Reentry Efforts in West Michigan Under Fire

Reentry Efforts in West Michigan Under Fire

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – As part of National Reentry Week, April 24-30, 2016, U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles is sounding the alarm on reentry challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals in West Michigan.

Nationally, approximately two-thirds of formerly incarcerated persons are re-arrested within three years of release and almost half are re-incarcerated. In Michigan, the recidivism rate is a staggering 28 percent. Miles believes that by increasing the success of formerly incarcerated individuals, the community can reduce crime and improve safety.

Miles hosted a Reentry Roundtable, highlighting some of the many outstanding reentry initiatives in the District. Participants included U.S. Magistrate Judge Ellen Carmody, the Michigan Department of Corrections, West Michigan Works!, the Grand Rapids Police Department, community service organizations, and local businesses that employ formerly incarcerated individuals.

One of the initiatives Miles highlighted was the Accelerated Community Entry (ACE) court, which began in 2005 in Benton Harbor and now operates at the federal courthouse in Kalamazoo. ACE is a dedicated federal reentry court that aims to reduce recidivism by providing support services to formerly incarcerated individuals upon release.

Miles has also begun meeting with area Chambers of Commerce to promote an Employer Summit, scheduled for May 26, 2016. The purpose of the Summit is to facilitate discussions with businesses and organizations about employing formerly incarcerated individuals. Employers stand to gain dedicated and loyal employees, and may reap financial benefits through tax incentives.

Miles emphasized that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to reducing crime in the Western District of Michigan by focusing on the population of returning residents. By working with other stakeholders to address challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals, Miles believes that West Michigan can become a safer and more productive community for all residents.

In related news, U.S. Attorney Miles and Barbara L. McQuade, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, visited the Federal Correctional Institution in Milan to discuss reentry issues with Bureau of Prisons personnel and attend a job fair. The job fair included interviews with employers for individuals who will soon be released, as well as skill-building opportunities and mock interviews for other inmates.