Reducing
Recidivism
Starts With
Support
People worry that crimes in their neighborhoods will increase when they hear of a prisoner's release. Some fears about higher crime rates resulting from a newly released prisoner are not without merit. There are those inmates who have never learned how to live outside the confines of a prison cell and within the laws that governs us all. There are too many who commit offenses soon after their release because they cannot find places to live or work because of their criminal record. (Steven Raphael, Anne Morrison and Michael A. Stoll, The Effect of Prison Releases on Regional Crime Rates, 2004.)
Judges, corrections officials, lawmakers, and others look closely at the psychological, family support, social, and educational backgrounds of prisoners in trying to determine whos most likely to return to a life of crime after release. They've also gathered data from prisoners who leave the system only to return. For some prisoners, this pattern of release-and-return, repeats itself several times until they commit a crime that lands them in prison permanently.
Experts on recidivism and especially recidivism for inmates with children have noted that inmates who have regular contact and communication with their families and support while incarcerated are less likely to commit new offenses after their release. Prisoners who do not have family or where communications and support are limited or nonexistent, are at greater risk for committing new offenses once released from prison. (Sharon S. Blake, Support Services for Inmates Reduce Recidivism Rates-Pitt Study Finds,
Most people don't understand the devastating affects that the isolation and lack of privacy has on a person imprisoned. Many aspects of imprisonment are dehumanizing, which can cause some inmates to lose their ability to view others as humans. It makes it easier for them to commit crimes against other people. (Laura Sullivan, In US Prisons, Thousands Spend Years in Isolation,
A person who has had no contact with anyone can lose touch with how life is outside of prison and may not be prepared for living once they get out. This causes many repeat offenders to revert to their past behaviors of committing crimes. One way to reduce recidivism among inmates after their release, and the costs of maintaining housing for repeat offenders, is to help inmates in having regular contact and communications with their families and children.
By providing regular contact and communications, not only do we avoid the risk of isolated and ignored prisoners from committing new crimes after their release, but, there is strong evidence that we help children of repeat offenders from becoming criminals themselves. When inmates do not have regular contact with their children they are not involved in the child's life or know when their child needs guidance to help keep them out trouble.
This holiday The Abundant Ground in NYC program will be donating 1,125 holiday cards to the inmates at Bayview and Arthur Kill Correctional Facility. It is our hope that the inmates and their family members and children can maintain or begin their relationship with this small step.
President's Blog The Fallacy of Having It All "...As much as people make fun of the eighties, the clothing, the music, the yuppies, the "greed", as a young adolescent I was strongly influenced by it. Movies which showed the protagonist working until three am then up again at six were my work ideals...." Read More... |
"....According to the needs of the program, each non-monetary contribution will have specific designation and enable a family.. .Haiti: Medical supplies such as aspirin, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, cough syrup, bacitracin, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol... "...Louisiana: Bed sheet sets, bed linens, pillows, area rugs, lamps, side tables, night stands, coffee tables..." Learn More...