According to The Re-Entry Policy Council, approximately “650,000 people were released from prison in 2004”. It means that many people with criminal records try to re-entry American society. It is sad to say that not all of them cope with the task, and recidivism rates are relatively high across the United States. That is why this part will address the critical aspects that a re-entry program should have to help the participants become fully-fledged members of society.
The most significant problem is that many released individuals do not have high school diplomas and experience employment difficulties. That is why it is necessary to have a comprehensive approach, and my program would start in prison. It refers to the fact that individuals would have an opportunity to attend learning and training courses to help them acquire a profession. The video by Films Media Group supports the significance of this step because Richard admits the necessity to undertake a job training program. In addition to that, Visher, Lattimore, Barrick, and Tueller state that it is also necessary to contribute to personal change. That is why my program would include therapy and treatment to improve prisoners’ behavior as well as physical and mental health. Finally, if a prisoner completes all these courses and treatment procedures, they should be provided with an employment opportunity upon release.
To conclude, American society needs an effective re-entry policy to reduce recidivism rates. Any strategy can be useful if it focuses on a comprehensive approach to the problem. As for my proposed program, it should start when people are in prison. Thus, individuals should complete education and training courses and participate in treatment procedures that will contribute to their individual change. Upon release, individuals should be provided with jobs to provide them with legal ways to earn a living.