https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Public Safety


Photo by Carles Rabada on Unsplash

Article

Smarter criminal justice reform

Smarter criminal justice reform

  • Written by Morag Lucey
  • 20th May 2020

The United States has a massive incarceration problem. Since the 1970s, there has been a 700 percent increase in our prison population. Currently, about 2.3 million women and men are incarcerated, with close to 650,000 people released from prisons each year. The reality that these people face when released is a lack of marketable skills and joblessness. Both of these factors account for the fact that within three years of release, 67.8 percent will be rearrested.

Smart reform must focus on two core areas: employability and helping individuals address the issues that led them to prison. The former can be done by providing on-the-job experience in prison and through skills-based programs offered by non-profit organizations like The Last Mile. Both paths must focus on helping women and men increase their marketability so that they are competitive in the hiring process when they reenter society.

One company, Phoenix-based Televerde began working with incarcerated women in Arizona in 1994. Twenty-five years later, the company’s U.S. engagement centers are staffed almost entirely by women in prison. Televerde empowers incarcerated women with business skills and technology certification, which helps them prepare for life after prison. Support continues with career opportunities, mentoring, and a host of life, wellness, and community resources following their release.

A recent study by the Arizona State University Seidman Research Institute validates the social and economic impact of this prison workforce development program on individuals, families and the state of Arizona.

Impact on program participants:

  • Recidivism (i.e., the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend) among program participants is 91 percent lower than the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ national rate among females released from state prisons: one-year rate: 0.4 percent; three-year rate: 5.4 percent.
  • Graduates are 2X more likely to be in gainful employment post-release; 94 percent of graduates are in paid employment 5 years after incarceration compared to 49 percent of other formerly incarcerated women.
  • Graduates earn almost four times the national average for formerly incarcerated females, average lifetime earnings of up to $1.9M depending on age.
  • Despite similar levels of at the time of incarceration, graduates attain higher levels of education with 84 percent having some college and 30% earning advanced degrees.

Impact on families:

  • Dependent children are 11x more likely to graduate high school than dependent children of other incarcerated mothers.
  • Adult children 11x less likely to be incarcerated compared to the adult children of other incarcerated mothers.
  • Almost 70 percent of graduates report improved relationships with children, partners/spouses, and other family members as a result of their experience.

Impact on the state of Arizona:

  • Reduced recidivism.
  • Saves up to $9.5M annually; $76M since 2011 for Arizona state.
  • $7.8M – $8.9M annual savings due to fewer children in foster care.
  • <3 percent dependence on entitlement programs due to higher employment and salaries.
  • Program participants may contribute an additional $27M in personal income taxes over their post-release lifetime due to increased earnings.
  • These operations generated $238M GDP and $196M labor income 2011- 2018.

These are strong outcomes result from providing marketable skills training, continuous learning and on-the-job experience to individuals while incarcerated. The results also underscore the economic benefits and savings when we prepare people for high-skill jobs.

Today, Televerde operates 10 engagement centers inside three U.S. state prison facilities. This project show government and business the talent that exists behind bars.

The main takeaways include:

  • A person’s background or circumstance does not define their character, capabilities or future.
  • Discarding anyone for the worst mistake they made on the worst day of their life is a waste of human potential.
  • When people are given opportunities and support to reach their highest potential, they almost always will.

Morag Lucey is the Chief Executive Officer for Televerde, an integrated sales and marketing technology organization based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Tags: News Public Safety News Public Safety Article

Most Recent


  • Report: Nearly 95 percent of America's mayors face harassment, threats and violence
    In today’s divided socioeconomic landscape—one that’s rife with political angst—harassment of mayors has become commonplace, especially against minority leaders. Women mayors and mayors of color face more frequent and acute incidents of harassment and violence, according to new research from the advocacy organizations Equity Agenda and the Mayors Innovation Project. Nearly half of all women mayors […]
  • Report: Almost half of public sector retirees don't touch their retirement plans for a decade
    Once retired, nearly half of public sector employees aren’t taking any action with their defined contribution retirement plan funds for at least a decade, according to research from Mission Square Research Institute, which included the analysis of more than 100,000 public service data records. In their first ten years of retirement, researchers found that 48 […]
  • Victims of Surfside condo collapse settle for nearly $1B in class action lawsuit
    Nearly $1 billion—that’s how much victims of last year’s Surfside, Fla. condo collapse will receive, lawyers representing victims in a class action lawsuit announced unexpectedly Wednesday in a courtroom hearing. It’s among the largest settlements from a single incident in U.S. history. “We all know there is no amount of money in the world that […]
  • When thinking about green energy and new construction, build smarter
    From solar solutions to rainwater reclamation, of the many advancements in green energy that’ve been made over the past few decades, city and county administrators should take particular note of those made in the building construction sector. In 2018, for example, a little more than $300 billion in public dollars was spent on new construction, […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • How governments can keep employees safe as they return to work
  • Preventing cyber-attacks needs to be a priority for local governments
  • Building community and officer wellness through data sharing
  • California city combines advanced technology with dedicated public safety team for comprehensive emergency management

White papers


The PIO’s Ultimate Guide to Social Media

16th May 2022

Gain Greater Visibility Into Your Public Works Fleet

16th May 2022

Arizona Arts Center Meets Rapid Deadline with Hundreds of Thousands in Savings

26th April 2022
view all

Events


PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

Report: Nearly 95 percent of America’s mayors face harassment, threats and violence dlvr.it/SQTn2z

16th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

The PIO’s Ultimate Guide to Social Media dlvr.it/SQTdCK

16th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Gain Greater Visibility Into Your Public Works Fleet dlvr.it/SQSqXG

16th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Report: Almost half of public sector retirees don’t touch their retirement plans for a decade dlvr.it/SQKMjp

13th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Four steps to ensure your budget prioritizes equity dlvr.it/SQJgZz

13th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Victims of Surfside condo collapse settle for nearly $1B in class action lawsuit dlvr.it/SQJffb

13th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Impact investing merges making money with making a social impact dlvr.it/SQGBgv

12th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Amazon Business caters to the public sector with technology-driven features and benefits dlvr.it/SQF2Gm

12th May 2022

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2022 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X