TRAVERSE CITY — The Michigan Department of Corrections announced that the state’s recidivism rate has dropped to a historic low of 21%. State data shows that nearly eight out of every 10 people released from prison do not return within three years of their release.
The current recidivism rate is the lowest recorded in Michigan since 1991. Department officials credit the decline to prisoner reentry programs that provide support systems for individuals as they transition back into their communities.
Toni Stanfield is the founder of Before During and After Incarceration, a Traverse City-based non-profit. The organization focuses on stopping what it describes as the “prison pipeline” by providing support both during and after a person’s time in the justice system.
“The goal is to actually shift from punishment to rehabilitation and restoration and not just punishment,” Stanfield said.
The group works to build a healing community where people are not judged for their past and are welcomed back into society.
The non-profit provides educational programs for people while they are behind bars and offers assistance with reentry once they are released.
President of BDAI Scott Tompkins said individuals face a variety of barriers when leaving the system.
“Typically, transportation is one of the key things. Housing and transportation are the two biggest ones.”
The impact of incarceration also affects the families of those serving sentences. Kristen Burggess, whose loved one is serving a 12-year sentence, said the stigma attached to families can be difficult to manage. She credits the non-profit with providing a support system for families.
“You’ve got a place to go every month to be with people who really get it,” said Burgess. “They understand and don’t judge, they just love you and your kids through the situation.”
Tompkins said mental health and substance abuse are significant factors in recidivism.
“Approximately 40% of people in the system have a diagnosed mental illness. This proportion means that for every 10 people in a jail, four meet diagnostic criteria for mental health issues,” said Tompkins.
To address these needs, BDAI currently brings educational programs into the Grand Traverse County Jail.