Recidivism and Black America, can the Christian Church help?
A Cyclical Problem
One out of every eighty-one black adults will serve time in a state prison and in many states, Black Americans represent more than half their prison population [1]. These are staggering and disheartening statistics, however, there is an even greater issue at hand, recidivism. Recidivism refers to the unfortunate tendency of released prisoners returning to prison. Although the rates of recidivism in the United States vary depending on multiple factors, black men and women in the United States have significantly higher rates than those of other racial groups. The effects of recidivism go beyond the individual and continue to affect their families, communities, and society as a whole. These increased incarceration rates lead to strained social services, increased poverty, and weakened economic stability.
The Stats Speak for Themselves…
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, among prisoners released in 2012, over 70% of Black Americans were rearrested within four years. Additionally, amongst all races, over 70% of those rearrested were aged 25 to 39 and 77.6% of those under the age of 24 were rearrested [2]. These high rates of recidivism merely highlight the need for targeted interventions to address the root causes and better support individuals returning from prison.
Addressing the problem of recidivism requires a multifaceted approach. This approach should include addressing systemic racism in the criminal justice system, implementing programs that support formerly incarcerated individuals, and investing in community-based organizations that promote social and economic stability. Additionally, programs that provide education, job training, and mental health support should be established within the prison system and continued after release.
So What Can We Do?
You may be wondering why this topic is on our website. Surely there is a prison ministry within our church that would be able to handle this. There are many churches that have prison ministries, so is that enough? Our simple answer to this question is, no. Could we as the light of the world be doing more? We certainly can. We can share the knowledge of Jesus Christ to transform their heart but we can also help them learn the strategies that transform their confidence, their skillset, and give them access to things they wouldn’t normally have once they leave the prison system. There’s no simple solution to this issue but we must be aware that we can use our available resources to make an impact on our community in more ways. They may never walk into a church service but our efforts to improve their lives and offer support could be the only act of the love of Jesus they see. Stay tuned to the Education Commission’s proposal to make efforts to reduce recidivism within our community.
