(Rethinking the role prisons should play in Vermont was a central theme of the Democratic campaign for governor, so it is appropriate to keep the conversation going even as we face other challenges. – promoted by Sue Prent)
The only way to close the revolving prison door is to open another one.
While I am quite tired of the “War on [insert social problem]” formulation, it's still good to see the governor working on an issue he spoke about on the campaign trail:
Shumlin joined lawmakers and judicial branch officials to highlight efforts to lower the number of people who return to prison after being released by stepping up addiction treatment, mental health counseling and other services for nonviolent offenders.
Shumlin's opponent last election tried to demagogue on this, and barely failed to scare enough Vermonters overall though he handily won our county, where there is a correctional facility, by roughly 2:1. I appreciated the governor's not-entirely-original idea to reduce costs in corrections by reducing the nonviolent offender population and reinvesting savings in early education.
Reducing recidivism saves us a great deal of money in the short- and long-term. As the Freep article I link to notes, it costs about $48k/yr to incarcerate versus $6500 for supervision. Fiscally-responsible governance demands we do all we can to keep offenders from returning to prison.
And from a moral and security perspective, it also makes a great deal of sense. How can any citizen exercise their full measure of human rights if we set them up to fail after releasing them? And how can our communities be safe if we have ticking timebombs wandering around with no moderating, mitigating forces to help them walk the straight and narrow?
It's for all those reasons that I began volunteering with the St Albans Community Justice Center's reentry program. Specifically, I'm part of a Circle of Support and Accountability (COSA):
As a member of a Circle of Supportand Accountability, you will work very closely (on a weekly basis) with an offender returning to the St. Albans Community. Your role is to offer mentorship and support toan offender who has expressed a desire to change and a commitment to cause no more harm.
You also will work in a larger group to establish clear expectations with the offender in regards to community behavior and responsibility. COSA members will work in teams of three with a single offender. The commitment is for one year of service. COSA members will receive intensive training, supervision and support by program staff.
Thus far it's been an interesting and positive experience personally, and I am both hopeful and realistic about what will come of the team's efforts. Our “core member” worked hard to get into the program and while we've had some ups and downs–including a rather heavy weekly group meeting today–there is great potential to make good things happen.
I encourage community members to learn about the Second Chance Act, a law signed by President George W Bush that provides grants to programs such as COSA, and check out recent testimony presented to the Legislature about reducing recidivism in our state. And please call the Community Justice Center at 524-7006 if you're interested in volunteering in any capacity (provide transportation, offer employment, donate household items, lead a training/workshop) to help some folks get on the right track, create safer communities and save Vermont a bundle of money.
ntodd
interesting and worthwhile. Though I don’t live near St. Albans, I’m going to see if there is anything I can do.
http://www.ccvs.state.vt.us/jo…
Not sure what programs they offer, but there is probably one close to you where you can volunteer and whatnot.