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Friday, March 29, 2024

Reducing recidivism rates benefits all not just ex-offenders

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Every year, thousands of ex-offenders are released from prison without the resources or means to successfully restart their lives. The consequences can vary from being denied employment opportunities and driver’s licenses, to risking the right to vote and parental rights, to being refused health care benefits, and a variety of other public assistances. 

Unfortunately, that’s a recipe for recidivism, and a perverse incentive to return to a life of crime.

That’s why I recently re-introduced the Recidivism Reduction Act in Congress. This legislation will ensure eligible individuals receive their federal disability benefits on the first day of their release so they can start productive, law-abiding lives when they leave prison.

Currently, barriers in federal law mean returning ex-offenders have to wait several months after their release before being able to re-start some of their benefits. My proposed legislation works to remove these barriers and create a smooth transition so that newly released individuals can have access to their federal disability and health care benefits right away. 

In Indiana and across the country, setting people up for success is what prison reform needs to be about. According to the Marion County Re-entry Coalition, in 2016, 24.2 percent of people released to Marion County returned to the Indiana Department of Corrections within six months of release and 38 percent returned within 12 months of release. 

These statistics must change. That’s why I am proud to re-introduce this bill and I look forward to support from my colleagues as we work on ways to reduce recidivism rates, save taxpayers money and increase the opportunities for released inmates to become contributing members of society once again.

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