Incentive or Good Programs Removed From Prisons Even When They Were Working, Why?

Societal mindset still feels it coddles inmates at taxpayer expense, but isn’t reducing recidivism more critical?

Photo by Volkan Olmez on Unsplash

Each year, in North Carolina where I am incarcerated, more than 22,000 people are released from prison. Across the United States as a whole, more than 600,000 people — another 9 million cycle through local jails. Ninety-eight percent of the inmates in prison today will be released in the future. Over two-thirds of prisoners are rearrested within 3 years of release and half are incarcerated. This is what’s called recidivism.

What do you think makes former inmates re-offend? Would you be surprised to find out how they’re treated in prison makes a difference?

It may seem counterproductive since they know they’ll be coming right back to it, but being treated poorly on the inside, lack of access to education programs, reduced visitation with family and loved ones, and a reduction in training all contribute to inmates returning to prison after being released.

Why?

Once released back to the community, former inmates face numerous challenges. Even if they have families to come home to (which sadly, a lot do not), they still must ensure they can secure employment — of course, to be able to provide for their families but also to meet the conditions of their parole/probation. This is difficult when they don’t have the skills necessary to obtain employment, when they have a criminal record, and when they lack interpersonal skills as well.

Part of the role of prisons is to provide services to inmates while they are in prison to reduce the risk of them reoffending once they are released. Think about it, the point of being incarcerated is to be punished for a crime committed. You’re being removed from society, your family, friends, and loved ones. The majority of your freedoms are taken from you. However, the other purpose of incarceration is supposed to be rehabilitation.

Even before the pandemic caused sweeping changes across the world, incentive and education programs were being removed from prisons. The pandemic became an excuse to remove the pitiful few that…