Ferner Matt These Programs Are Helping Prisoners Live Again on the Outside

When prisoners in the United States are released, they face an environs that is challenging and actively deters them from condign productive members of society. Within three years of release, 67.viii percentage of ex-offenders are rearrested, and inside five years, 76.6 percentage are rearrested.^[ane] With more than than 2 million ^[2]  people incarcerated in the United States, recidivism harms both the families of inmates and society in full general, as taxpayers go on to back up a broken organization that sets ex-offenders upward to fail once they are released.

The Congressional Research Service defines recidivism equally "the re-arrest, reconviction, or re-incarceration of an ex-offender inside a given time frame."^[3] Because of systemic legal and societal barriers, in one case ex-offenders are released, it is more difficult for them compared to the general populace to find gainful employment, secure a consistent source of housing, and generally office in social club. Oftentimes viewed equally sub-citizens, ex-offenders are perpetually punished for crimes. The causes of these restrictions are systemic and affect ex-offenders at all levels of social club.

Interconnected Challenges Contributing to the Cycle of Recidivism

Before diving into where and how ex-offenders are affected, information technology is of import to understand micro, mezzo, and macro levels of analysis. Put only, micro level of analysis refers to individuals; mezzo level of analysis refers to families or small groups; and macro level of assay refers to organizations, agencies, communities, and large groups of people, including nations. In almost any social change context, these levels are interconnected and affect one another.

Former prisoners confront challenges at every level. These challenges come in many forms, but Ann Jacobs, manager of the Prisoner Reentry Plant at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, succinctly summarizes them "A person's successful re-entry into club can be viewed through how adequately they are able to come across six basic life needs: livelihood, residence, family, health, criminal justice compliance, and social connections." Attaining each life need presents unique challenges, many of which are interconnected.

Micro Challenges

Livelihood

While data on post-incarceration employment in relation to recidivism is famously express, ^{[ 4 ]} it seems clear that it is much less likely for ex-inmates to find employment than a member of the general population. A 2002 report of more than 200 employers in the Milwaukee expanse found that formerly incarcerated candidates with nearly identical professional experience every bit non-offenders were less than half as likely to receive job offers.^[5] According to the Bureau of Justice, only 12.5 percent ^[half-dozen]  of employers said they would accept an application from an ex-captive. Ironically, getting dorsum to work decreases recidivism, but in that location are barriers for ex-convicts finding work.

Many prisoners have limited education and work feel, which makes it difficult for them to secure employment after they are released. Co-ordinate to several studies, "about 70 percent of offenders and ex-offenders are high school dropouts."^[7] As a effect of incarceration and involvement in the criminal justice system, many former prisoners are viewed negatively by old employers or by individuals inside their erstwhile professional networks, if they previously had one. The combination of a limited professional network and a conspicuous résumé gap can make it very difficult for ex-convicts to get an interview with a prospective employer.

According to the Urban Institute, around 75 per centum of formerly incarcerated men accept a history of substance abuse, and a pregnant percent suffer from physical and mental health issues (i.e., 15 percent to twenty percent study emotional disorders). That limits their employability in that employers may not view them equally "job ready."^[8]

Many employers worry almost being sued for damages resulting from "negligent hiring." An employer can be held liable for exposing the public to a potentially unsafe private, so many balk at the idea of hiring someone with a criminal record. In 72 pct of negligent hiring cases, employers take lost and faced an boilerplate settlement of $one.6 1000000 — powerful disincentive to hire potentially "risky" individuals.^[9]

Race is also a cistron, particularly when combined with a history of incarceration. In the 2002 report of Milwaukee employers mentioned to a higher place, African-American offenders were ii-thirds less likely to receive offers, and African-American non-offenders were half as likely as white non-offenders to receive an offer.^[10][eleven] So African-Americans ex-offenders face a huge double-claiming: Even if they hadn't committed a criminal offense, racism significantly restricts their job opportunities; since they take committed a offense, they must somehow overcome the racismand convince the employer that their ex-con status does not make them a risky rent.

Fortunately for many former inmates, employer interest in an ex-offender rises when they discover out that the crime was irenic or drug-related. So long as the individual remains drug-free and has gained relevant work feel (either inside or outside of prison), there is more employer involvement in hiring.^[12]

Mezzo Challenges

Family

Studies have shown that prisoners who maintain consistent contact and connection with their families during their sentences accept a lower recidivism rate than those who do not.^[xiii] Over half of incarcerated adults are parents of pocket-size children, which means they may miss out on many of their children'due south critical and determinative years.^[14] Unfortunately, there are obstacles to maintaining consequent contact with family unit, and challenges for ex-offenders once released.

