Mich. Prisoner Re-Entry Movement Aims to Help Ex-Inmates Become Productive Citizens

LANSING, Mich., March 17, 2010—More than 200,000 ex-prisoners are on probation or parole and living in Michigan neighborhoods.¹  Another 17,000 Michigan prisoners will be released this year.²  More than half of released prisoners will return to prison within three years.³ 

April 6-7, organizers of the Michigan Out4Life Re-Entry Conference will gather to discuss reducing recidivism and the $2.2 billion in taxes spent yearly on corrections in the state of Michigan.¹  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 Michigan Re-Entry Conference

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

• Mark Earley, Prison Fellowship president and former Virginia attorney general
• Mary Engle, Prison Fellowship Michigan executive director
• Patricia Caruso, Michigan Department of Corrections director
• Paula Sadler, Governor's Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships deputy director
• Anthony McCloud, re-entry manager, Correctional Facilities Administration
• Ex-offenders, mentors and more
  

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

WHEN:  April 6-7

WHERE:  Lansing Center

             333 E. Michigan Avenue

             Lansing, MI  48933

             (517) 483-7400

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

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

² Michigan Department of Corrections

³ Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2010

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