeat offenders that affect the United States, only at slightly lower rates (Pettus-Davis, Scheyett and Lewis 3). Even locally, with its population growing at record speeds, Texas has easily become the top state in which the prison system is seeing a high rate of returning repeat offenders (Duwe and Clark 2). Variations of social support solutions have been found to assist released offenders with their re-entry into society, all intent on helping them to avoid becoming repeat offenders who would return to an already overcrowded prison system. The common controversial issue associated with each solution surrounds funding sources. On the one hand, advocates question whether investing money in inmates is actually a savings to taxpayers; on the other hand, many insist a lack of adequate funding, jeopardizes the quality and …show more content…
In Texas, Bishop T.D. Jakes formed a partnership program called Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative (T.O.R.I) spanning five cities—Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio. T.O.R.I. is a one-year religious ministry program provided by licensed, professionally trained volunteers aiding in social services, housing and employment assistance, health care coverage, education opportunities, family reunification, and spiritual guidance. Ex-prisoners are paired with faith-based mentors and required to participate in monthly community service projects. To ensure a healthy lifestyle, health education, and other training programs are part of their re-entry program goals. Volunteers and mentors with T.O.R.I “passionately feel that providing solutions to the many barriers our ex-prisoners face...can reduce the rate of recidivism and slowly but surely build back the integrity of their families and provide a safe place for future generations to live”(“Bishop Jakes Texas Offenders” 1). The ministry has served more than 10,000 ex-prisoners with only a 9% recidivism rate compared to the national rate of 52%. Prisons utilizing faith-based mentor programs have seen fewer inmates returning, while the ex-prisoners are on track to a new lifestyle receiving help on