recidivism

When a young person gets in trouble with the law, it can have devastating consequences on their future. Pre-arrest deflection programs, like RAPID initiated by the Corner Health Center in partnership with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department, redirects youth to support resources, offering a meaningful alternative to becoming entrenched in the legal system. WEMU's Caroline MacGregor talked to Corner Health Center Justice Division program manager Degaryia Witten and Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer about the program, which offers deputies a direct pathway to help care for young people in the community.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office and Corner Health Center have joined forces to launch a pre-arrest program to prevent young people from entering the criminal legal system. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor reports.

No matter who you are or where you come from, building a happy, successful life and career will present its fair share of challenges. Now imagine taking on that task having just been released from prison. It can be daunting and overwhelming. A Brighter Way is an Ypsilanti-based non-profit that provides support and mentorship to returning members of our community. Organization deputy director LaQuan Hill joined WEMU's David Fair to share his story of imprisonment, release and working the path to a better future. Now, he's dedicated to passing along the lessons he’s learned to others in search of "A Brighter Way".

Nine incarcerated men at the Washtenaw County Jail now have high school diplomas or GED’s. They are the first graduates through a program with the Sheriff’s Office and the Washtenaw Intermediate School District. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

It’s now easier for jail inmates in Michigan’s largest county to get IDs upon release. Colin Jackson has more.

Washtenaw County is seeing positive trends in public safety across the board. That's according to the latest figures coming out of the Sheriff’s Office. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

A Michigan Department of Corrections report says the rate of repeat offenders being returned to prisons is at an all-time low. We have more from Rick Pluta.

Some long-term Michigan prisoners have been hoping that the Legislature would pass a package of bills that could give them another chance at freedom. But as Colin Jackson reports, the time to pass Second Look legislation has all but run out.

After serving thirty-five years of a life sentence, the only thing Leroy Harris wanted to do was teach children how to avoid making the same kinds of mistakes. But he didn't have the confidence to set his goals in motion. He later turned to occupational therapy through the Ypsilanti-based organization “Life After Incarceration: Transition & Reentry,” or LAITR (sounds like “later”). Today, Leroy is not only starting his own business to help troubled youth but also sits on LAITR's board of directors. Leroy shared his story with Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale.

As you might imagine, those who are returning to the community after a period of incarceration face a good deal of prejudice and discrimination. That makes finding a job difficult and can result in higher recidivism rates. Billy Cole and Bryan Foley are working to not only change that but are trying to de-escalate community violence by addressing trauma and other factors that lead to incarceration. Billy and Bryan head an organization called Supreme Felons, and they share their personal stories that led them to professionally try and keep people out of the cycle of incarceration with WEMU's David Fair.