January 10, 2011

Letter from the Chairman

To Whom It May Concern;

The recent events in Arizona are causing some to reflect on the state of affairs in our great land. People are now asking, “How did we get to such a place of hate and evil intent?”

Representative Tim Holden has an article asking all of us to be more civil. I applaud him for that and certainly agree that is something we must do.

I also have to ask why we are not more forgiving as a people. Which of us has not needed or asked for forgiveness at some point in our matriculation through life? Which of us had anything to do with where we were born or to whom we were born? Of course none of us had any say. Nevertheless, we find ourselves looking down our noses at some that are different than us.

Ladies and gentlemen I submit we have to be more civil, we have to be more forgiving and we have to be more understanding of persons different than us.

When it comes to the ex-offender that has paid his or her debt to society, the question remains, how long must they keep on paying?

When will the slate be wiped clean, the past forgotten so that society can move forward collectively? We must understand that we are as weak as the weakest link. Therefore, it behooves us to pull everyone up and not let anyone get left behind. 

Together we will all overcome or together we will all fail at this thing called “living in peace” with one another. We can do it; we all have to realize the benefits in seeing things the way they ought to be seen. Yes we punish crime, but when the punishment is duly administered and the sentence served is the individual then welcomed back into the fold? If not, why not? We must understand that with recidivism, we all lose. Let’s get this thing right so we can all move forward!!!

Vladimir Beaufils

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Attorney General Eric Holder Convenes Inaugural Cabinet-Level Reentry Council
 Interagency Meeting Focuses on Reducing Recidivism, Saving Taxpayer Dollars, Making Communities Safer

  WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder today convened the inaugural meeting of the Cabinet-level "Reentry Council" in Washington to identify and to advance effective public safety and prisoner reentry strategies.

For the full story, goto DoJ  http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/January/11-ag-010.html

• One in 28 adults in Pennsylvania was under correctional control at the end of 2007.

• Nationwide, 1 in 100 adults were behind bars in 2008, a growth from 1 in 138 from 2004.
As of June 2009, Pennsylvania’s state prison population was 117% over capacity with
over 50,000 inmates at an average cost of almost $100 for each per day.

•  n Pennsylvania, we have 27 state prisons. Thirty years ago, we only had eight. From
1997 to 2007, the number of incarcerated inmates has increased 31.6%.

•  There are over 14,000 inmates in Pennsylvania’s 15 federal correctional facilities.

•  Sixty-three of the 67 Pennsylvania counties have jails combined holding in excess of
35,000 inmates on any given day.

•  The U.S. has 5% of the world population but 25% of the world’s incarcerated population,
more than any other country.

•  Pennsylvania citizens must annually pay out about $36,000 for each state prisoner and
about $20,000 for those in county jails. Prisoners who are 65 or older cost between
$65.000 and $100,000 per year for medical care.

•

More than half of the state prison inmates are classified with “non-violent “offenses who
could be diverted to less costly treatment programs that are more effective in reducing
crime.

•  More than half of Pennsylvania’s prisoners have children. Children with parents in prison
have a seven times greater chance of being incarcerated.

•  Estimates shows 70 to 80% of prisoners have a drug or alcohol addiction. Twenty to 25%
of inmates have some form of mental illness.

•  Education is a key component to reducing crime and recidivism. However, state surveys
report 40.5% of inmates have not completed 12th grade.

•  In 2007, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections released 16,832 inmates from state
prisons. Approximately 19% of these inmates were released at their maximum sentence
date with no supervision during re-entry. Based on recent trends, roughly two out of three
will be re-incarcerated within three years.

•  If an offender is under state parole and violates a condition, he will be sanctioned, sent
to a treatment program or have his parole revoked and re-incarcerated. In 2008, 95% of
parolees were not convicted of a crime. As of the end of 2008, 73% of those on parole
that could work were employed. The rate for successful parole completion was 54% as of
2007/08.

Courtesy of Justice & Mercy Inc.