ADD MORE SUPPORT SERVICES, NOT PRISON BEDS

A task force convened by Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline and led by
state Sen. Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, is championing the case for
private prisons -- or prisons for profit. These leaders argue that this is
a solution to the prison-capacity problem in Kansas.

But the notion of corporate prisons in Kansas should alarm us all.
Companies shouldn't profit from the suffering of others. Additionally,
corporate prisons create problems by design, an issue this task force has
not fully researched nor addressed.

Kansas' prisons are near capacity for a multitude of reasons, the least of
which is space. A comprehensive look at the issues, systems and needs of
the Kansas Department of Corrections is necessary to address this issue
long term.

Foremost is the need to deal with the issue of the transition from prison
to community. Currently in Kansas, the rate of return to prison is more
than 65 percent. Last fiscal year, more than 2,000 persons returned to
prison for technical violations of their parole, not for committing a new
crime.

This recidivism rate is driven by the lack of support for the formerly
incarcerated in their transition to freedom. Formerly incarcerated people
often have a history of drug addiction, mental-health issues, low levels of
job skills and a lack of educational achievement. Prison life does little
to address the primary reasons most people are in prison. The result is the
ever-revolving door of prison.

Resources directed at continuing a failed prison system should be directed
toward reintegration efforts, not more incarceration. Models of this being
done successfully exist around the nation.

KDOC has a reintegration program in Shawnee County, funded by a federal
grant, that shows great promise in creating success in reintegration of the
formerly incarcerated. Faith-based groups as well have demonstrated
successful reintegration programs.

Successful reintegration is not rocket science. Cutting the recidivism rate
should be the primary concern of our policy-makers. This is where our
energy should be directed.

The recidivism rate is what is fueling growth in Kansas prison populations
- -- a fact borne out by crime statistics indicating historically low crime
rates in Kansas and the nation.

We need to work to return people, our fellow Kansans, to productive lives
as taxpayers, family members and members or our community who, like all of
us, have made mistakes. This issue will not be resolved by constructing
prisons, but by constructing caring communities and compassionate answers.