A 1996 Maryland Department of Human Resources and Women's Prison Association report ^[15]  listed the following seven major obstacles to parent-kid visitation in prison, which unfortunately largely remain obstacles 20 years later on:

1. Insufficient information almost visiting procedures.
2. Proximity of prison facilities — incarcerated men are, on average, 100 miles abroad from their children; incarcerated women are, on average, 160 miles abroad from their children.^[16]
3. Family disability to afford transportation to the prison.
4. Difficulty scheduling visits.
5. Visiting procedures are humiliating or uncomfortable.
6. Visiting areas are inhospitable for children.
7. Foster parents are unwilling to assist in visits.

Telephone calls and written communication to and from prisons are very expensive because of surcharges ^[17]  from companies and/or the prisons themselves.

Once ex-offenders return abode, they are dependent on family members and must overcome years of limited contact, potential resentment, and a alter in the household dynamic. According to the Urban Institute Justice Policy Eye, but before release, 82 percent of ex-offenders thought it would exist easy to renew family unit relationships; after returning habitation, over half reported it was more than hard than expected.^[18] Family members ofttimes assume a new fiscal and emotional burden when ex-offenders return home, having to support a dependent developed.

To ease reconnecting with family unit and lost years of parenting experience, some prisons have programs to better parenting skills. Although there is prove that such prison house-based programs are constructive and beneficial for prisoners and their families, participation in such programs has declined in recent years.^{[ 19 ]} It is not completely articulate why, but a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study establish many prisoners who couldn't get the other parent to co-participate were less likely to go along participation. That prompted some prisons to create new incentives for prisoner participation, including increased video chat privileges and gas coupons for spouses to encourage more visitation.

Social club, Social Connections, and Expectations Upon Release

When ex-offenders are released from prison house, they tend to find that their expectations for returning to normal life are not always realistic. This is especially true for prisoners who serve lengthy incarcerations because they are probable to face advances in technologies that are essential in new job markets and lack training that makes them viable candidates.

Co-ordinate to an Urban Institute written report of Baltimore-area prisoners, offenders who re-enter the prison organization tend to come from a concentrated set of communities, which have "higher up-boilerplate rates for unemployment, per centum female-headed households, and percentage of families living beneath the poverty level."^[20] Ex-offenders face massive obstacles when searching for employment anywhere, so to return with this disadvantage to an surface area that likely has low chore prospects increases the likelihood of unemployment.

The same Urban Constitute study also found that 54 percent of prisoners well-nigh to be released idea that they would exist able to rely on their ain jobs for fiscal support, and 82 percent expected that their parole officers would assistance in their transition domicile. After release, 51 pct reported that they relied on their families to a much greater extent than expected, and but well-nigh half reported that their parole officers were helpful during their transitions.^[21]

According to the study, information technology is non clear why parole officers were non considered helpful post-release (they were often given high marks for professionalism and accurateness of shared information, but still not considered "useful"). The data suggests that many prisoners who received parole supervision did not expect it and may have entered the relationship with their parole officers with pre-engendered negative feelings toward them.

David Yeager, a social worker who works with older inmates who take served long sentences and take been out of club for an extended period, found ^[22]  that the ii biggest adjustment challenges are living with less structure and having fewer social contacts. Prison house life is extremely structured, and prisoners with long sentences become accustomed to it, resulting in feelings of daze and deep distress past its absenteeism in the outside world. While they may return to their home communities or families, their social networks may no longer exist or have changed. This means released inmates must rebuild or create new social networks.

They also may need to learn new ways of living. I of the nigh unexpected adjustments can be learning new technologies that replaced traditional systems. For example, prisoners with medium- or long-term sentences may accept never used a smartphone ^[23]  or metro card. ^[24] These may seem similar pocket-sized adjustments to most of us since we experienced these changes gradually, but to learn them all at once, and to accept them replace quondam routines, tin be both difficult and disorienting.

Macro Challenges

Collateral Consequences

Collateral consequences are legal restrictions unrelated to the original crime that apply to ex-offenders afterward their release from prison. This includes thing like a lack of access to food stamps and an disability to vote.

At the time of this writing, The American Bar Association's National Inventory of the Collateral Consequences of Confidence ^[25]  lists 47,442 ^[26]  collateral consequences of incarceration. This statistic highlights the tens of thousands of legal restrictions imposed on ex-offenders that they didn't confront before their convictions. Some are explicit and permanent, such as an disability to apply for federal grants. Others are vaguely worded, and administrators often presume the strictest interpretation. For example, ex-offenders are non banned ^[27]  from public housing, although housing administrators can use a criminal record as cause to refuse a candidate. Many housing administrators incorrectly recall that they arerequired to refuse applicants with a criminal record, creating a widespread de facto ban on public housing. (For more than of such myths, run across the Reentry Councils Reentry MythBusters fact sheets ^[28] ).

