|
|
| State visitation program works to reduce inmate recidivism |
| By minnesota.publicradio.org - Sasha Aslanian |
| Published: 10/04/2011 |
|
Stillwater, Minn. — Officials with the Minnesota Department of Corrections are studying how they can keep former inmates from returning to prison after completing their sentences. More than 9,040 inmates are serving time Minnesota prisons, and 95 percent will eventually be released. New data from the department suggest inmates who have visitors can reduce their chances of committing crimes that land them back in jail after they leave by as much as 13 percent. Department of Corrections researchers found visits from siblings, in-laws, fathers and clergy made the most difference in keeping inmates from committing new crimes. But 40 percent of Minnesota offenders receive no visitors at all. For those prisoners, a 45-year-old non-profit organization called Amicus — Latin for "friend" — pairs them with volunteers who make regular visits. For the inmates, many of whom will be imprisoned for decades, being in contact with someone from the outside is a welcome break from the stark realities of prison life. "I'm kind of like with the lot of guys in here, I don't have a lot of contact with my family," said Mike Ebinger, 42, who is serving time for murder. "I mean I talk to them, but everything's sort of like generic and they push things under the rug. Ebinger, who is scheduled to be released in 2039, has come to rely on his Amicus friend, who visits every couple of weeks. "He goes 80 miles out of his way just to come here," Ebinger said. "Having that outside contact sort of makes you feel like you know, like you're important." Amicus also holds a monthly group session for men in the Stillwater prison, run by senior vice president Russel Balenger and Steve Linney, a long-time Amicus volunteer. The education room where the Connections group meets could be a college seminar room, except there's a window to a guard booth next door. But the vibe is surprisingly relaxed. Within minutes, 15 men in T-shirts and jeans file in. All but two of them are in for murder. Of different races, they range in age from 27 to 50. For the men who attend, the need to feel like they are more than their worst acts is a recurring theme. They talk about their desire not to become "institutionalized" — people who can't function when they're eventually let out. Read More. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think