How Can Reentry Courts Successfully Prevent Recidivism Rates from Rising While Entering offenders Back into Society?

Discussion Question Short Paper

How can reentry courts successfully prevent recidivism rates from rising while entering offenders back into society?

In the article titled “Reentry Courts: Looking Ahead,” the topic that is covered is about ex-offenders being migrated back into the community and becoming useful members of society through problem-solving principles and strategies at the state and federal court levels. Reentry courts can provide “close supervision, links to social services, and intensive case management to offenders returning home after incarceration” (article). The purpose of reentry courts is to help and guide offenders to living a more substantial life through hands-on activities that is aimed to take up 40-70% of their time; this in turn leaves them with less room to violate their parole/probation or repeat offences. Although some may question why a court is needed to complete reentry work, there are many that approve of the government becoming more involved with the people that need involvement the most. To successfully prevent recidivism rates from rising while entering offenders back into the communities, reentry courts promote and provide a strong structure that the offender was used to while they were incarcerated. Also, ex-offenders greatly need interventions to assist in changing their behaviors, as they usually are no better coming out and entering back into their community than when they first went in. With a watchful eye and through keeping ex-offenders in a variety of groups and programs, reentry courts have a much better chance at lowering recidivism rates among offenders on parole or probation, while at the same time, providing them with a greater chance at being a successful member of society with some help to keep them on the right track.

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