A Second Chance: Offender Reentry Policy

Ninety-five percent of all inmates will one day be released from prison, and within three years, about 50 percent will be back, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. They face significant challenges and barriers to reentering the community, and their continued criminal behavior comes at great cost to them and society. Today, state actions and strong federal leadership focus on giving these offenders a second chance and interrupting the cycle of crime and incarceration.

When released, a supervised offender must find and keep a job, find a place to live, renew relationships with family members, and comply with restitution requirements. Yet, many offenders have little education, a history of drug addiction, a mental illness or other issues that hinder their ability to work, meet family obligations and remain crime-free.