The Politics of Crime and Recidivism

As we enter another year, there are many difficult social, political and economic problems confronting our government requiring different joint strategic planning.

For example, I'm inclined to believe more people of the civilized world are fed-up with the United States' so-called "War on Terrorists" where, for almost 30 years now, we've been trying to bomb the world into peace.

We've got global warming to deal with, too, and finding a way to substantially fund our children's education. Then there's people of all backgrounds organizing and chanting around the nation that "Black Lives Matter," calling the nation to examine why police officers are cleared of killing Blacks (by simply claiming, "I feared for my life!"). Where, at the same time, a Wilmington, DE Black councilwoman asked, "If Black Lives Matter shouldn't Black Lives Matter to Blacks, too?"

Solving those kinds of problems certainly requires Americans to look for wiser people examining the causes of these crises. When was the last time we heard in the news that there are important people in the world discussing ways to reduce the threat of global terrorism without bombs?

There is one big problem that involves one of every three American adults that we can solve and save taxpayers close to $41 million per year: the problems of repeat offenders, crime and unemployment.

When addressing recidivism in the nation over the years, I have consistently informed audiences that, "If I know what I'm talking about, just think how much better information (is out there) in the possession of city, county, state and federal government bodies about why the nation hasn't reduced recidivism."

About eight years ago, I thought our government was ignorant about why so many people return to a life of crime (after prison). In the fall of 2012, I wrote letters to the Chester mayor and Council and to Delaware County Council members; letters to the Pennsylvania governor as well as the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, a letter to President Obama and our Justice Department offices showing what research I uncovered (see "Re-Entry Services Strengthen Public Safety," page 4, Sept.26-Oct. 2, 2012 edition of the Chester/Community Spirit") where I showed clear evidence that:

One ex-offender who does not return to a life of crime after prison saves taxpayers approximately $35,000 per year; every 10 ex-offenders who don't return to crime save taxpayers approximately $350,000 per year; every 100 ex-offenders who do not return to crime save taxpayers about $3.5 million per year; and every 1,000 ex-offenders who do not return to crime save taxpayers about $40 million annually.

In 2012, it cost $35,000 per year to incarcerate each offender in Pennsylvania and today, the cost has risen to $41,000 per person, per year. Now, for every 1,000 ex-offenders that don't return to a life of crime after prison, taxpayers save approximately $41 million. Why would the City of Chester and Delaware County ignore the Chester Reentry Resource Center of Delaware County's claim that, in two years, they can reduce Chester's crime problem by 3,000 potential repeat offenders?

Again, ask yourself how many government officials already were aware of those facts and have not acted to alert the nation that, effective reentry services strengthen public safety?

Since the spring of 2010, the Human Rights Coalition of Chester along with about 20 other individuals and groups, have been repeatedly misled into believing the City of Chester's government was serious about reducing crime, unemployment and recidivism rates.

By 2014 we produced results of survey research showing that, with substantial funding (a mere 10 percent of the current cost to taxpayers) the Chester Reentry Chester potentially could reduce recidivism by about 40 percent in a mere two year period.

The city reneged on its promise to fund Chester Reentry last summer when Chester's current mayor revealed at a meeting with reentry activists (to paraphrase him) "Delaware County makes a lot of money through locking up people from Chester and that's why they won't give us their statistics regarding how many inmates at the county prison are from the City of Chester." Yet, this same mayor can openly refuse to support Chester Reentry because of what appears to be support for Delaware County's incarceration policies as they affect Chester's poor. Chester Reentry has the potential to reverse those rates.

So, believe it or not, reducing crime and recidivism in Chester by 40 percent in the next two years can also save money by reducing our reliance on the large (overpaid) police department; we can also reduce our over-reliance on prisons, too.

As a decorated military veteran, I served in the Vietnam War and continue serving my nation because I strongly believe that our government, which preaches law and order everyday, is the same government that's responsible for causing high crime, unemployment and recidivism rates in the country.

However, if enough of us say America is going in the wrong direction on preventing crime; that may cause the nation to search for a better way. Cities like Chester, as poor as our public schools are, can't continue contributing $40 million per year trying to contain a problem we can reverse with better ideas.

Harambee (Let Pull Together!)

Richard "Tut" Carter, Sr., is a nationally-recognized prison reform advocate and Chester native. He is also executive director of HRC-Chester and operations manager of the Chester Prison Reentry Resource Center. He can be contacted at hrcchester@yahoo.com.