Author(s): Necia Hunter

Presentation: oral

Since the "War on Drugs" started in the 1980's, the incarceration rate in the United States has quadrupled, meaning that more people enter prison than ever before. Combined with this increasingly high rate of incarceration is the large percentage of inmates that end up re-entering prison; the average recidivism rate in the United States is sixty-six percent. One of the reasons this rate is so high is the lack of programs available to convicts upon release from prison, along with increasing cultural hostility towards "criminals". In my presentation, I will discuss multiple barriers that prevent a smooth transition from prison to society, including low education levels, poor social skills, lack of proper health care or rehabilitative programs, inability to find employment, and non-existent or negative support systems. I will also give examples of programs that have been found to reduce recidivism rates and demonstrate the need for a more comprehensive prison system that will decrease the number of frequent offenders.

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