The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

The plan would allow inmates to complete drug rehabilitation programs, vocational training and college courses in preparation for their productive return to society, said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Linda “Toddy” Puller, R-Mount Vernon.

“They need to start some sort of program on every prisoner and get them ready for what they do when they get out, so they do not commit more crimes,” Puller said.

Senators passed SB 200 on a 40-0 vote. It now goes to the House for consideration.

Puller said the bill is the product of a joint legal commission to study prisoner re-entry that she has chaired for the last three years.

“The goal of the commission is to do certain things to make people able to get out and not do the actions that would have them come back to jail,” Puller said.

The bill is also part of the legislative package supported by Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell.

J. Tucker Martin, McDonnell’s communications director, said the goal is to keep people from returning to prison after being released. According to data from the Department of Corrections, nearly one-third of released inmates return to prison within three years of their release.

“I think that we’ve seen a need for a structured re-entry into society for prisoners,” Martin said. “Too often we find inmates leave prison with no plan and no hope, so they return to crime.”

One former inmate, who calls himself Universal L.I.F.E. Allah, said most prisoners are not properly prepared to re-enter society.

“From what I’ve seen from the time I was incarcerated … there is no true rehabilitation taking place,” Universal said.

Universal served 12 years in various correctional facilities; he was released last summer from Coffeewood Correctional Center in Mitchells. While in prison, Universal received job training in residential electrical wiring and took correspondence courses. Now that he has been released, Universal plans to finish his business degree at Virginia Commonwealth University and enter an electrical apprenticeship.

“Those who want rehabilitation have to take the initiative and apply themselves to those programs,” Universal said.

A local advocacy group, Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged, assists prisoners who want to take the initiative to find educational courses and receive vocational training. The group also provides inmates with information on how to apply for benefits they may be entitled to, and where to find legal help.
The director of RIHD, Lillie Branch-Kennedy, also said that re-entry planning is the key to reducing recidivism.

“Today’s prisoners are tomorrow’s neighbors, and we need to get to them from the beginning … when they bring them down there and have them locked down 23 hours with little to no education or rehabilitation,” Branch-Kennedy said.

Under the current laws, the Department of Corrections does not begin re-entry planning for most inmates until 90 days prior to their release.

“I said that I wanted to better myself, period. I knew one day that I would be released; if I didn’t do it, no one would do it for me,” Universal said.

Both Universal and Branch-Kennedy agree that inmates are not made aware of and encouraged to enter programs enough. They said many inmates come out of prison homeless and unemployed.

“How much more do you need to know to move to say that housing, employment and medical care assistance is needed for those who re-enter society?” Branch-Kennedy said.

The bill does not address the issues of housing, employment and medical care of released inmates, but it does include a provision for mentor pairing when possible. It directs the Department of Correction to coordinate with private organizations and government agencies to set up programs.