Trying to stay out of prison
Posted at 1:17 PM on February 14, 2012
by Dan Olson
(0 Comments)
Filed under: Crime
A fine piece of reporting by MPR colleague Rupa Shenoy shows how having a friend helps people in prison stay out of prison.
Nearly everyone behind bars is eventually released but recidivism or re-offending rates remain stubbornly high.
Rupa profiles a faith-based effort inside the women's prison at Shakopee and at a men's prison in Lino Lakes.
The key to the program's success? Probably several, but this piece of Rupa's reporting leapt out at me:
"The volunteers provide emotional support and help inmates leaving prison find housing and jobs -- two obstacles that, unless overcome, can end up sending other offenders back to prison."
Amen.
Think about it. You're out of prison. You may have family ready to help you. But if not your chances of finding housing and a job with a prison record are not rosy.
There are lots of folks involved in mentoring prison inmates, but the numbers fall far short of the need.
The Council on Crime and Justice based in Minneapolis led by former Hennepin County judge Pamela Alexander issued this invitation for mentors recently:
"All volunteers will mentor men returning from prison in group mentoring sessions that occur at the Community Reentry Hub located at 125 West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis. Group mentoring sessions meet once a week for approximately 90 minutes per week. " The Council puts the time commitment at about four to six hours a month.
One of the state's longest running prisoner befriending groups is Minneapolis-based Amicus , again with an extensive prisoner help program always in need of volunteers.
| February 2012 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | |||
Master Archive
Recent Entries
- Ramsey County hazardous waste drop-off available May 26
- Wheelchairs get a lift for bus travel
- Minneapolis cemetery hosts live show
- Mississippi River Trail becomes first U.S. Bicycle Route in Minnesota
- Mpls meters double as bike racks
- The bain and blessing of surface parking lots
- City aims for June reopening of Sabo bridge
- St. Paul libraries: We'll pay you $4/hour to read a book
- Minneapolis moving toward single-sort recycling
- Vote for how to build bridges across faiths and cultures
Categories
Services
In The Spotlight
-
Sound Learning
Looking for ways to ensure your students are doing quality research from credible sources? Sound Learning is a launching point to Minnesota Public Radio's content on the Web. -
The Current Music Blog
Your daily note for good music, news and pop culture. With attempted jokes.
- Become a Member
- Member Connect Accounts
- Leadership Circle
- Sustaining Members
- Member Discounts
- Become a Sponsor
- Tax Information
- Planned Giving
- Vehicle Donation
- Donate Stock