What do we taxpayers have to show for this dismal increase in felons? Certainly not the recidivism rate, which is 36.3% within 3 years. A COIII that was interviewed in 2019 said if you go out to 10 years, the recidivism is an astounding 90%!
We pay 1.6 BILLION dollars to the AZDOC, with nothing to show for it but bigger profits for the corporations that prey on the prison system. Arizona invests more in punishment than job skill training or substance abuse counseling.
During Ducey’s administration, private prisons increased exponentially. These for-profit businesses make money from keeping people locked up, not creating constructive members of society. The previous administration tried the “one size fits all” approach to job skills. Because they’re so cheap, they don’t want to invest in job skills for women…..only men.
Let no one say that there are not some women that have made job opportunities as auto mechanics or electrical workers, but they are in the minority. Most of the women gravitate toward Culinary Arts and Cosmology. California’s DOC reduced their recidivism for women significantly by introducing these programs for the ladies. Conversely, the men enjoyed learning to be a barber or chef.
Arizona should invest in job skill training so the formerly incarcerated can become successful in our economy.