The Transition of an Offender from Jail into the Community

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Many would say that offenders are hopeless and if one looks at the rate of recidivism, one would definitely think that our nation’s offenders are indeed hopeless. However, what if there was a way to reduce the rate of recidivism and at the same time rehabilitate offenders in order to make them functioning members of the community? Reentry programs that are implemented correctly cannot only reduce the rate of recidivism but at the same time help to rehabilitate an offender through education, treatment, and therapy. The Second Chance At is a law that went into effect April 29, 2008 (P.L. 110-199) and it allows government agencies to provide services to offenders that will help to reduce the rate of recidivism as well as improve the overall outcome for offenders that are released for detention facilities. These organizations receive monies through federal grants in order to successfully provide these services to adult offenders as well as juvenile offenders. This paper will examine how education combined with therapy and skills training can help change an offender’s life for the better.

Reentry is the transition of an offender from jail or prison into the community and reentry programs assist offenders with services needed in order to successfully reintegrate into the community. The Second Chance Act of 2008 allows offenders to participate in programs that will teach them how to handle the challenges they will face upon release as well as treatment for drug and alcohol dependence and career training, which will benefit greatly upon release. Over the past decade there have been many changes regarding the release of prisoners due to the high rate of recidivism among offenders. Reentry programs need to be examined...

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...portant tool in reducing the rate of recidivism when in reality, all therapy and training must work hand in hand in order to provide an offender with the best tools and preparation for reentry that they could ever have.
United States offenders are not hopeless. Each offender needs individualized therapy that will cater to the root cause of delinquency and each offender has different educational needs. Many offenders need therapy to change the way they think and how they view the world around them. These changes are not going to happen alone and cannot possibly happen with a cookie cutter program. In order to reduce the rate of recidivism and successfully reintegrate offenders into the community, all services must lead to the bettering of an individual and aiding them in successfully staying in the community, not simply reentering into the community.

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