One of the key strategies in incarcerating criminals is rehabilitating them while they’re in prison so that they can become more productive citizens upon their release. However, statistics show that many re-offend … and say they returned to their former lives because they can’t reintegrate into society. But a state Prisoner Re-Entry Policy group led by the Secretary of Public Safety says it will propose a plan that could help reduce those recidivism rates.
Chief Deputy Superintendent at the Virginia Department of Correctional Education Drew Malloy says many proposals will not only make prisoners useful upon release, but while they’re in prison. One of his department’s cost-savers is a commercial drivers’ license program, which will help low-risk offenders find work upon release, but also allow them to be delivery drivers for the DOC for a lower cost than outside contractors. Malloy says they’ve also been concerned about younger offenders.
“The fact is we want the juvenile offenders to come back into the communities so that they can go right back into their old schools if possible, or at least back into their communities with a G.E.D. or a high school diploma, and some cases, post-secondary work already, because we do have community college programs,” says Malloy.
The group will also propose providing housing for youth and adult ex-offenders …and allowing working inmates to deposit some of their wages into accounts that they will have upon release. Another measure would map what each prisoner should do during each stage of incarceration before reentering society.
–Tommie McNeil
Virginia Public Radio 