Effort to Keep Criminals off Streets Hits Ga.

Ga. Prisoners Re-Entry Movement Aims to Help Ex-Inmates Become Productive Citizens Rather than a Public Safety Menace

ATLANTA, March 9, 2010—More than 460,000 ex-prisoners are on probation or parole and living in Georgia neighborhoods.¹  Another 20,000 Georgia prisoners will be released this year.² More than half of released prisoners will return to prison within three years.³ 

March 29-31, organizers of the Georgia Out4Life Re-Entry Conference will gather to discuss reducing recidivism and the $1.1 billion in taxes spent yearly on corrections in the state of Georgia.  Successful re-entry is the answer according to Out4Life organizers which include Prison Fellowship, the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families.  Out4Life will address the keys to successful ex-prisoners' re-entry including the ability to find jobs, locate housing, obtain needed social services and mentors.

WHAT: Out4Life Re-Entry Conference

WHO:  In partnership with the Georgia Department of Corrections, Prison Fellowship - the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families - will host the Georgia Out4Life Re-Entry Conference.  The conference will feature speakers including:

• Mark Earley, Prison Fellowship president and former Virginia attorney general 
• Scott Kelly, Prison Fellowship Georgia director
• A.J. Sabree, Georgia Department of Corrections
• Garland Hunt, Georgia State Board of Pardons and Parole

Workshops will delve into topics such as employment for ex-offenders, addiction treatment, public safety, family issues, special needs of women prisoners and the importance of establishing re-entry networks.

WHEN:  March 29-31

WHERE:  Atlanta Airport Embassy Suites

4700 Southport Road
Atlanta, GA 30337
(404) 767-1988

DETAILS:  Conference Schedule

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:  Any organization or individual who would like to work together to address practical barriers to prisoner re-entry and offer strategies to reduce prisoner recidivism is invited to attend.  All attendees may participate in a marketplace exhibit center with booths and displays about their re-entry support services and assistance.

REGISTER:  www.Out4Life.com

¹ Pew Center on the States; Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2009

² Georgia Department of Corrections, 2010

³ Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2010