Texas Prisoner Re-Entry Movement Helps Ex-Inmates Become Productive Citizens

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June 8, 2010— More than 797,000 people are under correctional supervision in Texas.¹  Seventy thousand Texas prisoners will be released this year.²  More than half these of released prisoners will return to prison within three years.³ 

June 28-30, hundreds of Texas government, community and faith leaders will gather at Out4Life Texas to discuss reducing recidivism and the $2.96 billion in taxes spent each year on corrections in Texas.¹  Successful re-entry is the answer according to Out4Life organizers, which include Prison Fellowship - the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families - and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.  Out4Life will address the keys to ex-prisoners' successful re-entry including the ability to find jobs, locate housing, obtain needed social services and mentors.

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WHAT:  Launch of the Out4Life Texas re-entry movement to tackle prisoner re-entry issues.  The goal of Out4Life Texas is to establish local coalitions, particularly in the San Antonio, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin, Amarillo, Beaumont and El Paso areas, to help released prisoners find steady jobs, adequate housing, substance-abuse treatment and supportive relationships that keep them from returning to prison.

WHO:  In partnership with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Prison Fellowship - the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families - will host Out4Life Texas.  The launch event will feature speakers including: 

• Prison Fellowship Texas Executive Director Tommie Dorsett
• Texas Department of Criminal Justice Vice-Chairman Tom Mechler
• Texas Department of Criminal Justice Deputy Executive Director Bryan Collier
• 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

Workshops will delve into topics such as employment, housing, education, addiction treatment, public safety, family issues, special needs of veteran and 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

DETAILS:  Schedule

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:  Any organization or individual who would like to work together to address practical barriers to prisoner re-entry and offer strategies to reduce prisoner recidivism is invited to attend.  All attendees may participate in a marketplace exhibit center with booths and displays about their re-entry support services and assistance.

REGISTER:  www.Out4Life.com

 

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

 

 

¹ Pew Center on the States

² Texas Department of Criminal Justice

³ Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2002

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