Office of the
Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul

Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a bipartisan coalition of 36 attorneys general in urging Congressional passage of the Workforce Reentry Act, which would equip individuals released from prison with resources and skills to successfully reintegrate into society.

The legislation, contained in H.R. 1633, would increase public safety by reducing recidivism rates, cutting taxpayer burdens related to incarceration costs and empowering paroled individuals to lead fulfilling lives.

“Too often, individuals leaving incarceration lack the proper resources to successfully transition back into society,” Raoul said. “Reentry services also benefit communities and our society as a whole, reducing recidivism rates and the costs of incarceration. I am calling on Congress to prioritize these vital services and pass the Workforce Reentry Act.”

H.R. 1633 would make permanent grant funding opportunities for resources and programming while ensuring efficient use of those funds by attaching new requirements to the grants. Currently, funding for programs that bolster those skills and opportunities is in flux and oftentimes not available at all. The Workforce Reentry Act would make permanent grant funding streams to stabilize resources related to successful reentry.

According to federal data, the national recidivism rate is around 68% for individuals within three years of completing incarceration. That number soars to 83% over nine years. Recidivism not only potentially endangers every person, family and community when a new crime is committed, it also results in tremendous taxpayer costs associated with arrest, prosecution and incarceration.

Recidivism, however, is not inevitable. Research shows the impetus for recidivism is lack of opportunities and skills for those leaving prison, including employment opportunities. Communities that have embraced reentry programs have seen significant decreases in recidivism rates and prison populations.

Joining Raoul in sending the letter to Congress are the attorneys general of American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, the Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.