May 17-19: Minn. Gov’t and Community Leaders Work to Keep Ex-Inmates out of Prison

Minn. Out4Life Prisoner Re-Entry Movement Examines Ways to Maximize Public Safety and Stretch Corrections Dollars

MINNEAPOLIS, May 10, 2010—Minnesota has more than 152,000 men and women under correctional supervision¹ costing taxpayers more than $460 million annually.¹  Like it or not, 95 percent of state offenders will eventually be released back into your neighborhoods,² and one out of every four will be re-arrested and return to prison within three years for a new crime²-a public safety and financial concern. 

May 17-19 in Minneapolis, Prison Fellowship-the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families-will launch Out4Life, a re-entry movement bringing together members of Minnesota's government, businesses, social services and faith communities to tackle the state's re-entry issues.  The goal is to support established coalitions in Minneapolis and St.  Paul and create local coalitions in others areas of the state-including Rochester, Duluth and St. Cloud-to help released prisoners find steady jobs, adequate housing, addiction treatment and supportive relationships that keep them on the right track.  Aiding released prisoners is necessary because not only is the  revolving door of crime a threat to public safety, but it results in an increasing burden on each and every taxpayer in Minnesota.

 

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WHO:  Prison Fellowship, the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Corrections

 

WHAT:  Launch of the Minnesota Out4Life re-entry movement to tackle prisoner re-entry issues such as employment, addiction treatment, public safety, family issues, special needs of women prisoners and the importance of establishing re-entry networks

WHEN:  May 17-19

WHERE:  Sheraton Bloomington Hotel / Conference Center
             7800 Normandale Blvd.
             Minneapolis, MN 55439
             (952) 835-7800

INTERVIEWS:

• Minn. Department of Corrections Commissioner Joan Fabian
• Prison Fellowship President and former Virginia Attorney General Mark Earley
• Prison Fellowship Minnesota Executive Director John Byrne
• Justice Center for Research director & crime, law and justice professor at The Pennsylvania State University Dr. Doris Layton MacKenzie
• Minn. ex-offender Dustin Shipley who spent 2.5 years behind bars; now business owner and nonprofit founder
• Minn. ex-offenderBrent Peterson who spent three years behind bars for aiding and abetting theft by swindle
• Other Minn. ex-offenders who have turned from a life of crime and become productive employees, mothers, fathers and neighbors since their release from prison
  

DETAILS:  Schedule

REGISTER:  Visit Out4Life.com or call 877-478-0100.  All Out4Life attendees may participate in a marketplace exhibit center with booths and displays about their re-entry support services and assistance 

Minnesota is the seventh state to launch Out4Life.  Re-entry movements are already underway in Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Michigan and Arizona.

¹ Pew Center on the States

² Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2009

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ABOUT PRISON FELLOWSHIP

Prison Fellowship is the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families.  For more information, view the full press kit.

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