NCJ Number
205396
Journal
Boston College Law Review Volume: 45 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2004 Pages: 255-306
Date Published
March 2004
Length
52 pages
Annotation
This article considers the problems of offender re-entry and explores solutions for successful community reintegration.
Abstract
Federal and State correctional institutions have been steadily releasing record numbers of offenders each year back into communities that are unprepared to deal with the economic and social challenges created by this massive reentry movement. Ex-offenders thus find they are without the community support necessary to become active and successful members of society. The author begins by exploring the political trends that led to rising incarceration rates over the course of the past two decades. The resulting massive reentry of ex-offenders back into their communities is examined in terms of its social, legal, and economic impacts on both the offenders and their communities. Recently efforts at easing offender reentry have resulted in the establishment of reentry courts that focus on ex-offender transition, support, and supervision. Following an examination of the efficiency and institutional competence of reentry courts, the author offers two alternatives for the management of offender reentry. The first alternative involves the evolution of public defenders into a less specialized role whereby they could assist ex-offenders in a variety of issues related to reentry. The second alternative involves affording law students with clinical opportunities to explore non-traditional means of representing ex-offenders. Finally, it is argued that a collaborative relationship between lawyers and communities will be necessary to surmount the considerable challenges facing offender reentry. Footnotes