It appears as if attention is now being given to the problems of re-entry and recidivism. Recently the NAACP posted a paper, “Misplaced Priorities: Over Incarcerate, Under Educate, which at the very least address some of the problems systemically destroying our communities. Persons are  being released from prisons five days a week with the expectation they will be well received and afforded the opportunity to be productive citizens. A myth or lie? Who knows? The truth is that once released the cycle begins.
 

He/she has to struggle to find a place to stay. The requirement that one must find employment adds additional stress and especially since nothing has been done while in prison to educate or prepare one for re-entry the same problems faced  prior to prison have multiplied themselves. Now comes the real struggle, trying to be a part of a real family that is strange to all concerned, especially for those having served long sentences when neither knows the other. Truth be told there aren’t any jobs for ex-offenders. For those black it’s even worse. The competition is overwhelming! It used to be “last hired, first fired”, now they just don’t hire and can use the excuse of the economy to justify.  What if while in prison one was afforded an opportunity to obtain a real education or those not interested in school were given a trade or taught entrepreneurial skills then our recidivism rate would reverse itself. Isn’t it time we go back to rehabilitation? History has shown our prisons didn’t begin to explode until draconian laws were implemented extending sentences for those convicted of minor drug crimes. Is it any surprise our prisons are overflowing while our schools are little more than detention centers?

Keep in mind that "if a man isn't given a way to make a living he will take a living".

Let’s ask that the money be spent on providing real services.