The Center for Law, Justice & Culture is offering a panel discussion on prison re-entry the challenges of life after incarceration on Thursday, Oct. 8, from 1:30 to 2:50 p.m. in Bentley Hall 240.
“The growth of incarceration in the United States has led to a crisis in the criminal justice system,” says CLJC Director Haley Duschinski. “This panel provides a unique opportunity to bring together an array of stakeholders to explore the effect of mass incarceration on communities and lives – including the community-based workers advocating for reform, as well as formerly incarcerated individuals who are working to re-integrate into society.”
The panel on “Re-Entry in the Era of Mass Incarceration” features individuals associated with the Lifelife Re-Entry Community Center at Marion Correctional Institution, a medium security prison north of Columbus known nationally for its progressive re-entry programs.
At LifeLine, prisoners can enroll in classes in computer programming, language skills, poetry and many other topics.
One of Lifeline’s goals, as its name indicates, is to help prepare prisoners for the often difficult transition from prison to public life. According to the Council of State Government’s Justice Center’s website, more than four in 10 offenders return to state prison within three years of their release. One of the ways to ease this transition and prevent recidivism is to help inmates cultivate marketable skills that can help them find legitimate employment after reentry.
“Our goal in this panel is to prioritize the voices, priorities and perspectives of those on the front lines of these efforts across the state and the nation,” Duschinski said.
The event is free and open to the public. Because the room may fill quickly, attendees are encouraged to arrive early to ensure they have seating.
The panel is sponsored by the Making and Breaking the Law theme and is co-sponsored by Students for Law, Justice & Culture.
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