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Welcome to No More Strikes! by Judge Scott CrichtonIn the spirit of "Don't Let This Be You", I have designed another PowerPoint program for inmates who are about to be released back into our community. This program "No More Strikes" was presented the first time on September 24, 2009 to 60 inmates at Caddo Correctional Center as a small part of the new Louisiana Department of Public Safety Reentry Program, facilitated by Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator. The laudable objective of this program is to provide soon-to-be released inmates with basic training in the area of employment, life skills and job placement with access to support services to increase the likelihood of successful reentry into our communities and to reduce recidivism. Our statistics are stunning: Louisiana incarcerates more people per capita than any other state. The national recidivism rates for offenders released from incarceration is about 50% after 5 years, and the State of Louisiana's recidivism is no better than the national rate. Each year, the Department of Corrections releases approximately 15,000 state offenders into our communities, these inmates having completed their jail sentences. Therefore, the statistics tell us that each year about 7,500 convicted felons will commit new crimes (against new victims) within 5 years of their release and will return to custody. This revolving jail door costs all of us big money. The cost to house a Department of Corrections prisoner is about $35.00 per day, almost $1,000.00 per month. The capital cost to construct a prison bed exceeds $25,000.00.
Our presentation is a unique and perhaps unlikely combination of three people: (1) a state judge of almost 20 years; (2) a prosecutor for a decade/formerly a college professor; and (3) a three time convicted felon (as Herb says "drugs, drugs, and drugs"). Having served time on his third felony drug conviction, Herb Stamps is now rehabilitated, gainfully employed and a productive member of our Shreveport community. I am proud to report that due to the number of meaningful and compelling questions and comments from the 60 inmates that first night, our hour presentation turned into two hours. Several men shook my hand and promised, "Judge, there won't be any more strikes". Leaving the program and Caddo Correctional Center that night the three of us shared a sense of accomplishment and gratification that, while we may not have made an impact on everyone in the room, we definitely reached and impacted some in this first graduating class of the NW Rentry Program. As a result of this program, some of these inmates will break the cycle and, for them and our community, there will be NO MORE STRIKES. |
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