Georgia’s new re-entry program gives ex-offenders a second chance

Editors note: PART VI in a Black History Month series, this article looks closely at disparities in justice and new re-entry initiatives designed to help all inmates transitioning out of prison get a second chance.

ALBANY — Can an ex-offender get a fair shake in Georgia when trying to start a new life after prison? That question has been at the root of many debates over the years and, more recently, it was the topic of training and a discussion held at the Albany Civil Rights Institute.

Another hot topic in the black community in regard to justice in America is how to avoid a major conflict when confronted by the police.

Will Davis, vice chair of the Albany Business League recently said that keeping communities safe and improving relationships between law enforcement and black business owners, as well as residents, in predominantly black communities is an important and timely topic.

“We read the news and see far too many situations that get out of control when law enforcement pull over in black men in black communities, so we decided to hold a conversation at a local barbershop because that is the place where black men have historically gathered. This is a very important conversation regarding black men and law enforcement. This is a local and national concern,” Davis said.

Employment in Albany

Yaz Johnson, a local pastor and photographer, said his father, Johnnie P. Johnson sued the city of Albany over discrimination in 1972.

“My father desegregated the city of Albany work force because of discrimination. In 1972 he filed a federal lawsuit against the city and won. Blacks were not permitted to run for public office, separate Christmas parties, separate restrooms. Whites were getting paid more than blacks performing the same jobs. Blacks only had janitorial type jobs and were not permitted to apply for promotions — this was in the ‘70’s!,” Johnson wrote in a recent email to the Albany Herald.

“After petitioning the city for 10 years, the city named two buildings in his honor,” Johnson added.

Davis said one of the reasons why the Albany Business League was created was to help local entreprenuers gain access to resources, assistance and support needed to start and run a black-owned business and to collaboratively market those businesses while encourage African Americans and people of all races to shop and support local black-owned businesses.

“We are a strong force for positive growth in Albany. The Albany Business League serves as one voice for many small business persons, using our collective power to influence the course of events politically and socially,” Davis said.

Ban the Box

According to published statistics, 70 million adults in the U.S. have arrests or convictions. This makes it especially hard for qualified applicants of all races if they are ex-offenders and hope to get employment. If they are honest on job applications and check a box saying they have previously committed a crime, that often sends up a red flag.

On Feb. 23, 2015 Gov. Nathan Deal signed an executive order which removed questions regarding criminal history from all applications for state employment. Under the executive order, inquiries into an applicant’s criminal record are postponed until after “the initial stage” of the state employment application process. Georgia is the first state in the Deep South to adopt that hiring policy.

Meanwhile, hundreds of employers large and small are now taking a pledge to hire ex-offenders. Among those major companies listed on the website are American Airlines, Best Buy, Coca Cola, Georgia-Pacific, John Hopkins Medical Center, Kellogg Company, PepsiCo, Starbucks and Staples.

In a phone interview on Friday, Rene Snead, who serves as director of operations for a new prisoner re-entry program in Georgia, said that employment is crucial in order for former inmates to succeed once they are released from prison.

“We have many individuals hired by the state and working as peer mentors to those in our re-entry program. They are valued members of our team,” Snead said. “Many inmates ask for mentors before they exit from prison, especially if they have no family support. Mentors become engaged and give hands on help through the re-entry process.”

Racial Disparities

Founded in 1986, officials with the Sentencing Project say it works for a fair and effective U.S. criminal justice system by promoting reforms in sentencing policy, addressing unjust racial disparities and practices, and advocating for alternatives to incarceration. According to a recent Sentencing Project study, using data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, one in three black males born in 2001 is likely to end up in prison.

The report also shows that African Americans are incarcerated at 5.1 times the rate of whites. According to the report, 12 states have prison populations that were more than half black: Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Meanwhile, Maryland had a prison population that was 72 percent black.

According to the Sentencing Project findings, there may be three major reasons for the disparity — policies and practices such as harsh sentences for drug-related crimes disproportionately affect African-Americans; judges may be affected by implicit racial biases, and there may be major disadvantages that affect African Americans before they enter the criminal-justice system.

Georgia Re-Entry Initiatives

In 2015, Department of Justice grants were awarded to 17 pilot sites to develop and implement comprehensive re-entry programs by developing a coalition of services that would ultimately reduce the risks of recidivism. Each of the counties selected for the project has appointed a community coordinator to work closely with those returning from incarceration and with service providers in the community. Although much of that initial grant funding expired in September of 2017, Snead said the programs will continue and additional funds may at some point become available to assist the ongoing efforts.

“Where we are right now in the process is gathering up and analyzing results to determine best practices,” Snead said.

Dougherty County is one of those initial pilot sites and has historically worked with several local agencies to develop a continuum of care for ex-offenders transitioning back into the community. The Strive2Thrive program, in connection with the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, for example, has successfully worked with former inmates.

Alvita Swain, who heads up the Strive2Thrive program. said she is on a mission to “change the face of the city” by finding ways to empower people to pull themselves out of poverty. This effort includes working with ex-offenders and others who face barriers to housing, employment, education and other services or support systems needed to thrive and become self-sufficient.

Leslie Lamb serves as community coordinator for the Dougherty County re-entry program. Her role, like those appointed in all 17 pilot program sites is to network with community stakeholders to develop a coalition of like-minded community service providers and resources for offenders returning to the community. In addition to the Strive2Thrive program, Albany’s Family Literacy Project is assisting those needing to earn their GED’s. Albany State University and Albany Tech are also assisting with educational opportunities. Medical and mental health professionals, churches, landlords and local business owners are also stepping forward to assist.

Snead said each ex-offenders transitioning out of prisons are carefully evaluated to determine their individual needs.

“They meet with re-entry counselors before they are released and that information is passed on to community coordinators ahead of time so they can find ways to assist in advance,” Snead said. “They may need anything and everything from clothing, to housing to mentoring, healthcare and employment.

“Most communities already have a wealth of resources that we, as well as the ex-offenders, are not aware of. This program brings everything together so we can sit at the table, look at the gaps and try to find ways to distribute resources and work together.”

Snead said involvement from churches and the faith community is highly valued and needed.

“They can speak to ex-offenders about redemption and restoration is ways that state workers can’t,” Snead said.