Something like 70% of people who’ve been incarcerated will be re-incarcerated. Prolly more.

That’s a real problem, and successful reentry is a rarity.

We expect more from Returning Citizens when they’re released, despite the fact that we just stole away their time.

Going or coming | Created by Jay W. Austin & DALL•E

Reentry has become bipartisan.

This can be a good thing. Reentry services and organizations are underfunded. Bipartisanship can lead to more funding to fuel their work and a more diverse set of people doing the work.

But let’s be careful.

See, reentry is low-hanging fruit. It’s the easiest to pick. Because of course people should have a “second chance.” It makes us feel good to give someone another shot.

When only 30% of people avoid re-incarceration, that means that they’re the exception to the rule.

People shouldn’t have to be exceptional to stay out, should they?

I’m incredibly thankful for the few exceptional reentry programs who do this difficult work, like the Center For Women In Transition and Project Return. We can help them in so many ways. (And we should.)

But there’s no better way to help reentry programs than to make sure they have fewer clients who need them.

Aye, I’m Jay. You’re on my personal site where I post things I make about interrupting mass incarceration, protecting migration, environmental justice & sustainability, language, communications, storytelling, creativity, and tech.

Learn about my ventures here, check out my non-profit initiative here, or explore my consultant services here.