DOJ Inspector General Blames Inadequate Prison Release Programs for High Recidivism Rates
A watchdog report released Wednesday condemned the Bureau of Prisons for not doing enough to prepare federal inmates for their return home, after serving their sentences. The Department of Justice’s Inspector General discovered “several weaknesses” with Release Preparation Programs (RPP) at facilities nationwide. Federal law requires the BOP to establish the programs to assist offenders in rejoining their communities and finding work after release. The bureau’s lack of oversight of the rehabilitation regime, however, has eroded its effectiveness at reducing prison re-entry. The investigation revealed that the…