Did You Know

Condition of the Penal Industry

Below is referenced numerous web pages for articles and studies on the current and projected condition of the detention industry. In this array of information you will see some variance in the statistics quoted for the cost of incarceration, recidivism rates and the impact on the community in health costs, welfare costs, foster care costs and criminal acts upon the citizenry. None of the information is good, but some is worse than others.

All of the studies and articles agree on the following:

The penal industry is huge and growing. Incarceration is expensive and getting more expensive every day.
Health care costs are spiking
Recidivism is huge
The need for beds is growing
Our systems need improvement
All levels of government are having difficulty funding current requirements and are fearful of having to cut other community services.

Some glaring statistics are:

1 in 100 adult men in the US are incarcerated
1 in 256 adult women in the US are incarcerated
The US is the world leader in per capita incarceration
Female incarceration is growing
Recent court rulings have mandated health delivery changes and standards that will significantly increase the cost of incarceration.
It costs between $35,000 and $50,000 per person for room and board.

Plight of Incarcerated Women

Most of the women who end up incarcerated have been victimized throughout their life. Many have been raped, huge numbers have been abused. The absence of a family structure that nurtures and promotes good decisions and education leaves many with opportunities only within the industries of prostitution and drug movement. Work within these industries takes a massive toll on health, economic and social issues. These ladies are not “right” on many levels.

It would be good if we could correct the social problems that foster these problems. Many are trying but it is not suggested by any credible source that a victory is within reach. We will have an abundant supply of incarcerated women.

The industry of incarceration is not prepared or even designed to fix anyone. The system utilizes all available resources merely to house, feed, secure and account for this burgeoning population. The cost to the tax payer is extreme.

Welcome Home applauds the efforts of any person or organization that is trying to change the way things are. Unfortunately, there will always be incarcerated women. Judged by all current standards, they will be a mess. They will have health and mental health issues. They will have legal issues that live beyond their period of incarceration. They will have historical addictions. They will have a network of old friends that look upon them as an income source. They will have children. They are destined to be a ward of the state at an enormous expense to the citizenry. Their self esteem is so low that they can not picture a way out from their situation.

Incarceration has forced sobriety and an absence from drug use. They might be shakey. Every once in a while they visualize a clean and sober life with their kids but quickly dismiss it as a fantasy that can not be achieved. They surrender to their history. Crime continues, the expense of health issues soar, and recidivism rates continue to climb. It is all bleak and expensive.

Government, at all levels are experiencing budgetary problems. As decisions are made on war, life guards and bridge repair the cost of incarceration keeps growing at a rate not understood by the citizenry. It is accepted that bad persons have to be put away. It is also accepted that more bad persons are coming.

Government is not prepared, staffed or funded to rehabilitate. They feed, house and guard. If a change is going to be made it will come from the not for profit community.

The women are gathered and forced into a sober living situation. What if they were offered hope? What if they were shown a way? What if they saw others with their same scars that made it? What if they were shown love?

That’s Welcome Home.