Connecticut Local Politics

It’s a common enough complaint: programs for ex-offenders trying to re-enter society aren’t plentiful enough. An article by Richard P Seiter and Karen R Kadela in the July, 2003 issue of the academic journal Crime and Delinquency notes that while programs to help offenders re-enter society were prevalent from the 1950s through the 1970s, their use has declined over the last two decades of the 20th century in the face of “tough on crime” stances of politicians and the belief that the programs were ineffective. However, interest in their use has been on the rise during this decade, and there are encouraging signs that they may be effective ways to reintegrate prisoners back into society. Kadela and Seiter identify several areas which seem useful:

Results indicate a positive result for vocational training and/or work release programs (found to be effective in reducing recidivism rates as well as in improving job readiness skills for exoffenders), for drug rehabilitation (graduates of treatment programs were less likely than other parolees and noncompleters to have been arrested, commit a drug-related offense, continue drug use, or have a parole violation), to some extent for education programs (only to increase educational achievement scores, but not to decrease recidivism), for halfway house programs (found effective in reducing the frequency and severity of future crimes), and for prerelease programs (effective in reducing recidivism rates of exoffenders).

In addition, there are promising results for sex- and violent offender programs. (Kadela & Seiter)

And this is where the parole reform task force appointed by Governor Rell would like to focus, according to reports released today:

The task force called for expanding counseling services, housing and drug treatment for offenders leaving prison.

The recommendations included special housing for sex offenders; mental health screenings for an increased number of offenders upon release; more job training for all former offenders; and a Center for Excellence in the Management of Problem Sexual behavior that would study sex offenders.

Most of the recommendations came without cost proposals, but preliminary budget figures suggest they would cost at least $10 to $20 million per year. (Lowe)

Democrats also proposed reforms to re-entry programs, although their proposal was less specific. However, if programs like vocational training, support services upon release and others really do help prisoners stay out of prison once they’re released, then they’re absolutely worth the $10 to $20 million that they might end up costing.

Sources
Seiter, Richard P. and Karen R Kadela. “Prisoner reentry: What works, what does not, and what is promising.” Crime and Delinquency. 49:3 (2003). p. 360.

Lowe, Zach. “Task force: Parole reforms should focus on programs for ex-offenders.” Stamford Advocate 9 January, 2008.