Advocates call for increases in violence prevention and safe reentry after incarceration
MICHIGAN – A group of justice advocates called for more support of proven, community-based violence prevention for those returning to their families and communities. The Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration (MI-CEMI) hosted a virtual press conference Wednesday calling on elected officials to keep and increase successful programs that keep everyone safer including residents, prison staff, in addition to those incarcerated and formerly incarcerated. This contrasts starkly with the proposed house budget, which slashes programs regardless of the program’s effectiveness or if cutting programs in the short term will cost us more in the longer term.
“It’s hard to put a cost on keeping people safe and whole, but the Community Violence Intervention program, which has brought a significant drop in violence is clearly worthy of more support,” said Ciera Renee’, director of programs for FORCE Detroit. “Having trusted community voices from folks trained and able to prevent violence before it starts has proven one of the most cost-effective ways to keep the peace. This program is at the root of the documented 30 percent drop in crime in Detroit and as such needs more money, support and resources, not indiscriminate slashing.”
Advocates also cited the need to support people making successful re-entry after incarceration and how that process must begin during incarceration to be truly successful.
“Most people return to their families and communities and strive to put their lives back together, and that effort is very much worthy of support,” said Hakim Crampton, government relations liaison for Citizens for Prison Reform. “It benefits us all economically and socially to support reentry to society with educational and employment resources before release and housing and identification resources after release. The cuts proposed in the house budget are pennywise and pound foolish. These programs provide a much needed light at the end of the tunnel that improves conditions in prison for those incarcerated as well as staff.”
“Being able to engage with someone who had been through incarceration and successfully navigated reentry has truly helped me re-establish myself,” said Jonathan Garcia, director of policy and research for Nation Outside. “That invaluable guidance and support came because of a peer support program of formerly incarcerated people who work with those recently released to face the changes and challenges that happen while we’re inside. The peer support programs are successful, and successful programs should be expanded, not cut.”
A recording of the press conference can be found here on the MI-CEMI YouTube Channel.
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The Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration (MI-CEMI), is a broad-based, statewide, non-partisan collaboration representing non-profit, faith-based, advocacy, grassroots, and service organizations united to end mass incarceration in Michigan. The Collaborative seeks to create and restore healthy communities.
Additional resources
- Budget Analysis: House Budget Proposes Dangerous Cuts to Healthcare, Food, Youth Justice
- Media Release: Justice Advocates Speak Out Against Proposed Public Safety Cuts
- Take Action: Support Smart Justice Investments in Michigan’s Budget
- Investing in a Safer Michigan Budget Recommendations
- Slideshow: Show me the money: Making and impact on the Michigan Budget