National Reentry Week Seeks to Reduce Recidivism Rates

The week of April 23-30, 2017, has been designated as National Reentry Week by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota. This campaign aims to highlight the challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals as they reintegrate into their communities.

National Reentry Week seeks to promote a reduction in recidivism through the elimination of barriers to successful reentry. This includes helping formerly incarcerated individuals find stable housing, compete for jobs, and seek support for their families.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, in 2016 alone, there were 396 former federal prisoners released back to their South Dakota community after spending time in federal custody. Statistically, 20% of all those released will return to prison within three years of their initial release.

To address this issue, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota participated in a Reentry Task Force meeting on April 11, 2017, in Rapid City. The Reentry Task Force is made up of local partners who gather to share and discover innovative methods to address the challenges and gaps in service that can impact the success of formerly incarcerated individuals.

The Reentry Task Force meeting is a part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s ongoing efforts to support reentry programs in the community. You can read more about these programs on the U.S. Attorney’s District of South Dakota webpage at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd.

As the nation continues to work towards reducing recidivism rates, National Reentry Week serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting formerly incarcerated individuals as they work towards a successful reentry into society.

In the words of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ‘much work still needs to be done’ to address the complex issues surrounding reentry. However, with the help of local partners and community organizations, there is hope for a brighter future for those who have served their time.