On Dec. 25, 2009, the New York Times ran an editorial titled Smart Answers to Recidivism. Click on the link to read it; it begins with "Faced with soaring prison costs, states are finally focusing on policies that would help former prisoners stay out of jail after they are released....More than a dozen cities and counties have taken steps that make it easier for qualifed ex-offenders to land government jobs, except in education and law enforcement and other sensitive areas from which people with convictions are normally barred by law."

On Nov. 9, 2009, the New York Times featured an article that discusses various issues related to expanding drug treatment to meet the enormous unmet need as a deterrent to relapse and landing back on the streets, and making society safer in the process. Click on this link to read it: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/09/business/AP-US-Drug-War-The-Treatment-Challenge.html?_r=1.

Virginia's Senator Jim Webb has a section about ex-offenders and others who have an interest in the Criminal justice system on his website. Check it out at http://webb.senate.gov/email/incarceration.html.

An article appearing in the Washington Post, July 13, 2009, discusses how states struggling with budgetary constraints are "turning to alternative sentencing methods and to streamlined probation and parole as a way to keep low-level offenders out of prison and in their communities." Click here for the full article.

The National Blueprint for Reentry (by the National H.I.R.E. Network in conjunction with the National Reentry Consortium, October 2008) discusses "model policies to promote the successful re-entry of individuals with criminal records through employment and education."

Be sure to read this article, "Running a Business After Doing Time," which was published in the February 22, 2009 issue of The New York Times. It discusses a program that teaches prisons how to start their own businesses after leaving prison - a very pragmatic approach in today's difficult economic times.

President Bush signs Legislation That Includes a Grant Program to Help Incarcerated People Acquire Educational Skills
(Thanks to the National Hire Network for this information, posted on 9-29-2008.)

Thanks to the tremendous leadership of Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and the effective advocacy and education activities conducted by the National H.I.R.E. Network on Capitol Hill, the Higher Education Act was reauthorized to include a grant program to help incarcerated people obtain postsecondary education and employment skills.

The grant program requires the Secretary of Education to establish a program to fund state correctional education agencies to help eligible incarcerated people acquire educational and job skills. These skills would be acquired through:

      --Coursework to prepare students to take college-level courses

      --The pursuit of a postsecondary education certificate, or an associate or bachelor's degree, provided by a regionally or nationally accredited boy while in prison

      --Employment counseling and other related services which start during incarceration and end no later than one year after release

Bill Aimed at Addressing Inaccuracies in FBI Background Check Database Introduced in the House
(Thanks to the National Hire Network for this information, posted on 9-29-2008.)

On September 24, 2008, Representatives Robert C. Scott (D-VA), Chair of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) and Steve LaTourette (R-OH) introduced H.R. 7033, the "Fairness and Accuracy in Employment Background Checks Act of 2008."

H.R. 7033 would require the FBI to ensure that the records contained in its criminal record database are accurate and complete before they are released to potential employers.

The bill would allow the FBI to charge fees to cover expenses necessary to comply with these requirements. It would also require an annual report to Congress about the frequency and use of background checks by employers as well as an inventory of existing employment restrictions.

After its introduction, H.R. 7033 was referred to the House Judiciary Committee for review. The full text and status of the bill can be found at http://thomas.loc.gov.

Ex-Convicts and Addicts May Get DoD Clearance - Discusses the possible repeal of a law that established standards disqualifying certain people from receiving Department of Defense security clearances.

A Smoother Re-Entry - Supports Washington State's attempt to require the state Corrections Department to create individual re-entry plans - detailing job training, drug treatment, and educational goals - for every inmate.