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| Prison Rehab Praised, But Oregon Corrections still Faces Cuts |
| By KTVZ.COM News Sources |
| Published: 04/21/2011 |
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SALEM, Ore. -- The Oregon Legislature this week is considering major cuts to rehabilitation, drug treatment and job training for people in prison -- although a new national report says those programs are exactly what Oregon is doing right to keep people from returning to prison after they're released. Oregon has the nation's lowest recidivism rate, according to Pew Center on the States, which credits programs that prepare inmates for life outside. A legislative subcommittee Tuesday from many who have benefited from the programs. David Rogers, executive director of the Partnership for Safety and Justice, says their comments had a common theme. "Cutting these programs would essentially take the 'corrections' out of the Department of Corrections," he said. "Without these programs, we would have nothing available for people in prison to help them rebuild their lives, rehabilitate and make it when they get out." Lawmakers don't seem to want to make the $16 million in cuts, says Rogers, but the state's budget shortfall means every state program or expense is on the table. Oregon law already requires that prison-based programs have a proven success record before being adopted -- making it even more difficult to justify cutting them now. Adam Gelb, director of the Public Safety Performance Project for Pew, says lawmakers also have to consider the longer-term costs. "Oregon has a relatively low recidivism rate, but if they cut the programs that are working well, one thing that you can be sure of is the recidivism rate will start to rise," Gelb said. "That means more crime, it means more victims -- and ultimately, it means higher costs for the state." Oregon's recidivism rate dropped by more than 10 percent between 1999 and 2007, the study says. It lists Oregon and Wyoming as the only states where as few as one in five offenders return to prison after being released. Read More. |
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