Parole

While weather condition of parole vary widely from state to state and depend on the original crime and the prisoner's behavior, there are some common atmospheric condition ^[29] , including:

• Remaining within a prescribed geographic surface area
• Obtaining permission to change residence
• Maintaining employment
• Prohibition confronting possession of firearms
• Paying supervision fees
• Submitting to searches (of dwelling house, person, or vehicle) at any time by parole officers
• Not drinking alcohol or visiting bars
• Adherence to state or federal laws

In theory, parole gives offenders a risk to bear witness that they tin can re-enter guild without serving their maximum sentences. Paradoxically, parole conditions can create extra, unintended readjustment challenges for ex-offenders. For example, one mutual collateral effect is difficulty in re-obtaining ^[xxx]  a driver's license. Many ex-offenders are not given a new driver'due south license only because of their criminal record, but still must drive to piece of work, or drive to see their parole officers. They receive fines for driving without a license, which contributes to their debt and complicates their access to a license. Many such examples be, with little or no bear witness ^{[ 3 one]}  that these restrictions deter crime.

What Can Be Done

Systemic Changes

Many of the challenges facing ex-offenders are systemic and crave policy changes and a shift away from the mental attitude of some that punishment should continue later on sentences accept been served. "Ban the Box ^[32] " is a national entrada against connected punishment in hiring that calls for employers to remove the box on job applications that requires applicants to disembalm criminal records. In a Nov 2015 speech ^[33]  at Rutgers University, President Barack Obama called on the federal government to support the campaign:

"[The federal government] should not utilize criminal history to screen out applicants earlier we even look at their qualifications … . It is relevant to observe out whether somebody has a criminal record. We're not suggesting ignore it. What we are suggesting is that when it comes to the application, give folks a chance to get through the door. Give them a take a chance to make it there then they can brand their example."

Grassroots Changes

In addition to lobbying for policy changes, many nongovernmental organizations are leading grassroots efforts to assistance ex-offenders with recidivism. Programs like The Prison house University Projection help inmates earn college degrees while incarcerated. A 2013 National Criminal Justice Reference Service study plant that when inmates complete degrees earlier re-entering gild, recidivism rates essentially decrease. ^[34]

The "Ride Home Plan ^[35] " in California employs ex-offenders to option upward inmates on the day of their release and then they can get them domicile, but also aid facilitate their transition to life on the exterior. A new startup, Pigeon.ly, makes it significantly cheaper and easier ^[36]  for inmates to stay in contact with loved ones — an important office of decreasing the chances of returning to prison in one case released.

Conclusion

In the The states, later on serving time in prison, ex-offenders are released with significant and ongoing economic and societal obstacles that often prevent them from thriving, thus indirectly pushing them back to criminal offense, and back into the prison arrangement. Many employers refuse to hire ex-cons, and systemic collateral consequences restrict tens of thousands of ex-offenders' legal rights, which essentially extends their punishment and inhibits their ability to function as normal citizens. While there are many organizations working to remove these obstacles, revisions in policy must occur before ex-offenders can have real opportunities that promote success and help to reduce recidivism. There are few systems in the United States that are more cleaved than the post-prison house environment that ex-offenders face. With a major election this year, in that location is a perfect opportunity for social workers, advocates, politicians, and citizens to push for the necessary policy-level changes.

^{[1]James, Nathan.Offender Reentry: Correctional Statistics, Reintegration into the Customs, and Backsliding. Rep. no. 7-5700. Northward.p., 12 Jan. 2015. Web. 14 Jan. 2016.}

^{[ii]Criminal Justice Fact Sheet. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.naacp.org/pages/criminal-justice-fact-sheet}

^{[3]James, 2016.}

^{[4]Holzer, H. J., Raphael, S., & Stoll, M. A. (2003, May 20). Employment Dimensions of Reentry: Agreement the Nexus between Prisoner Reentry and Piece of work. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/alfresco/publication-pdfs/410855-Employment-Barriers-Facing-Ex-Offenders.PDF}

^{[ 5 ]Pager, Devah.NCJRS Abstruse. Rep. no. NCJ 198320. National Institute of Justice, 2002. Web. fourteen Jan. 2016.}

^{[6]Lovoy, L. (2014, June 25). Life Later on Prison: Ex-Felons Often Struggle to Find a Job – WBHM 90.3. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from https://news.wbhm.org/characteristic/2014/life-later-prison-ex-felons-oftentimes-struggle-to-find-a-job/}

^{[vii]Freeman, Richard. 1992. "Crime and the Employment of Disadvantaged Youths." In Urban Labor Markets and Job Opportunities, edited by George Peterson and Wayne Vroman Washington D.C.: The Urban Institute Press. And, Travis, Jeremy; Amy Solomon, and Michelle Waul. 2001. From Prison to Abode: The Dimensions and Consequences of Prisoner Reentry. Washington D.C.: The Urban Plant.}

