Does Arizona Have the Answer to Lowered Recidivism

An article in the Christian Science monitor discusses an innovative program
in the Arizona prison system called "Getting Ready."

Since Sheriff Joe of Maricopa County
is widely publicized for his tent jail with bologna sandwiches
served daily along with the notorious pink underwear for males,
the steps taken by the prison system in Arizona are
truly noteworthy.

The program involves an assessment when the prisoner arrives to
determine problems whose correction should make re-entry into
society upon release a bit easier. For example we know that those
with education and vocational skills are less likely to become a recidivist.

So the first step is to ensure that the prisoner is literate and
to help him/her to achieve the skills where needed. 5,136 prisoners became
literate in 2007.

3,306 inmates passed the GED which is a 318% rise from 2003
when only 731 prisoners passed the GED.

Inmates are expected to participate in education or work, self-development,
restorative-justice programs seven days a week. All privileges are tied to this.
If you do not participate, you remain at entry level salary and
highly limited activities and commissary privileges. Even the number of
visits and telephone calls are based on the participation activities and the
benefits are all earned.

According to the official AZ website great improvements have occurred.
Assaults on both prisoners and guards is lower and even the number of
litigation activity has dropped.

Will this be the answer that every other state should rush to emulate?
Many states are now trying innovative methods to prepare the non-violent
offender for re-entry into society along with greater use of community
corrections.

What do you think of the Arizona plan? Let's dialog