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Stop the Downward Spiral of Criminal Recidivism

Goodwill Industries Increases Services to Ex-Offenders by 20 Percent; Calls on Congress to Act

By George W. Kessinger

More than 1,700 people convicted of crimes are released from state and federal prisons every day.  According to the U.S. Department of Justice, three out of five will be charged with new crimes within three years; two out of five will be re-incarcerated.  Those who participate in prison education, vocation and work programs have better odds of staying out of jail, but a critical and often difficult first step is getting a job.

Every day, in cities across America, Goodwill Industries works with convicted criminals who have paid their debt to society and are struggling to rejoin the community. In 2006 nearly 100 local Goodwill agencies across the United States helped more than 54,000 current and former inmates, an increase of 20 percent over 2005. At Goodwill, we know first hand that it takes much more than a strong work ethic to be relevant in today's workplace. It takes long-term and ongoing employment solutions and a criminal justice system that helps people find a path to self-sufficiency and financial independence through work.

Last week our nation’s leaders failed to take action on legislation known as the Second Chance Act, leaving this country without comprehensive and coordinated services for ex-offenders. It’s time for Congress to stop ignoring the downward spiral of criminal recidivism and fund the integration of drug treatment and mental health services, job training and family strengthening. 

At Goodwill we know it takes more than a helping hand for people leaving prison to move into lives as productive citizens.  People like Edward in San Francisco, CA, a single father of seven who was homeless and a first-time drug offender.  Today, with Goodwill’s help, Edward has a job and his record is expunged.  His housing has stabilized and his children are college bound. People like Vincent in Detroit, MI, who mixed his legitimate business with illegal drug trafficking.  After his release from prison, Vincent spent eight months trying to find a job, but found only repeated rejections, mostly due to his criminal record.  Feeling hopeless and frustrated, he found training and career support at Goodwill, and is now employed and providing for his family.

When people like Edward and Vincent are having a hard time finding a job – either because they have a criminal record, live in poverty, or lack of education and work experience – Goodwill Industries is there to help. We do that by selling your donations of clothing and household items and using the proceeds to fund job training programs that benefit hundreds of thousands of people each year.  

Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, for example, began Project Caring Community in 2003 to help female ex-offenders transition to community life after their release from prison.  This Goodwill agency provides case management services and medical assistance as well as counseling by trained psychologists to deal with a variety of social, personal and family issues. 

In San Antonio, TX, the local Goodwill agency leads a collaboration of faith and community-based groups in an efficient, seamless service continuum for non-violent offenders.  The agency’s “Learn While You Earn” program features transitional employment, job retention support and continuous case management, in addition to job placement, housing assistance, counseling, and alcohol and drug treatment. 

These programs and others nationwide are helping people like Edward and Vincent become productive tax paying citizens.  They are not a drain on our nation’s limited resources, nor an ongoing threat to public safety. While the costs to taxpayers of our nation’s correctional system soared from $9 billion per year in 1982 to $60 billion two decades later, recidivism has not improved over the last 30 years.  Given the current amount spent on corrections, even a modest reduction in the rate of recidivism would yield substantial economic benefits.  It is time for Congress to act.

George W. Kessinger is President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International.