“The lack of prison reform in America is an issue found in all 50 states”
Stretch, an early-stage fintech startup, is now making the audience [formerly incarcerated individuals] its sole focus. In an attempt to win over a group of people who are up against all kinds of financial challenges, including securing work.
Some Digital banking feature web apps that display job leads for individuals with criminal records.
While more employers are open to hiring the formerly incarcerated given the tight labor market, these individuals are still up against much higher unemployment rates compared to the general population, and observers say it got worse during the pandemic. So the idea is for them to use Stretch as an antidote. Bankrate Article.
The Recidivism Reduction and Public Safety Act of 2014, sponsored by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), S.1675 was introduced into the senate in November 2013 as a bipartisan effort.
Aspects of the bill –
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- This bill provides no funding for new rehabilitation programs; instead, it encourages the use of existing recidivism reduction programs.
- Under the Portman-Whitehouse Bill, the mandated recidivism reduction programs must be provided by faith-based groups, non-profits, or through savings generated by the proposed legislation.
- Programs aimed at helping to reduce addiction and mental health problems experienced by many offenders in the prison system have been crucial to the success of recidivism reduction programs in states that have implemented them.
- With the proper tools and support systems, offenders are much less likely to re-enter the prison population. Providing these services to offenders will provide them with the skill necessary to readjust to society upon release.
- In different parts of the country, recidivism reduction is working on a smaller scale. Programs in Rhode Island have reduced the state’s prison population and crime rate. In Texas, taxpayers have enjoyed economic savings and the first prison closure in state history. By bringing recidivism reduction to the federal level, these benefits will spread throughout the country.
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This bill lacks rehabilitation reform because Congress sees no need to fund new programs or go beyond existing programs to significantly reduce recidivism.
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A New Way of Life Reentry Project provides housing, case management, pro-bono legal services, advocacy, and leadership development for women rebuilding their lives after prison.
This program provides services needed by ex-prisoners to help reduce the recidivism rate.
Back to Business: How Hiring Formerly Incarcerated Job Seekers Benefits Your Company
The goal of the National H.I.R.E. Network is to increase the number and quality of job opportunities available to people with criminal records by changing public policies, employment practices, and public opinion.
It uses legal and policy strategies to fight discrimination, build health equity and restore opportunity for people with criminal records, substance use disorders, and HIV or AIDS.
HIRE accomplishes these goals by providing leadership on public policy advocacy, providing technical assistance and training on overcoming labor market barriers based on a criminal record, and promoting collaboration between individuals directly affected by the criminal justice system, advocates, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers working to improve the employability of people with criminal records. The National H.I.R.E. Network is generously supported by the Open Society Foundations.
This program rehabilitates ex-prisoners by training them with the skills needed to perform work, and increasing job opportunities. It meets the assumption: ex-prisoners with a job reduces the recidivism rate.
Second Chance Act is legislation enacted by Pres. George Bush last 2008. It is one of the programs of the BOP (Bureau of Prison) that aims to decrease the incarceration time of the prisoners. Also, it directs but does not require the BOP to ensure prisoners spend the final months of their imprisonment at the halfway house with appropriate conditions. The goal of this program is to provide the prisoner with time to adjust and successfully re-enter the local community.
The Second Chance Act serves to reform the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. The purpose of the Second Chance Act is to reduce recidivism, increase public safety, and assist states and communities to address the growing population of inmates returning to communities.
In conclusion, The Second Chance Act (SCA) supports state, local, and tribal governments and nonprofit organizations in their work to reduce recidivism for people returning from state and federal prisons, local jails, and juvenile facilities
The Second Chance Act does not require reform programs for prisoners, and early release can reduce recidivism; however, the lack of developing work skills of the offender along with a productive mindset may cause ex-prisoners to remain vulnerable to recidivism.
Read for Life is a NEW PROGRAM (NOT IN EFFECT)
Those [reformers] returning to the community may increase the recidivism rate due to a lack of hope. Mass incarceration has caused the need for rehabilitation because 95% of convicts return to society (NRRC, 2015).” This program promotes positive self-awareness and helps reformers develop healthy relationships as they transition into the community.
Read for Life program is the only program developed to change the mindset of those [reformers] released back into the community. Prison reform via employment is a part of the solution; developing positive self-awareness and learning how to recognize healthy relationships are the other parts.
Conclusion. Read for Life’ is a poetry program to rehab the minds of those [reformers] returning to communities.
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