Policymakers, Ex-Offenders Discuss Strategies for Life after Prison at Joint Center Forum; Audio Available on Joint Center Web Site

6/28/2004

From: Liselle Yorke of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, 202-789-6366 or lyorke@jointcenter.org

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- Over the next decade, more than 500,000 former inmates will be released annually. Most will be unable to receive public assistance and will be barred from public housing. Many of them will also be barred from voting and would not be allowed to hold certain jobs, including barber, beautician, and hearing aid dealer. These repercussions from the war on drugs of the 1980's have left policymakers and others scrambling for ways to reintegrate ex-offenders into the American economy. The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies on June 24 hosted a forum on Capitol Hill to discuss effective strategies to help former felons become productive, responsible citizens.

Broadcast quality audio from that briefing is now available on the Joint Center's website at http://www.jointcenter.org in Real Player and Windows Media formats. It will be posted for 30 days and may be used without restriction.

Speaking at the forum, Representative Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) said: "One of the most difficult challenges facing urban America is the challenge of how do we successfully reintegrate people back into normal society and normal life after having been incarcerated." A passionate advocate for ex-offenders, Davis last year introduced the "Public Safety Ex-Offender Self-Sufficiency Act" to meet the needs of this population and to reduce recidivism.

Other panelists were Eric Lotke, research and policy director, Justice Policy Institute; Mark Mauer, assistant director, The Sentencing Project; and Margaret C. Simms, senior vice president for programs, Joint Center. Paula Dressel, director of planning, research and development, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, gave closing remarks.

Additional information on this issue is available in the May/June 2004 of FOCUS, the Joint Center's public policy magazine. To order copies, please contact the Joint Center's Office of Communications and Marketing at 202-789-3500 or at publicationorders@jointcenter.org.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, conducts research and analyses on public policy issues of concern to African Americans and other minorities, promotes their involvement in the governance process, and operates programs that create coalitions within minority, business, and other diverse communities. For more information, visit http://www.jointcenter.org.