Gov’t and Community Leaders Work to Keep Offenders Out of Prison

Texas Out4Life Prisoner Re-Entry Movement Examines Ways to Maximize Public Safety and Stretch Corrections Dollars

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June 22, 2010— Texas has more than 797,000 men and women under correctional supervision, costing taxpayers more than $2.96 billion annually.¹  Like it or not, 95 percent of offenders will eventually be released back into your neighborhoods, and two-thirds will be re-arrested within three years for a new crime or for violating the terms of their release²-a public safety and financial crisis. 

June 28-30 in San Antonio, Prison Fellowship-the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families-will launch Out4Life, a re-entry movement bringing together members of Texas' government, businesses, social services and faith communities to tackle the state's re-entry issues.  The goal is to establish local coalitions-particularly in the San Antonio, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin, Amarillo, Beaumont and El Paso areas-to help released inmates find steady jobs, adequate housing, substance-abuse treatment and supportive relationships to help them establish a productive, law-abiding life.  Aiding released offenders is necessary because not only is the revolving door of crime a threat to public safety, but it results in an increasing financial burden on Texas taxpayers.

WHO:  Prison Fellowship, the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-offenders and their families, in partnership with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice

WHAT:  Launch of the Texas Out4Life re-entry movement to tackle offender re-entry issues such as employment, addiction treatment, public safety, family issues, special needs of women prisoners and the importance of establishing re-entry networks

WHEN:  June 28-30

WHERE:  Doubletree Hotel - San Antonio Airport
             37 NE Loop 410 (at McCullough)
             San Antonio, TX 78216
             (210) 366-2424 or (800) 535-1980

REGISTER:  Visit Out4Life.com or call 877-478-0100.  All Out4Life attendees may participate in a marketplace exhibit center with booths and displays about their re-entry support services and assistance 

DETAILS:  Schedule

INTERVIEWS:

• Texas ex-offender David Sims who spent 17 years in prison for manslaughter, now a working, contributor to society
• Lloyd Knapp who has mentored 20 ex-offenders during the past 16 years
• Prison Fellowship Texas Executive Director Tommie Dorsett
• Texas Department of Criminal Justice Director of Reentry and Integration Dee Wilson
• The Urban Institute Justice Policy Center Director Dr.  Nancy LaVigne
• Baylor University Professor of Social Sciences and Director of Institute for Studies of Religion Dr. Byron Johnson

Texas is the ninth state to launch Out4Life.  Re-entry movements are already underway in Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Minnesota and Ohio.

¹ Pew Center on the States

² Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2010

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Quotes

Texas Department of Criminal Justice Director of Reentry and Integration Dee Wilson

• "Successful prisoner re-entry is crucial to public safety and is priority for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which is why we've partnered with Out4Life.  We value the work of government, community and faith leaders in coming together to aide offenders in finding jobs, housing and other needed social services to support their efforts to live productive, law-abiding lives."

 Prison Fellowship Texas Executive Director Tommie Dorsett

• "The goal of Out4Life is for organizations across Texas to converge, coordinate efforts and share best practices to keep released offenders from returning to prison.  By coordinating successful prisoner re-entry services and support, Out4Life will solve the re-entry crisis that is draining the state's pocketbook and threatening the safety of our neighborhoods."

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Bio

Tommie Dorsett, Prison Fellowship Texas executive director

During Dorsett's 10 years with Prison Fellowship, he has helped more than 1,000 inmates complete both the in-prison and post-release programs and become productive members of their communities.  With a vast background in criminal justice, Dorsett has been tapped to participate in a variety of local, regional and national conferences including the White House Faith-Based Prisoner Re-Entry Summit, the Counsel of State Governments Re-Entry Policy Council and the United Kingdom's Ready4Work Prisoner/Ex-offender Conference.  Prior to joining Prison Fellowship, Dorsett was with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice parole division.

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About Prison Fellowship

Prison Fellowship is the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families.  For more information, view the full press kit. 

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