Prisoner reentry has fast become a major policy focus for states as each year over 650,000 inmates are released from state and federal prisons. Of these returning prisoners, approximately 67 percent will be rearrested and 50 percent will be re-incarcerated within 3 years.

Overview

Prisoner reentry has quickly become a major policy issue for states as each year approximately 650,000 inmates are released from state prisons. Unfortunately, the chances of a successful reentry for these individuals are low. Approximately 67 percent of returning offenders will be rearrested, and over 50 percent will be re-incarcerated within 3 years. The problem of prisoner reentry is also growing. Returning prisoners now account for a significant and growing percentage of crime rates and are helping to drive prison population growth in many states as large numbers of technical parole violators are being reincarcerated. These trends are significant as states spent a record estimated $42.9 billion on corrections costs alone in 2005.

In an effort to improve public safety and maximize existing resources, states are adopting interdisciplinary strategies that improve how prisoners are released from prison. Recognizing that ancillary supports (e.g., substance abuse and mental health treatment, skill and cognitive training, housing supports, jobs, etc.) help reduce recidivism rates and improve outcomes for returning prisoners, states are improving how state and local service systems provide key services to returning prisoners. They are also working to identify and remove barriers that may impede returning prisoners' chances of a successful reentry.

NGA Prisoner Reentry Policy Academy Round Two
In an effort to help Governors and other state policymakers develop and implement statewide prisoner reentry strategies that reduce recidivism rates by improving access to key services and supports, NGA is supporting a five state Prisoner Reentry Policy Academy (academy). The five states participating in the round two of the academy are:

• Indiana
• Maine
• Minnesota
• Pennsylvania
• Washington

The following seven states participated in the first round of the academy:

• Georgia
• Idaho
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• New Jersey
• Rhode Island
• Virginia

Through the academy, states assembled interdisciplinary reentry policy teams comprised of representatives from the governor's office and key state agencies such as corrections, public safety, health and human services, welfare, workforce, and housing. The goal of the academy is the development of statewide strategic action plans that coordinate services across agencies and improve reentry outcomes along a number of dimensions.