Challenging Churches and Restoring Families
RE-ENTRY FACILITYMonterey County has been awarded $80 million in state funds to renovate the present jail building in Salinas, followed by constructing a 491 bed prison re-entry facility for inmates 18 months before release. (The state grants were made available under AB 900 which provides $750 million to approved applicants). With the ever-increasing incarceration rate resulting in perpetual over-crowded and illegal conditions, the State is looking for innovative approaches to reducing crime and need for imprisonment.
A prison re-entry facility is being touted as one such remedy. With recidivism (return to prison) now approaching 80%, these transition facilities can prepare the inmate for a more successful adaptation back into the community.
A practical curriculum incorporating life skill preparation, job training and procurement, counseling (mental health, spiritual, anger management) recovery programs, provision of social services, mentorship, opportunities for fellowship and support, and financial aide for basic needs, are to be incorporated within the facility as a one-stop resource. Programs to reduce recidivism benefit not only the inmates and families, but the greater community and improve public safety.
DEMONSTRATED NEED
United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world with a five-fold increase in the last 30 years. The following statistics, while frightening, explain why the current system of incarceration and release is not working and instead only compounding the problem. 1, ,2
2,271,000 inmates currently serving time.
One in 34 Americans has been in prison.
One in 3 African-Americans will spend time in prison.
One in 6 Latinos will spend time in prison.
700,000 prisoners are released nationwide each year.
Most will return to prison, most unable to make a living or successfully rejoin family life.
Most marriages of prisoners end in divorce.
The children of inmates are 10 times more likely to become inmates themselves.
Recidivism is an on-going issue that harms all parties, the inmate, his family, and the community
Three of four former inmates will return to prison within three years.
Imprisonment has proved little more than a temporary "warehousing" of criminals.
Prisons are commonly viewed as "post-graduate schools for crime".
This "revolving door" issue has several causes. Considering these issues is critical to determining the structure of any re-entry facility program as well as measuring success of such programs. Typically a former inmate is in a substantially downgraded position socially and economically than when the inmate entered prison.
Recidivism contributors include:
Released prisoners return to a new era; their old skills often are antiquated and employment opportunities are not readily available.
Service programs (skill training, job procurement, support, etc.) are hard to find.
Abandonment by their families, friends, co-workers and community is prevalent.
Mental health issues (depression, anxiety, etc) commonly develop in prison.
Marginalized, ex-inmates readily pick up substance addictions.
Mentoring ex-inmates has not been a community priority.
Basic services for shelter, clothing, recovery and discipleship are lacking.
Financial aide is limited in availability.
Details of Proposed Re-entry Facility : The state corrections department has plans for 280,000 to 300,000 square-foot secure buildings designed to blend in with surrounding communities. Possible architectural plans - Contemporary, Mission, and Tuscan models.
Possible location: Fort Ord, Seaside
Management: CDCR
Facilities: It is suggested that the rehabilitative/habilitative services be located on grounds, coordinated and supervised by an experienced administrative professional staff in collaboration with CDCR and with continuous and regular team meetings occurring at weekly/monthly intervals
Possible Program Offerings:
Employment: basic job skills training, specific trade skills training, literacy education, life skills education (financial, academic, vocational navigation), internship program, financial assistance, transportation support (bus voucher program),
Mental / Social / Physical: mental health assessment and treatment, substance dependency recovery programs (residential and outpatient), women's abuse/shelter services, small group fellowships, counseling services,
Community: youth outreach, facilitation with other community organizations (e.g.; Kairos, Koinonia, Prison Fellowship), local volunteer opportunities, facilitation of community education and participation
Emergency and Temporary: on-site meals, shelter, clothing, transitional housing
Voluntary mediated dialogue with victim and offender if appropriate; victim impact classes where victims are brought in to tell their story to inmates as a group.
Prison Statistics. US Department of Justice. Retrieved on 2008-04-18.1
Nell Bernstein, All Alone in the World: Children of the Incarcerated (New York: The New Press, 2005) 2
