With over 1.2 million incarcerated Americans, looking behind the bars of our justice system to study recidivism is essential. Recidivism refers to illegal acts carried out by individuals who have previously been incarcerated or faced penalties for prior offenses, a major issue in the field of criminal justice. A recent International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) project titled “Justice in Design” welcomed visitors from the Philippines to U.S. correctional facilities and nonprofits centered on the American justice system. Specifically, this program highlighted domestic efforts to break reincarceration cycles and initiatives for incarcerated women both in prison and upon release.
Studies show that half of U.S. prisoners return to living behind bars within three years. The high human and financial costs of reincarceration harm both those directly involved and society at large, but programming that breaks down the barriers to reentry can transform outcomes. In Sacramento, this IVLP group met with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition on their recent handbook, “Women Do Reentry Differently,” to discuss how reentry specifically impacts previously incarcerated women. For instance, the handbook notes that there are higher expectations for women to readopt roles as the primary parent upon reentry, which can complicate their ability to find employment and satisfy parole requirements.
For both men and women, finding employment can be an effective way out of the reincarceration cycle, but prisoners have disproportionately low rates of education. Formerly incarcerated people often struggle to find a job upon exiting the justice system, not only due to a lack of qualifications but also because of employer hesitancy towards applicants with criminal records.
Despite employer perceptions, programs focused on job training can help prisoners develop the skills required to find employment while providing a sense of purpose and empowerment. A study by RAND found positive outcomes for these kinds of programs, with 43% lower recidivism rates associated with educational prison programs. Additionally, vocational programs were correlated with a 28% higher post-incarceration employment rate. The study also considered the financial impact of these programs, finding that each $1 spent on education saved at least $4 in just the first three years after prisoners’ discharge. This is because these programs are relatively inexpensive and have an impact on recidivism rates that is significant enough that their direct costs are more than offset by their impact on recidivism rates. The financial burden of holding prisoners behind bars varies by state but includes costs of security, facility operations, prison administration, healthcare, and more.
While in the United States, the “Justice in Design” group visited Washington, DC; Kansas City, MO; Boston, MA; Sacramento, CA; and San Francisco, CA. In Sacramento, they stopped at California State University, Sacramento to discuss the Transforming Outcomes Project at Sacramento State (TOPSS). TOPSS is a special four-year program that admits applicants from two California prisons, leading to a B.A. in Communication Studies. Programs like TOPSS can be transformational forces for good, facilitating reentry for formerly incarcerated people.
International visitors also saw the U.S. justice system first-hand while in Kansas City, embarking on comprehensive tours of both the Topeka Correctional Facility and the Chillicothe Correctional Center. In addition, participants engaged in ride-alongs with city police to see the justice system from another viewpoint. Through these experiences, this IVLP group gained a first-hand perspective on the workings and impacts of the U.S. criminal justice system. At nonprofit visits in Boston and Sacramento, international visitors also met directly with formerly incarcerated people who now lead support services for others upon reentry.
Programs such as this IVLP not only provide educational experiences but also have important long-term impacts. As one participant reflected, “This journey through the U.S. has been a transformative experience, broadening my understanding of the criminal justice system and inspiring me to advocate for positive change within my own country.” Knowledge-sharing from this IVLP allows for the spread of effective programs, sparking dialogue between criminal justice leaders from the Philippines and their counterparts in the U.S. International visitors headed home with a new understanding of U.S. rehabilitation programs, leaving behind in turn a wider awareness of Philippine justice systems and culture.
Diana Lorch is a Summer Fellow working in Meridian’s IVLP Department. She is an undergraduate student at The George Washington University studying International Affairs with concentrations in International Politics and Latin America, and a minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
