WASHINGTON – State officials told a House panel Tuesday that overcrowding in prisons is pushing their penal systems to the breaking point. Lack of attention on the back end – what to do when prisoners are released – is one cause for concern.

 “The State of Alabama faces a great crisis in our Department of Corrections,” said Alabama legislator, Cam Ward, in testimony before the House Judiciary subcommittee on crime, terrorism, homeland security and investigations.

 Ward was joined by John E. Wetzel, head of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Jerry Madden, former chairman of the Texas House Corrections Committee and  Nancy G. La Vigne, director of the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center.

 The witnesses said they were pressing for meaningful prison reform in their respective states.

 “Every decision throughout our corrections system must keep one target in mind: that when someone leaves of our prisons and is successfully reintegrated into the community, we’ve proactively impacted crime,” Wetzel told the subcommittee.

 The Pennsylvania Transportation Department has implemented a simple, yet effective plan. The state agency provides identification cards prior to a prisoners’ release. Last year, more than 9,000 released prisoners got the Ids, helping them reintegrate into society..

 “The release of offenders with their Ids enables them to connect with services that are available to them more readily, thereby removing an imposing barrier,” says Wetzel.

 Texas prisons have added beds in their facilities that can also be used to treat substance abuse cases handled by parole and probation departments. They’ve also added alcoholic treatment programs.

 Additionally, the Texas system introduced intermediate sanction facilities for former inmates on probation and parole. Individuals who violate their parole or probation would be given a short-term alternative of two to three months instead of facing longer sentences.  

 In Alabama, community corrections programs are beginning to offer alternative punishment options for judges to alleviate the overcrowding and congestion within penitentiaries. The options available for sentencing criminal defendants are expanding. Low to medium-risk offenders may be diverted elsewhere.

 One theme prevailed – the need for more support on the “back end” – allowing ex-prisoners to more smoothly reintegrate into society   – with honesty and integrity. 

Rachel Menitoff for Medill News Service