6 March 2023
 Categories: , Blog

One of the major influences on recidivism is what happens to incarcerated people after they are released. Using a consulting firm to design reentry tools can help people have some stability after release and reduce recidivism.

Drug Treatment

Releasing people directly to the street when they have a drug problem is a revolving door. Since incarcerated people are usually clean of drugs and alcohol after they have spent a considerable amount of time incarcerated, this is the ideal time for them to enter a treatment program. Going into drug treatment should be a part of their parole requirements. Establishing a treatment program based on steps can be encouraging for some people. The stepwise progression of the program should begin with inpatient treatment and progress to a halfway house, then outpatient treatment. The inpatient component can be part of incarceration for people with longer sentences.

Housing

The legal system and local or state government can work together to create housing resources for people after release. If there are unused buildings that are structurally sound, they can be transformed into studio apartments. At a minimum, there should be boarding houses available after release. The housing should have rules for people to retain their housing and have significant monitoring to enforce the rules. It would be fair for minor infractions to result in a warning or some other punishment less than eviction. Major infractions or multiple small infractions would warrant eviction. Additionally, there should be some nominal fee for housing. If the person is not employed, they should be required to perform a reasonable amount of volunteer work as a substitute. The objective is to enforce responsibility and the ability to maintain that responsibility. You will also need to connect people with other resources, such as food and medical care.

Employment

Employment is one of the major challenges after release. Unfortunately, many businesses will not hire someone with a criminal record, especially felony convictions. To make matters worse, maintaining employment may be a condition of parole. First, the legal system should advocate for more reasonable parole requirements. Establishing a network of businesses that are willing to hire people after release is critical for reducing recidivism. Creating training programs can help by focusing on the skills businesses want. Various trades like auto mechanics may be more likely to hire people with a criminal background. Another excellent skill will be computer-related, such as programming or graphic design, which might allow people to become independent contractors.

Recidivism rates are highly influenced by the programs available to meet the basic needs of a person after release, such as housing and employment. Helping people have the resources to change their life is worth the expense and effort to reduce recidivism. For more information, contact a federal prison consulting firm near you.