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PRISON FELLOWSHIP: recidivism

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  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Feature Stories
What is the FIRST STEP Act?

The FIRST STEP Act is now law, but how will it affect America’s incarcerated? And what are our next steps?

By Emily Harris Greene
January 8, 2019
earned time credit | FIRST STEP Act | in-prison program | Incarcerated Women | Prison Reform | recidivism | Second Chances | Sentencing Reform
Outrageous Laws and Justice: Collateral Consequences in America
  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Feature Stories
  • Reentry
Outrageous Laws and Justice: Collateral Consequences in America

Did you know that in Arkansas it is against the law to mispronounce "Arkansas?" Or that in New Jersey it's illegal for a man to knit during fishing season?

By Emily Harris Greene
February 22, 2017
Collateral Consequences | Colorado | Outrageous Justice | recidivism | Second Chance Month
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Feature Stories
  • Reentry
Faith Groups Aid in Reducing Recidivism

In their opinion piece this week for "The Hill," Timothy Head and Craig DeRoche demonstrate how faith-based organizations are valuable in curbing recidivism in America.

By Emily Harris Greene
February 1, 2017
Craig DeRoche | Faith and Freedom Coalition | recidivism | The Hill | Timothy Head
  • Advocacy & Reentry
Michigan’s ‘Safer and Smarter’ Bill: Redeeming Parole, Respecting Individuals

“How can I plan to be successful in re-entering if I don’t even know when I’m going to get out?”

In his early 20s, aspiring journalist Aaron Suganuma was overcome by drug addiction. When his funds ran low, he resorted to stealing to support his habit.

By Emily Andrews
December 8, 2016
HB 4138 | Michigan | Parole | recidivism
Fruits feature
  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Feature Stories
  • Prison & Prisoners
Five Prisoners May Represent the Path to Healthier Prisons

As a general rule, when seeking to solve a problem, it helps to get the opinions of those most directly affected by the policy in question. Those who are most familiar with the situation are usually able to bring unique insights and ideas to the table, and are often better equipped to make these suggestions a reality.

By Steve Rempe
October 25, 2016
Darrington Unit | Marshall Project | recidivism | Recidivism Risk Reduction Act | Responsible Prison Project | Texas
Humanizing Prisoners, One Book at a Time - feature
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Feature Stories
  • Reentry
Humanizing Prisoners, One Book at a Time

There is a transformative power in good literature. A book can transport us to faraway places and introduce us to characters from different times and eras. It can rouse the emotions, challenge perceptions, and engage the mind in ways that few things can.

By Steve Rempe
October 12, 2016
Dartmouth | education | In Prison | Literature | massachusetts | Quartz | Rand Corporation | Reading | recidivism | Reentry | UMass
Prisoner praying feature
  • Feature Stories
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Reentry
More than Cutting Recidivism

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.  – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Increasingly, the great concern of legislators and departments of correction has been finding better ways to reduce recidivism—that tendency of former prisoners to relapse into criminal behavior.

By Mark Hubbell
July 14, 2016
Discipleship | Mentoring | recidivism | volunteer
Puzzle pieces feature
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  • Angel Tree
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Solving the Recidivism Puzzle

There is little debate remaining that the United States has a significant problem with the recidivism of former prisoners. Department of Justice statistics show that one-third of released prisoners are rearrested in their first year outside prison walls. Within three years, that number jumps to 50 percent, and then to 75 percent over five years.

By Steve Rempe
June 23, 2016
Angel Tree | education | Evangelism | Family | recidivism | Reentry | Second Prison | Second Prison Project
Cage idea feature image
  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Feature Stories
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Reentry
Rethinking Incarceration

In 1994, Congress passed a crime bill that strengthened penalties for drug offenses and earmarked billions of dollars for new prison construction. Prison populations across the country boomed as a result, with recidivism rates remaining high.  Drug offenses became the leading reason for incarceration, but prisons nationwide struggled to provide programming capable of breaking the cycle of incarceration, release, and rearrest.  

By Steve Rempe
May 18, 2016
Drug Programs | mandatory minimums | massachusetts | recidivism | Reentry | rehabilitation | South Bay House of Corrections
Razor wire feature image
  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Feature Stories
  • Prison & Prisoners
To Reduce Recidivism, Let’s Think Outside the Bars

Prisons, encircled by high walls topped with razor wire, seem to be closed worlds.

It’s easy to keep them out of sight and out of mind. Since prisons are so remote from most people’s daily lives, it can be difficult to recognize the humanity of the men and women inside and to value their rehabilitation and restoration.

By Heather Rice-Minus
March 10, 2016
recidivism | Recidivism Risk Reduction Act | Sentencing Reform | Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act
Hiring feature
  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Feature Stories
  • Reentry
Would You Hire a Former Prisoner?

The Albuquerque Business First journal recently asked its readers a probing question—would you hire someone who had just been released from prison?

Responses were predictably varied, with many respondents answering affirmatively.  Those that did say they would hire a former prisoner typically cited the importance of second chances and a need to break the cycle of recidivism.

By Steve Rempe
February 3, 2016
New Mexico | recidivism | Reentry | Second Prison | Second Prison Project
Baby and mother bonding in Texas - image 1
  • Feature Stories
Prison Nurseries: Born Behind Bars

On the front cover of the July/August issue of The Atlantic, a young woman with thick curly hair props her months-old son on her lap. The walls behind her are decorated with a farmyard scene. She could be anywhere. Her son's room.

By Zoe Erler
November 4, 2015
BAMBI | Mary Byrne | Prison Born | prison nurseries | recidivism | Rene Spitz | The Atlantic
  • Uncategorized
Improving the Return on Sentencing Laws

A recent report by the Pew Charitable Trusts provides new evidence suggesting that the increased incarceration rates over the last three decades for drug offenses have done little to reduce crime and recidivism.

Click on image to view report

The study, “Federal Drug Sentencing Laws Bring High Cost, Low Return,” examines the effects of “tough on crime” legislation passed in the 1980s and 1990s.  

By Steve Rempe
September 16, 2015
Drug Policy | Drugs | mandatory minimums | Pew | recidivism | Reentry | Three Strikes
  • Uncategorized
Why We Should Put Probation on Trial

“An ineffective probation system can result in further criminal acts and the imprisonment of those same offenders before they complete their terms.”

Justice Fellowship’s latest report, Incentives in State Probation Systems: Relation to Structure and Practices, reveals why it’s a good idea to examine our probation systems.

By Elisabeth Boehm
January 6, 2015
Justice Fellowship | Probation | recidivism | Success Rates
father comforts daughter
  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Families of Prisoners
  • Prison & Prisoners
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  • Second Chance Month
Fathers Behind Bars: The Problem & Solution for America’s Children

A version of this article originally appeared on the National Fatherhood Initiative website, and is used here with permission.  To learn more about the National Fatherhood Initiative, visit www.fatherhood.org.

There are 2.7 million children with a parent in prison or jail.

By Ryan Sanders
October 22, 2014
National Fatherhood Initiative | recidivism
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