mg dont v PO your Aonce avuunot Them - Ste same finttnce Fenorciect words. Aish CONT MK TO MOAN TAIT ON Rod ez 1 Noelia Rodriguez Professor Moore English 1302-01 21 March 2017 Recidivism Just like in the rest of the United States, Houston has been struggling to keep the recidivism rate down, However, the problem is not always ex-offenders wanting to commit the 0% crimes to get put in jail again(Some ex-offenders want to get their lives straight. But, ex- owe ane il offenders are faced with many challenges when they are released. Although, many Prisons have oe put in place programs to help with the challenges ex-offenders face upon reentry into society and to help keep the recidivism rate down |Not all programs can address the problems that ex- offenders encounter, Many factors contribute tothe problem of recidivism. In fac, these factors begin in dealing with the core needs of an ex-offender: [Such as, finding family, obtaining shelter, earning income, continuing health treatments, criminal justice obedience, and peer support} Lore nit + f Fi fo cee . . : oo KEN {Gn-occasion- some inmates while in prison lose touch-with thet famities Family contact ent u ot orga" is vil aspect forthe exofTender tobe able to suceein society. Infact the amily can yk provide temporary shelter, income, transportation to see probation officers, peer groups ora WS, ‘counselor until he/she can be stable and self-sufficient. Consequently, not all inmates are able to keep caine fe he endo oec sel eee fon ean OY Pe al a eee seventeen dollars for fifteen minutes or twenty-five cents per minutes |Thus, making ithard for poverty stricken families to accept calls from their loved one in jail. In the end, making it difficult to find and keep in touch with them,Rodriguez 2 If the ex-offender can not find a friend or family member to stay with after being released & from jail, then they tum to the streets and are homeless. In which, makes it easy to Fall back into A their old habits of defiance of the law. och Gey Robert Stanton in the Houston WO ITAHICS Chronicle, “Hud: Ex-inmates need help to stay off streets in Houston.” “But you’re not used to the mosquitoes, the bugs and snakes, so suddenly the Harris County Jail is a viable option... short-term lease, you'll be accommodated in an air-conditioned jail for months or maybe a year (Lastname po) and a half” (qd-in-Stanton). In that sense, if the programs that the prisons have can find the ex- inmate a place to call home then perhaps the recidivism and homeless rate can drop. Being unemployed can be demeaning and hinder one’s self-esteem but, being unemployed and with a cri I record has to be even more belittling to one’s self-esteem, Many employers will not even consider looking at an ex-offenders application if they become informed that they spent time in jail regardless of the offense, That could be due to the stigma that comes with the title of “ex-offender.” Even though some states do provide programs that help inmates gain a skill while in jail, and other programs help with finding a job upon release, there still the chance that the freed indi fual will return to the streets and repeat the wrongdoing, Samuel L, Myers, Jr. from The University of Pinsburgh puter "There is an emerging consensus that employment programs for ex-offenders do not work.” He argues that “there is little evidence that such programs have had a consistent and substantial impact on employment or recidivism.” However, there is some optimism in his report, because he later states that they have helped some ex-offenders. On the other hand, the success depending on the individuals crime that that individual committed and time served. For example, if he/she was a person that has a good work history and this is their first offense, and only served a year in prison for the drug-related offense.‘Then perhaps they could recover and have a successful outcome. In cither case, employment services for ex-offenders are a dire need, even if they only help a few. Itis easy for a person in the penitentiary to see a doctor, nurse, or mental heath professional because they are all there at the prisoner's disposal. By way of contrast, when prisoners are released they are not always able to continue receiving medical treatments. Prisons do offer programs that will provide mental health services. But, the facilities that provide these services are often too far and overbooked. Thus, making it extremely difficult to continue drug treatment and often results in relapse. These programs are state funded, and their funding is limited. In an investigation done by Jason Schnittker, Christopher Uggen, Sarah K.S. Shannon, and Suzy Maves McElrath from the University of Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Georgia ‘mention that their“ analyses established an intersection between systems of care and corrections, linked by inadequate financial and mechanisms for delivering services to former inmates.” Unfortunately, ex-inmates do not have means of obtaining accessible healthcare, Subsequently leading to drug relapse, in which can lead to recidivism. The goal is for the ex-inmate not to make the same bad choices and to abide by the laws. Matt Ferner of The Huffington Post states, “It also could be because the programs are focused on punishment, deterrence, or control or don’t do enough to change the individual’s thought process during the program course work” (Schnittker et al.)PHASE Livelihood + Gate money + Public assistance Survival. soup Iktchens, pantriee + Personal care kits + Public assistance! Sabi * Employ mentor mation education ‘eaining + Clothes for interviews + Job that set PES Being wage dency oes benefits Adequate money for food, lething, GOAL —transpor tation, and personal ‘and family expences Residence + Shelter +Family or ‘friend Street ‘Transitional residence +Familyor friend + One o«n apartment with public subsidy, if necessary + Sefe,clean, affordable home that dates household comfort aby Sours a Pen ean nce ivteahnalpanutopety one vars hen eeee Oecrerat oman rian etasan New tod BASIC LIFE AREAS Health and Famity _Heslthan Ae sonny children medication Make =Rolapoe contact fea + Drug “Superviced _ eatment viaton and cece, eeAmentof + Get reforit i urgent lerized healthand Trial mental discharge mtues + Counseling + Regular heath + Reuni visits paid a byheakth sPortcipate Plane infomity counseling “Ongoing support, Contribute Yo etep, toothes therm community activities + Physically *Rewrfee: —“andmental ion wi ipheatty, = sReconcii- affordable stonwan —gualityeare, familymem- including bers prescrip tions Criminal Pia compliance +Reportto supervising, suthonity (cour, probation, pa- rolesete.) + Comply with requirements, + Eoen reduced supervision + Satisfy conditions of supervision bylaws Live without community ‘sopervsion Rodriguez 4 Socialfcivie connections + Receive peer support sein support group or nurturing community + Volunteer work Help others + Contribute to ‘community life “Healthy rendships and network of ‘supportive ‘adults + Opportuni- Serta gue back, eve participation voting, ete) THE HUFFINGTON POSTRodriguez 5 «s cited ou a) SCHNITTKER, JASON, et al. "The Institutional Effects of Incarceration: Spillovers from e —> Criminal Justice to Health Care." Milbank Quarterly, vol, 93, no, 3, Sept. 2015, pp. 516-560. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/1468-0009.12136.