Einmal Gefängnis, immer (wieder) Gefängnis

In New Jersey, einem anscheinend besonders extremen Beispiel für den ohnehin hohen Anteil von Gefängnisinsassen an der Gesamtbevölkerung, bewegt sich vielleicht etwas. Wie so oft angestoßen von ökonomischen Erwägungen. Anscheinend kehren derzeit zwei Drittel der Entlassenen binnen drei Jahren zurück hinter Gitter:

New Jersey — a state with a terrible record of marginalizing former prisoners — could lead the way. Before the State Legislature in Trenton is a comprehensive package of reforms that would help ex-offenders rejoin society’s mainstream and lower the chances, and costs, of recidivism.

New Jersey lawmakers heard some depressing testimony in hearings leading up to the legislation. Deterred by barriers to jobs, housing and education, about two-thirds of the people released from prison in New Jersey end up back inside within three years. Since taxpayers spend about $48,000 per prison inmate per year, by some estimates, the state could reap significant savings from even a small decline in the return-to-prison rate.

Wobei die Verbesserungen leider sehr kleine Schritte sind — es geht vor allem darum, Ex-Gefangene nicht von vorne herein von Jobs auszuschließen. Oh Amerika! Ein passendes Schlusswort:

Still, the nation as a whole needs to do much more about laws that marginalize former offenders — and often drive them back to jail — by denying them voting rights, parental rights, drivers licenses and access to public housing, welfare and food stamps, even in cases where they have led blameless lives after prison.

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Datum: Freitag, 25. Dezember 2009 18:37
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