Steven P. BarrettLOCKING UP CRIMINALS ... PT. 2
June 25th 2008 05:39
A SHORT WHILE AGO PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNED INTO LAW THE "SECOND CHANCE ACT," which according to prison reform activist and author Pat Nolan, "... aims to reduce recidivism by refocusing prisons on preparing inmates for the difficult transistion back to their home communities."
It wasn't easy getting this bill passed even though it was backed by a wide coalition of prison reform groups, church organizations and even diverse papers as the Washington Times and the NY Times.
Like many of the best things that get passed by Congress, the ideas that everybody wants to join in on the making, it ran into troubles because so many of the same allies were also working overtime when it came to making sure everything was "just so" according to their wishes. That's all fine, except the business of proposing legislation and getting it passed isn't the same as perfecting the art of grandstanding, which so often happens in Washington (and state capitols across the landscape.)
The Act was eventually passed and signed into law by President Bush last April 9th. Furthermore, according to Prison Fellowship Ministries:
You might know of somebody who's presently incarcerated, or about to be. And no doubt, THIS time, is the last time you want this to be. Perhaps this act will not only help our rising inmate population in jail,but also help them stay out of jail once and for all.
It's easy to say "lock 'em up," if the crimes they committ are murder, horrific rapes or long sentences passed down on aging criminals--but by and large, inmates get out and need a transistional help.
Talk's cheap; talk and no money won't help. But a solid- faith-based program dedicated not only to providing both therapeutic and material support will definitely have greater chances of succeeding if the prisoners have also been transformed from WITHIN.
This is a real great opportunity. Let's support it.
It wasn't easy getting this bill passed even though it was backed by a wide coalition of prison reform groups, church organizations and even diverse papers as the Washington Times and the NY Times.
Like many of the best things that get passed by Congress, the ideas that everybody wants to join in on the making, it ran into troubles because so many of the same allies were also working overtime when it came to making sure everything was "just so" according to their wishes. That's all fine, except the business of proposing legislation and getting it passed isn't the same as perfecting the art of grandstanding, which so often happens in Washington (and state capitols across the landscape.)
The Act was eventually passed and signed into law by President Bush last April 9th. Furthermore, according to Prison Fellowship Ministries:
The legislation establishes several grant competitions for states and local governments to improve their planning process for inmates about to be released. One important feature of these grants is the opportunity for states to include in their plans community organizations that provide housing, job training, and health and drug treatment. The SCA also establishes grants for new drug treatment programs, an area that has been severely underfunded.
The program in the bill that is most exciting for Prison Fellowship is the funding for local mentoring programs. Though Prison Fellowship will not accept any government money, the churches we work with will be able to apply for grants to recruit, train, match and monitor mentors for inmates and their families.
Another important provision of the bill reverses the current policy of the Bureau of Prisons that prohibits volunteers who have worked with inmates from mentoring these same inmates when they are released. This ridiculous policy has cut off thousands of ex-offenders from the very people most likely to help them stay out of trouble. Fortunately, when I brought this up before the House Crime Subcommittee, the committee members were outraged and insisted on specifically reversing the policy in the Second Chance Act.
The program in the bill that is most exciting for Prison Fellowship is the funding for local mentoring programs. Though Prison Fellowship will not accept any government money, the churches we work with will be able to apply for grants to recruit, train, match and monitor mentors for inmates and their families.
Another important provision of the bill reverses the current policy of the Bureau of Prisons that prohibits volunteers who have worked with inmates from mentoring these same inmates when they are released. This ridiculous policy has cut off thousands of ex-offenders from the very people most likely to help them stay out of trouble. Fortunately, when I brought this up before the House Crime Subcommittee, the committee members were outraged and insisted on specifically reversing the policy in the Second Chance Act.
You might know of somebody who's presently incarcerated, or about to be. And no doubt, THIS time, is the last time you want this to be. Perhaps this act will not only help our rising inmate population in jail,but also help them stay out of jail once and for all.
It's easy to say "lock 'em up," if the crimes they committ are murder, horrific rapes or long sentences passed down on aging criminals--but by and large, inmates get out and need a transistional help.
Talk's cheap; talk and no money won't help. But a solid- faith-based program dedicated not only to providing both therapeutic and material support will definitely have greater chances of succeeding if the prisoners have also been transformed from WITHIN.
This is a real great opportunity. Let's support it.
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