Many of those released from prison have long had a hard time readjusting to the outside world. That's as true in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County as it is anywhere else, despite progress that has been made by several organizations. A program that was begun last year, the Offenders Connection Network, is being streamlined to bring together the work that those organizations are doing. As it is now, we all pay the high costs of recidivism.
Those with jobs are much more likely to stay straight. The network, which is affiliated with the Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments, seeks to help inmates with the job hunt and a variety of other needs. It coordinates the strong work being done by several local agencies, including CORE, the Darryl Hunt Project, Eureka House, the Ivy House, New Birth, Project Re-entry, Faith Seeds and Service Corps.
Now, the network wants greater cooperation from the community in its efforts. "What we are trying to do is to make sure that we're all on the same page," said Reginald McCaskill, the chairman of the network.
It's doing that through a Re-Entry Blue Ribbon Task Force led by Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines.
The reasons that ex-inmates fail and end up back in jail or prison are varied. Many employers don't want to give them a second chance. Those employers believe that ex-inmates aren't to be trusted. Former inmates start to lose whatever confidence they've had. And many have problems finding housing, transportation, medical care, job training and counseling for drug and alcohol problems. Ex-inmates also face problems readjusting to family -- and staying away from bad influences.
Often, they get little help with those challenges. Many of these people can't just pick up the phone book and call for help. After being in prison for months and even years, reaching out for help isn't easy.
As many as 100 inmates are released to live in Forsyth County each month, according to the network, and 81 percent of them are released without supervision. Not surprisingly, many ex-inmates land back in jail. The recidivism rate in Forsyth was 53 percent in 2006, according to the network. Many, if not most, of the ex-inmates are jobless when they're re-arrested.
We all end up paying the price. Some of us will be crime victims. All of us share in the costs of jails and prisons, and of social services for ex-prisoners who can't make it on their own.
Judging from the network's strong record of well-organized service, we're betting that this effort will succeed -- if it gets significant community support. It should get it.
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