Urban Incarceration: The Re-entry Struggle - From Cell to Society (pt-5)

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Transcript

Personal Story of Recidivism

Sterling 0:00

Some people call prison the revolving door because as one person comes home, another goes in. But that phrase speaks about something deeper Recidivism. My brother, maurice, had just come home after a long bit of state. I remember it clearly I was sitting on the floor in our grandmother's living room, cartoons playing on the old box TV. He walked past me with that quiet focus like he already knew where he was headed. Just before he left, my mother called out stay away from downtown. The door slammed.

Sterling 0:40

Three days passed, no sign of him. I climbed into the attic a few times, thinking he might be up there with his best friend Jake, lighting up like they used to. I was too young to worry, but my mom, she wore that fear like it was stitched in her skin. She cussed him out like he could hear her, then whispered a prayer Lord, please keep my son safe. Almost a week later the phone rang. It was a detective. Maurice had been rearrested, parole violation that meant he owed the rest of his original sentence. And then came the new charges coercion, bribery, more time stacked on top of time. This is what they don't tell you, especially in urban communities. Release isn't the finish line. It starts the line of a whole new struggle and most people are walking back into a world colder, harder and less forgiving than the one that they left.

Speaker 2 1:42

If you have ever been told by someone that you're not capable of attaining success, if you have made mistakes or lived in an underprivileged neighborhood, then this podcast is for you. You are now locked in to struggle to success. Struggle to success aims to inspire individuals to navigate life's challenges with courage, fortitude and unwavering determination. So if you're in your car jogging or somewhere else trying to find the calm in the storm, then join Struggle to Success airing every other Saturday. Remember life is trials. Stay focused.

Sterling 2:19

Today we continue our urban incarceration series with episode 15, the re-entry struggle from the cell back to society. We're diving into what reentry really looks like in places like Dauphin, york and Lancaster counties. Not just the policies, but the people We'll cover. Who's most affected, what programs are working and the barriers no one warns you about. And later I'll share how real change makers like James Ivory, founder of Transcendent Transformation Coaching, are shifting the odds in Lancaster, one person at a time.

Who's Most at Risk

Sterling 2:58

So what is recidivism? Recidivism means returning to prison after release, whether you have new charges or probation parole violation. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Correction measures it over three years and right now, 64.7% of released individuals return within that period. That's nearly two out of every three. Imagine, during your time coming home and still ending up back inside. Let's make it personal Dauphin County, which includes Harrisburg, is 69%, york County is 68% and Lancaster County is 63%. So what's Lancaster doing differently? Community, that's the difference. Nonprofits and churches are stepping up Supervision that focuses on support and not just control, recognizing that over half of recidivism is from technical violations, not new charges. And when counties offer real help, real things happen. Real help, real things happen In York County when someone is actively receiving support services, the recidivism rate drops 28%.

Hope Through Community Programs

Sterling 4:17

Who's at risk? When it comes to race, black and white recidivism rates are now nearly the same, both mid-60s White recidivism is rising, mostly linked to addiction. Gender men still recidivate more, but women are catching up, driven by trauma and lack of tailored support. When it comes to age under 21, 74% recidivism. That's a crisis. Health-wise mental illness and addiction increases the risk, especially in areas hit hard by opioids. If we look at offenses, property crimes are 75%, drug offenses are 62%. These numbers tell a deeper story poverty, addiction and untreated wounds that keep people locked in a cycle. But here's what gives me hope Dauphin County's Reentry Services Center offering therapy and job skills to high-risk folks. York's Reentry Coalition since 2016,.

Sterling 5:16

Housing help, job training, addiction recovery. Lancaster's RMO, peer mentors, legal support, housing recidivism rates for some programs as low as 15%. Recidivism rates for some programs as low as 15%. Imagine someone walking out with a second chance folder in one hand and a bus ticket in the other and standing at a job fair that same day. That's what some of these programs make possible.

Closing Thoughts and Call to Action

Sterling 5:43

Still, let's not pretend it's easy. Housing without an address everything crumbles. Employment stigmas follow you into the interview room. Mental health often untreated, often unseen Technical violations, a missed check-in can undo everything, and for families like mine, it means holding your breath every time the phone rings. So what now? If you're someone coming home, this fight is hard, but it's not hopeless. If you're a loved one, you're part of the support system, even when it feels like you're hanging on by a thread. And if you're just tuning in to understand. Remember, behind every statistic is a story, behind every story is a soul. Let's be the ones who don't just talk about change, but live it, share it and support it. This is Struggle to Success Podcast, and I'll leave you with this. Freedom is more than just a release date. It's the journey after the gate closes behind you. Wonderful people, if this episode hits home, please rate this episode on Apple Podcasts. It really helps me get the word out there. And until next time, remember life is trials. Stay focused.

Speaker 2 7:01

Thanks for checking out this episode of Struggle to Success. To connect with the show, you can email us at struggletosuccessp at gmailcom. Make sure you like and subscribe so that you never miss an episode. And remember life is trials, Stay focused.