At What Cost? Invest in People, Break the Cycle
A Call to Action for Legislators to Fund Reentry Resources & Strengthen Communities

Every year, over 600,000 people return to society from incarceration, facing immense barriers to rebuilding their lives. Without stable housing, access to employment, reliable transportation, and educational opportunities, too many are pushed back into the cycle of poverty and incarceration. The result? An expensive and ineffective system that costs taxpayers billions while failing to create safer, stronger communities.

The Cost of Inaction

The U.S. spends over $81 billion annually on incarceration. It costs states upwards of $42,000 per year to incarcerate just one person—and even more in places like California, where the cost exceeds $130,000 annually. Meanwhile, research shows that every $1 invested in reentry programs saves up to $5 in future criminal justice costs. We can’t afford to keep throwing money at a system that doesn’t work.

The Case for Reentry Investment

Reentry programs work. Studies show that access to stable housing, job training, education, and direct financial assistance reduces recidivism rates, lowers crime, and strengthens local economies. A 2024 study found that individuals who completed workforce development programs had a recidivism rate as low as 15.3%—compared to the national average of 75% within five years.

Moreover, employment is a key factor in preventing reincarceration. Formerly incarcerated individuals who secure stable jobs within two years of release are twice as likely to remain out of prison. Investing in fair chance hiring, job training, and apprenticeships not only reduces crime but also increases tax revenue and economic growth.

A Smarter Approach to Public Safety

Public safety isn’t just about incarceration—it’s about stability, opportunity, and economic security. Longer and stricter sentencing policies have not been proven to reduce crime rates, while states that have invested in reentry services have seen both lower crime and stronger economies. In Oregon, a reentry program resulted in a 33% decrease in felony and misdemeanor arrests, demonstrating that smart investments in people yield real results.

The Hard Truth

Without immediate action, we will continue spending billions keeping people in a revolving door of incarceration instead of helping them reintegrate into society successfully. Imagine what we could accomplish if we invest even a fraction of those funds into proven solutions that reduce crime, lower costs, and build stronger communities.

Sign the Petition—Fund Reentry Services & Direct Support for Returning Citizens, Not More Prisons!

We urge policymakers across the country to prioritize investment in reentry services and direct financial support for people returning from incarceration over a continued and costly reliance on further criminal justice system involvement. 

The evidence is clear. Incarceration doesn’t reduce crime, but it does harm our communities. By prioritizing investment in reentry services and direct financial support, we can break the cycle of recidivism, strengthen our communities, and stimulate the economy. 

Our families and communities deserve better. The time for change is now.

Sign your name to demand real solutions that break the cycle of incarceration and create a brighter future for all.