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June 09, 2005
Maryland Program Helps Released Convicts
60 Minutes, Wednesday (June 8), featured a Maryland program for released convicts called the Maryland Reentry Partnership. This voluntary program has been active for three years and has counseled 193 released prisoners, many of whom have been drug addicts. The recidivism (return to jail) rate is a startling 11%, as compared to the national average of 52%. 60 Minutes followed the lives of two men for over a year, one of whom has succeeded and one who has not.
Two counselors are assigned to each client. The counselors are frequently ex-offenders themselves who have overcome their problems. They find housing for their clients and relate with them day and night, guiding them to a life in the community. They are determined and tenacious, and believe the majority of their clients can be helped. The program is similar to outreach programs that have been successful with the severely chronically mentally ill.
Joann Levy helped found the program.
Related links:
"How to Keep Convicts at Home" 60 Minutes, June 8, 2005
The Maryland Reentry Partnership, The Enterprise Foundation website
Posted by admin at June 9, 2005 12:15 PM