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By Joseph Williams, Christian Association for Prison Aftercare
It appears that the momentum that is driving the prisoner reentry movement forward continues to grow. I believe it will continue to grow for a number of years creating many opportunities for those called to this work. Even though this year is relatively young, already two significant events related to prisoner reentry have occurred. The first was the release of the Pew Center for the States’, One in One Hundred: Behind Bars in America 2008 Report. This report paints an extremely dim picture of the prison system in this country. According to the report, for the first time in history, one in one hundred Americans are behind bars. America now incarcerates more of its citizens than any other country on the planet. For African Americans the incarceration numbers are dimmer still. While one in 30 men between the ages of 20 and 34 are behind bars, for black males in that age group, the figure is one in nine.
The financial cost of continuing to incarcerate such a high number of people creates a tremendous strain on state, local and federal governments. The state of California spends approximately 8.8 billion dollars on its prison system. According to the report, total state spending on corrections costs was over $49 billion last year. This is up from $12 billion in 1987. In three years if things continue as they are, prison growth is expected to cost states an additional $25 billion. The financial crisis that is created by this high incarceration rate will assure continued interest by all in finding ways to keep people out of prison once they are released.
The report provides some suggestions for solving this daunting problem. Some states are aggressively pursuing alternatives to incarceration. Some are committing resources to help men and women in transition from prison to successfully integrate back into society. Approximately 95% of those incarcerated are expected to be released from prison at some point.
The second event was President Bush’s signing of the Second Chance Act on April 9, 2008. I was blessed to be present at the White House along with approximately sixty other reentry leaders from around the country for the signing of this historic and potentially pivotal piece of legislation. The Second Chance Act was initially introduced by Congressman Danny Davis of Illinois. According to a statement released from the White House, the Second Chance Act (H.R. 1593) will help transform lives and build safer communities by helping prisoners who are returning to society break cycles of crime and start new lives. The legislation is designed to help prisoners effectively reintegrate into the community. Additionally, the Second Chance Act enhances drug treatment, mentoring, and transitional services for former offenders through partnerships with local corrections agencies and faith-based and community organizations.
The language of the Second Chance Act is encouraging in that it goes beyond the goals of increasing public safety and reducing recidivism. Most of the government led prisoner reentry initiatives I am aware of stop short of promising to “transform lives.” Transforming lives is at the forefront of all faith-based reentry initiatives. Increasing public safety and reducing recidivism is naturally important to us all. We in faith-based organizations not only have the ability to transform lives but also to actually change social capital. By allowing God to work through us, we can help men and women whose lives have been ravaged by crime and drugs, who have been drains on society, to become invaluable assets to the community, especially to the church. “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.” (Ephesians 4:28) That is how you change social capital.
Both the Pew Report and the Second Chance Act recognize the participation of faith-based prisoner reentry organizations as being essential for success. This creates a great opportunity for us to impact the lives of the formerly incarcerated through evangelism, discipleship and practical assistance. This is an unprecedented time in the history of the prisoner reentry movement. I believe that this is a door that God has opened for us to minister in a much greater way to the least of His brothers and sisters. Let’s step up to the plate. Let us work in a way, as faith-based organizations, that God will be glorified. Let us carry out our work in a way that the power of the Gospel cannot be doubted by anyone.
Copyright © 2008 Christian Association for Prison Aftercare. All Rights Reserved.
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