For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 23, 2004
Fact Sheet: Protecting Communities by Helping Returning Inmates Find Work
Presidential Action:
In his State of the Union Address, President Bush proposed a four-year,
$300 million initiative to reduce recidivism and the societal costs
of reincarceration by helping inmates find work when they return
to their communities. The President's initiative, contained in his
FY 2005 budget, will harness the resources and experience of faith-based
and community organizations (FBCOs) in helping returning inmates
contribute to society.
Background:
Studies show that approximately two-thirds of ex-offenders are
rearrested within three years of release, and the costs to the communities
(particularly urban communities) of these crimes are large. This
year, more than 600,000 adult inmates will complete their sentences
and be released. To help ex-offenders stay away from crime, a substantial
number of inner-city faith-based and community leaders have created
resourceful programs. Working with business and service providers,
these organizations provide job training, housing options, and transitional
services that help ex-offenders contribute to their communities.
Program Specifics:
Working together, the Department of Labor (DOL), the Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Justice
(DOJ) would help ex-offenders find and keep employment, obtain transitional
housing and receive mentoring -- the three key requirements for
successful re-entry.
- Employment: FBCOs would offer job training and job placement
services in coordination with business and other employment providers.
- Transitional housing: Grants would be available to organizations
providing housing services or vouchers to individuals to partially
subsidize transitional housing.
- Mentoring: FBCOs would provide post-release mentoring and other
services essential to reintegrating ex-offenders in coordination
with the corrections, parole, and probation structure.
This proposal would expand on elements of a pilot project now
underway at DOL (the Ready4Work Project). The groups participating
in this pilot project have seen promising results: Exodus Transitional
Community in East Harlem, NY was established five years ago by a
group of ex-offenders. In 2002, Exodus served 213 ex-offenders with
just six returning to prison. In 2003, Exodus served 290 with only
three participants returning to prison.
The City of Memphis Second Chance Program was established three
years ago by Mayor Willie E. Herenton. Second Chance has served
over 1,500 ex-offenders over the past three years with only four
returning to prison. This initiative will complement existing Administration
efforts to mentor the children of prisoners. Last year $9 million
was awarded to faith-based and community groups and the omnibus
spending bill just passed by the Congress includes $50 million in
additional funds.
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