“This son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;he was lost, and has been found.”

Luke 15: 24 

The numbers are staggering: one out of every 134 Americans is currently imprisoned.  Adding on those who are on probation or parole changes the figures to one out of every 32 adults.  All but those convicted of the most heinous crimes will eventually return to their communities.  In New York State approximately 23,000 men and women are released from prisons every year.   Nearly 40 percent return to jail in the first year after their release. That number rises to 65 percent in a matter of three years.

The good news is that those numbers can change, if ex-offenders enter a community where they receive assistance, respect, and a fair shot at obtaining housing and employment.   A 2007 state-funded survey in collaboration with Harvard University found substantially lower rates of recidivism, higher rates of employment and higher earnings among ex-offenders who receive support after their release, as compared to those who received no such support.  

Some of the more important assistance came in the form of drug and alcohol counseling, job training, housing and a GED program.  As the Monroe County Re-Entry Task Force warns “Ignoring the plight of former offenders puts our community at serious risk of continued violence, criminal activity, an increased tax burden, and irreparable damage to children, families and neighborhoods.” 

Will our Catholic faith communities be prepared to welcome and assist the increasing number of ex-offenders? During 2009, The Public Policy Committee will provide information on ways individuals, parishes, and communities can help.