Justice Department Helping Ease Convicts Back Into Society
Justice Dept. says helping convicts find jobs reduces chance they’ll return to crime, makes public safer.
The U.S. Justice Department is launching an effort to help reduce crime by helping former prisoners become productive citizens.
The government calls it “National Reentry Week,” a time to shine a spotlight on the difficulties felons face as they return to society.
Crime statistics show that two-thirds of those who serve jail time are likely to end up back behind bars.
Experts say that’s in part because employers are reluctant to hire those with a felony on their record. And many former convicts may feel they have few choices to earn money other than by returning to a life of crime.
So the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Barbara McQuade, says it’s important to help offenders become productive citizens.
But McQuade tells WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter it can be a daunting task.
