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www.dol.gov/cfbci
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October 10, 2008 DOL Home > CFBCI > Prisoner Re-entry Initiative | ![]() |
President Bush's Prisoner Re-entry Initiative: Protecting Communities By Helping Returning Inmates Find Work Presidential Action In his State of the Union Address, President Bush proposed a four-year, $300 million initiative to reduce recidivism and the societal costs of reincarceration by helping inmates find work when they return to their communities. The Presidents initiative, contained in his fiscal year 2005 budget, will harness the resources and experience of faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) in helping returning inmates contribute to society. Background Studies show that approximately two-thirds of ex-offenders are rearrested within three years of release, and the costs to the communities (particularly urban communities) of these crimes are large. This year, more than 600,000 adult inmates will complete their sentences and be released. To help ex-offenders stay away from crime, a substantial number of inner-city faith-based and community leaders have created resourceful programs. Working with business and service providers, these organizations provide job training, housing options, and transitional services that help ex-offenders contribute to their communities. Program Specifics Working together, the Department of Labor (DOL), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) would help ex-offenders find and keep employment, obtain transitional housing and receive mentoring the three key requirements for successful re-entry.
This proposal would expand on elements of a pilot project now underway at DOL (the Ready4Work Project). The groups participating in this pilot project have seen promising results:
This initiative will complement existing Administration efforts to mentor the children of prisoners. Last year $9 million was awarded to faith-based and community groups and the omnibus spending bill just passed by the Congress includes $50 million in additional funds. For more information on the President's initiatives please visit www.whitehouse.gov. |
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