Effective Offender Reentry Programs For Local Communities

Introduction More than 700,000 prisoners are discharged from Federal and state prison every year, while another nine million cycle through regional prisons. Surprisingly, more than two-thirds of these inmates are arrested again within three years of their discharge and many of them end up reincarcerated (White House, 2011). Such high rates of relapse and recidivism are adding a huge burden on the current criminal justice system, calling for the public support for improvements and promotion of effective offender reentry programs in local communities. There are numerous reentry services that are arranged to help ex-offenders to successfully transition back into the community: housing, employment services, education, family services, physical mental health services, and substance abuse treatment just to name a few. Through effective implementation of these services, local governments strive to transform returning prisoners into to tax-paying and law-abiding citizens, and in turn, build safer communities. In order to enjoy easier transition from prison to the community, many ex-offenders live in neighborhood-based residential facilities called halfway houses. Many advocate halfway houses to those newly released from prisons because these facilities offer various kinds of services to help lower the risk of their relapse or recidivism (Halfway House). Mr. Douglas Hollis, a 55-year-old man convicted at the age of 16 for a Second Degree Murder, is also expected to live inShow MoreRelatedAn Offender Reentry Plan Will Keep the Citizens of Hawaii Safer.1709 Words   |  7 Pagesprisons. Part of its role is to fulfill its mission of implementing a successful offender reentry program for all incarcerated offenders. This mission is mandated by the Hawaii State Senate Bill 932, Act 8 (Nakaso Kayton, 2007). 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