Bipartisan Coalition of 36 Attorneys General Sign Letter Requesting Resources for Reentrants that will also Cut Taxpayers Costs
HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday is leading a coalition of 36 Attorneys General in urging Congress to pass into law H.R. 1633 — the Workforce Reentry Act, sponsored by Congressman Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster) — which will equip individuals released from prison with resources and skills to successfully reintegrate into society.
The legislation would increase public safety by reducing recidivism rates, while cutting taxpayer burdens related to incarceration costs, and empowering the paroled individuals to lead fulfilling lives.
H.R. 1633 would make permanent grant funding opportunities for resources and programming, while ensuring efficient use of those funds by attaching new requirements to the grants.
“Successful reentry benefits everyone, so we need to do all we can to provide people leaving incarceration the tools they need to land on their feet and be contributors for their families and communities,” Attorney General Sunday said. “We are asking Congress to recognize the essential resources and services made available to reentrants under the Workforce Reentry Act. Employment provides a person with an identity, a sense of self-worth and pride that positively impacts everything they do.”
According to federal data, the national recidivism rate is around 68 percent for individuals within three years of completion of incarceration. That number soars to 83 percent over nine years.
Recidivism not only potentially endangers every person, family, and community when a new crime is committed, it also results in tremendous taxpayer costs associated with arrest, prosecution, and incarceration.
Recidivism, however, is not inevitable. Research shows the impetus for recidivism is lack of opportunities and skills for those leaving prison — including employment opportunities.
Currently, funding for programs that bolster those skills and opportunities is in flux and oftentimes not available at all. The Workforce Reentry Act would make permanent grant funding streams to stabilize resources related to successful reentry.
Communities that have embraced reentry programs have seen significant decreases in recidivism rates and prison populations.
Drafting of the letter was led by Attorney General Sunday, along with New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, District of Columbia Attorney General David Schwalb, and Utah Attorney General Derek Brown, and has bipartisan participation.
Joining Pennsylvania, New Jersey, District of Columbia, and Utah in signing the letter are Attorneys General from: American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Northern Mariana Island, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Read the letter HERE.
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