^{[viii]Holzer, Harry J., Steven Raphael, and Michael A. Stoll. "Employment Barriers Facing Ex-Offenders."PsycEXTRA Dataset (n.d.): due north. pag.Urban.org. New York University Law School, xx May 2003. Web. 14 Jan. 2016.}

^{[9]Connerley, Mary, Richard Arvey, and Charles Bernardy. "Criminal Background Checks for Prospective and Current Employees: Current Practices among Municipal Agencies." Public Personnel Management Vol. xx, No. 2.}

^{[10]> Holzer et al., 2003.}

^{[eleven]Pager, 2002.}

^{[12]Holzer et al., 2003.}

^{[xiii]Women's Prison Clan. 1996. When a Mother Is Arrested: How the Criminal Justice and Kid Welfare Systems Tin Work Together More Effectively: A Needs Assessment Initiated by the Maryland Department of Man Resources.}

^{[xiv]P. Harrison and A. Beck. 2002. "Prisoners in 2001." Bureau of Justice Statistics, Message. NCJ 195189. Washington, D.C.: U.Due south. Department of Justice Statistics.}

^{[fifteen]When a Mother is Arrested. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2016, from https://books.google.cl/books/about/When_a_Mother_is_Arrested.html?id=C4anGwAACAAJ}

^{[16]Hagan and Petty. 2002. "Returning Captives of the American War on Drugs: Issues of Customs and Family Reentry." Paper prepared for the Reentry Roundtable, Washington, D.C., Oct. 12–xiii, 2000.}

^{[17]Travis, J., McBride, E. C., & Solomon, A. L. (2005, June). Families Left Behind: The Hidden Costs of Incarceration and Reentry. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/alfresco/publication-pdfs/310882-Families-Left-Backside.PDF}

^{[eighteen]Visher, Chreisty, Nancy Lavigne, and Jeremy Travis. "Returning Home: Understanding the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry: Maryland Pilot Study: Findings from Baltimore."PsycEXTRA Dataset (north.d.): northward. pag.Urban.org. Urban Institute, Jan. 2004. Spider web. 14 January. 2016.}

^{[19]Visher et al., 2016.}

^{[20]Visher et al., 2016.}

^{[21]Visher et al., 2016.}

^{[22]Yeager, D. (2012, January/Feb). Older Inmates Arrange to Life Exterior Prison. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/012312p28.shtml}

^{[23]Contributor, Q. (n.d.). How Is Life Outside After Being in Prison for Over 20 Years? Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2013/01/25/how_is_life_outside_after_being_in_prison_for_over_20_years.html}

^{[24]Ferner, M. (2015, July 28). These Programs Are Helping Prisoners Live Again On The Exterior. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/if-nosotros-want-fewer-prisoners-we-need-more-compassion-when-they-re-enter-society_55ad61a5e4b0caf721b39cd1}

^{[25]ABA collateral consequences of criminal conviction. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.abacollateralconsequences.org/map/}

^{[26]ABA collateral consequences of criminal conviction. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.abacollateralconsequences.org/search/?jurisdiction=1000}

^{[27]Reentry Mythbuster. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Reentry_Council_Mythbuster_Housing.pdf}

^{[28]Reentry MythBusters. (north.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2016, from https://csgjusticecenter.org/nrrc/projects/mythbusters/}

^{[29]W Virginia Division of Corrections. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.wvdoc.com/wvdoc/ParoleServicesResources/StandardConditionsofParole/tabid/143/Default.aspx}

^{[30]Laird, 50. (2013, June 1). Ex-offenders confront tens of thousands of legal restrictions, bias and limits on their rights. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/ex-offenders_face_tens_of_thousands_of_legal_restrictions}

^{[31]Laird, L. (2013, June 1). Ex-offenders face tens of thousands of legal restrictions, bias and limits on their rights. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/ex-offenders_face_tens_of_thousands_of_legal_restrictions}

^{[32]End Discrimination at Your Workplace. (north.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://bantheboxcampaign.org/}

^{[33]Korte, Yard. (2015, Nov 03). Obama tells federal agencies to 'ban the box' on federal job applications. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/11/02/obama-tells-federal-agencies-ban-box-federal-job-applications/75050792/}

^{[34]Kim, R., & Clark, D. (2013, June). Effect of Prison house-Based College Teaching Programs on Recidivism: Propensity Score Matching Arroyo. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from https://world wide web.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=264879}

^{[35]Mooallem, J. (2015, July 16). The New York Times. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/07/19/magazine/you-just-got-out-of-prison-at present-what.html?referrer=}

^{[36]Cutler, K. (2015, March 24). Pigeon.ly, A Startup Focused On Serving The U.S. Prison Population, Joins Y Combinator. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://techcrunch.com/2015/03/24/dove-ly/}

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