Police promoting program to help offenders resume lives

By Jomay Steen, Journal staff | Tuesday, January 06, 2009

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Within the walls of the South Dakota State Penitentiary, 3,400 men count the days to their release. Of that population, 21.5 percent come from Pennington County. At the Pennington County Jail, 12,000 prisoners go through the locked gates each year, including 9,000 legal residents from Pennington County.

What happens when those inmates are released?

According to Sgt. Wayne Asscherick of the Rapid City Police Department, those offenders of violent and nonviolent crimes will return to Rapid City and the county to try and restart their lives.

Whether they succeed may depend on a new community effort, "Rapid City Reentry Initiative." The program, spearheaded by Chief of Police Steve Allender, began in July. Since then, its merits have been discussed with a variety of community agencies and organizations in a position to help those people returning to the communities once they are released.

"It's in its infancy," Asscherick said at Monday night's meeting of the Rapid City Chapter of South Dakota Peace & Justice Center.

South Dakota has a 40 percent rate of repeat offenses, compared to the national 67 percent average. Repeat offenses sending offenders back behind bars not only cost taxpayers, but years of time and talents that these people -- with a little help -- may successfully contribute toward the community, Asscherick said.

"The initiative will help people coming out of South Dakota correction systems into the community," he said.

The plan calls for a mentor, with information about housing, health and medical services, education opportunities, family services, life services, employment and faith services, to meet the released person at the bus stop on their first day back.

During the ensuing weeks of community transition, Asscherick said it would be best for these newly released people to be mentored by others who have gone through the correction system themselves. They are most likely to have successfully navigated some of the 30 to 40 agencies that support the initiative, such as SANI-T, Consumer Counseling Services of the Black Hills, Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce and Cornerstone Rescue Mission.

Correction systems officials wanted an actual operating program by now. At this time, Asscherick has yet to submit grant proposals to the Department of Justice, which has $55 million available. More than cash, for the program to succeed, it needs the support of entire community, he said.

If you're afraid of a convict living in your neighborhood -- for the most part, they're already there. Many also work in all branches of society and some are probably among your better neighbors, he said.

"You have to look at the end goal, realize how good it will be for the community and go from there," he said.

Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com.