Michigan has managed to drop its recidivism rate from 38 percent to 31 percent, according to a new Pew Center on the States report. (See Reentry Central News, Pew Center on the States Offers a Look at Recidivism in America, 04/14/11)
The Pew Report conducted a study that evaluated released prisoners over the course of three years. There were two groups, one group was released in 1999, and the other one was released in 2004. According to the Pew report, in the 1999 Michigan group, 13% of the participants went back to prison for committing a new crime, while 15% of the 2004 group were re-incarcerated. The recidivism rate dropped dramatically when Michigan parole officers stopped sending parole violators back to prison for minor violations. In the 1999 study, 25% of parole violators were sent back, but only 16% of the 2004 group who violated did.
Not incarcerating parolees for minor infractions is just one of the reasons Michigan’s recidivism rate has dropped. When a prisoner enters the Michigan Department of Corrections system, he or she undergoes an evaluation. Depending on the outcome of the evaluation, the inmate is enrolled into a program for his or her specific needs. Substance abuse education classes, anger management programs, and GED classes are some of the available resources. Upon release, an inmate is given connections to service organizations in the community.
A novel approach to successful reentry is undertaken by the Grand Rapids Police Department. Police officers visit prisoners who will be returning to Grand Rapids. The police officers inform the inmates about how to establish networks that can help with reentry. The GRPD even gives them tips about what to do if they find themselves involved in an incident with the police.
Source: Grand Rapids Press
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