Great News about Michigan Prisoner Recidivism Rate
I am always happy to report great news here in Michigan and once again I can.
The Michigan Department of Corrections announced the other day that Michigan’s prisoner recidivism rate has dropped to 28.1%, that is the lowest level since the state began recording three-year re-incarceration rates. To put that number in perspective back in 1998 the rate was 45.7%.
That 28.1% recidivism rate ranks Michigan in the Top 10 states in American for prisoner recidivism.
The Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington stated in their statement:
Our communities are safer when we give offenders the tools they need to become successful and productive members of society…The department has made it a priority to provide high-quality education, training and support to offenders returning to our neighborhoods, and Michigan's declining recidivism rates show these efforts are working.
Governor Snyder was quoted in the statement saying:
Ninety-five percent of people in prison will be paroled and 100 percent of them need a job…Finding employment is the best deterrent in keeping former offenders from returning to prison. The Department of Corrections should be proud of the work it’s doing to help our returning residents – to give them the chance that best helps them find a successful path in life.
Whatever makes it work it is great to hear that the state of Michigan has such a low recidivism rate when compared to the rest of the country. I definitely believe that finding decent employment is a very large component in that equation. Hats off to all the employers who give men and women with a prison record a second chance with a job.
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