Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Ex-Convicts Struggle With Recidivism

Inmateaid.com

Many of the inmates in the McDonough County Jail have served time there more than once.

The jail is close to its 50 person capacity, and many of the inmates are returning convicts.

More than half of prison inmates in the U.S. return to jail within three years.

Sergeant Peter Murfin says the jail offers programs to help get inmates back on track. However, as soon as they are out, ex-cons can have a hard time finding work, making it difficult to pay their court fees and fines.

Murfin says that scenario frequently leads many inmates back to jail.

“Unfortunately whether it’s through them not wanting to better themselves, or just a lack of drive, they do tend to turn back to what they know and if crime is it, then they repeat and they come back,” said Murfin.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics finds that more than half of prison inmates in the U.S. return to jail within three years.