Out4Life Kansas Examines Ways to Save Taxpayer Dollars and Increase Public Safety

"We want to help former prisoners find a place in society that adds value in their lives and those of their families while keeping our communities safe. That is the goal - and the opportunity - of Out4Life," said Out4Life Kansas Director Don Raymond.

WHAT:
Launch of the Out4Life Kansas reentry movement to tackle prisoner reentry challenges such as unemployment, addiction treatment, public safety, family issues, special needs of children of prisoners and the importance of establishing reentry networks

WHY:
Kansas has some 40,000 men and women under correctional supervision, costing taxpayers more than $341 million annually.¹ Ninety-five percent of these offenders will eventually be released back into our neighborhoods² and 43 percent of ex-offenders released from Kansas prisons will be re-arrested within three years³ - a public safety crisis and financial challenge.

WHO:
Prison Fellowship - the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families with co-sponsor, the Kansas Department of Corrections, will gather with government, business, social services and faith leaders from across Kansas.

WHEN:
June 20-22 (Details and Schedule)

WHERE:
Hilton Wichita Airport Executive Conference Center
2098 Airport Road
Wichita, KS 67209
316.945.5272

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

• Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, whose agenda includes advancing prisoner reentry by pairing released prisoners with a volunteer mentor

• Kansas Department of Corrections Secretary Ray Roberts

• Wichita ex-offender Ric Henson, who spent nearly five years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and is now a general contractor who runs a reentry nonprofit

• Kansas City reentry coalition member Shirley Miller, who is executive director of the Gracious Promise nonprofit serving children and families of prisoners and ex-prisoners

• Prison Fellowship Vice President and criminal justice reform expert Pat Nolan, who is an ex-offender

• Prison Fellowship Vice President of Reentry Initiatives Norm Cox

• Prison Fellowship Out4Life Kansas Director Don Raymond

MORE INFO:

• Out4Life Press Release

• About Out4Life

Kansas is the 13^th state to launch Out4Life. Reentry movements and coalition building are already underway in Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Oregon and California.

¹Pew Center on the States, 1 in 31
²U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Reentry Trends in the United States, 2002
³Pew Center on the States, State of Recidivism, 2011

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