Every year, six hundred thousand Americans are released from prison.
Unfortunately, almost two-thirds of these returnees are re-arrested on new charges
within three years, many in the first few months post-release.
And while prisons offer programs designed to help men and women
successfully return to society, most of these programs have been ineffective,
worked too slowly, or in a few instances,
have actually made reentry even more difficult.
It's time to rethink prisoner reentry.
The United States incarcerates more of its own citizens than any other nation.
Around two million people currently reside in our jails and prisons
and around 4.7 million Americans are on probation and parole.
Every day, about 1,600 people are released back into our neighborhoods
and communities, and more than a thousand of them will soon be back in prison.
Many research studies have been conducted in an attempt to understand
what is and what isn't working in prisoner reentry programs.
Disconcertingly, most programs don't work. It turns out some individuals do better
with less intervention. Could it be that no treatment is the most effective remedy?
We don't know, but the effectiveness of no treatment is revealing.
The personal motivation of those
returning from prison is probably what leads them to recovery.
Too much treatment, and at the wrong time, or with the wrong services, can make
people feel helpless, instead of capable.
So, how could we build on that insight? I propose combining the individual
practices that have been shown to reduce criminal thoughts and behaviors — substance
abuse treatment and mental health services, for instance — with a reentry strategy
that relies mainly on the innate motivation of the returning citizens themselves.
A major part of this approach would be Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT.
For the uninitiated, CBT is a mental health treatment that can help people
change their behavior by addressing trauma and dysfunctional thought patterns.
So, what would our reentry program look like? We'd offer program participants the
opportunity to join voluntary specialized CBT units.
Participants in our CBT programs would be immersed in activities
designed to help them heal from earlier traumatic experiences
and build stronger decision-making skills.
Simultaneously, reentry coaches and case managers
would work with prisoners to develop participant-led action plans
tailored to their unique needs, recognizing the agency and individual
circumstances of incarcerated people. These plans would help connect the
aspiration to avoid criminal behavior with the supports and services that will
actually reduce the risk of crime. Once participants complete their CBT and
reentry planning, they would receive a certificate of
completion and access to a reentry support account
to help pay for the critical services identified in their reentry plan.
Upon release, the returning citizen would then have the behavioral tools
and the financial resources to successfully navigate
their reentry journey, but the responsibility
for doing so would largely be their own.
Much has been tried in the field of rehabilitation
and reentry that has resulted in less-than-encouraging results,
but researchers, policymakers, and concerned citizens can't give up.
Instead, we need to recommit to innovative solutions.
After decades of disappointment, such an experimental and entrepreneurial mindset
may be the only way to break free of policy deadlock.
While only a piece of a larger policy puzzle, empowering returning citizens to
make their own choices and pursue their own recovery can
help us make a better nation for all Americans.
To learn more about AEI's new book Rethinking Reentry, check out the link
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