[wvns] America should believe in a second chance
America should believe in a second chance
By Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.)
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_3491.shtml
Considering the cost of incarceration (as much as $40,000 per year)
and all the social and economic costs of crime to the community, it's
just common sense to act to help ex-offenders successfully reenter our
communities and reduce recidivism.
America has more of its people in prison than any other developed
nation in the world—more than two million. The vast majority, 95
percent of the men and women in our prisons will eventually return to
the community. That means that every year more than 650,000 offenders
are released from state and federal prisons and return back to
civilian life.
These men and women deserve a second chance. Their families, spouses
and children, deserve a second chance and their communities deserve a
second chance. A second chance means an opportunity to turn a life
around; a chance to break the grip of a drug habit; a chance to
support a family, to pay taxes, to be self-sufficient.
Today, few of those who return to their communities are prepared for
their release or receive any supportive services. When the prison door
swings open an ex-offender may receive a bus ticket and spending money
for a day or two. Many leave prison to return to the same environment
which saw them offend in the first place. But, as they return, they
often face additional barriers to reentry: Serious physical and mental
health problems, no place to stay and lack of education or
qualifications to hold a job. As a result, two out of three will be
rearrested for new crimes within the first three years after their
release. Youthful offenders are even more likely to re-offend.
One-third of all correction departments provide no services to
released offenders, and most departments do not offer a transitional
program, placing a heavy burden on families and communities.
Considering the cost of incarceration (as much as $40,000 per year)
and all the social and economic costs of crime to the community, it's
just common sense to act to help ex-offenders successfully reenter our
communities and reduce recidivism.
That's why I have sponsored the bipartisan Second Chance Act of 2007
(HR1593), along with Representatives Cannon, Conyers, Coble, Scott of
Virginia, Smith of Texas, Jones of Ohio, Forbes, Schiff,
Sensenbrenner, Chabot, Jackson-Lee of Texas, Cummings, Johnson of
Georgia, Clarke and 75 other Members of Congress. A companion bill
(S1060) has been introduced into the Senate sponsored by Senators
Biden, Specter, Brownback, Leahy, Obama and 10 other Senators.
The Second Chance Act will provide transitional assistance to assist
ex-offenders in coping with the challenges of reentry. It will reduce
recidivism. It will help reunite families and protect communities. It
will enhance public safety and save taxpayer dollars. It is the humane
thing to do. It is the responsible thing to do. It is the right thing
to do.
The Judiciary Committee held hearings on the bill last month and
quickly voted to send the bill to the full House. I fully expect it to
pass very soon. The bill has the support of more than 200 criminal
justice, service provider, faith based, housing, governmental
disability and civil rights organizations. President Bush has signaled
his support of the legislation as well.
No single piece of legislation is going to solve the reentry crisis we
are facing, but the Second Chance Act is a good start. I hope that
with the passage of this bill, we will begin a new era in criminal
justice.
I am convinced that any serious effort to facilitate the reentry of
men and women with criminal records to civil society must be prepared
to do two things. First, we must be prepared to help with drug
treatment on demand for everyone who requests it. Second, we need to
find work for ex-offenders. Programs won't supply jobs. After
ex-offenders have undergone rehabilitation and received appropriate
training, employers will have to open their hearts and put these men
and women back in the work force, or they will surely and certainly
end up back in prison. If you agree, I hope you will join me in
speaking up in favor of a Second Chance in your community.
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