Articles & News

May 24, 2008

Ionia jail attempts to educate parolees to keep them from returning

By Kristi Jourdan, The Grand Rapids Press

IONIA -- In a small gym in the Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility, about 20 prisoners from Kent and Allegan counties sat in front of Grand Rapids police officers, much like the ones who put them behind bars in the first place.

Prison officials teamed up with law enforcement officers as part of the Michigan Prisoner ReEntry Initiative, which aims to change prisoners' perspectives about police rather than viewing officers as waiting for them to do something wrong. The program connects those soon to be paroled with the resources needed to succeed in their new lives.

The hope is to keep them from returning to prison.

And while dialogue with officials was welcomed Wednesday, most of the prisoners were skeptical.

"I really don't think you care," one prisoner told Warden Ken McKee. Several other inmates murmured in agreement.

And it's that mindset that has to change, officials said.

"We're breaking down those barriers while (the prisoners) are still incarcerated, before they enter into the community," McKee said. "Resources are available for housing, jobs and parenting. Most of the time they get into trouble because of peer pressure, hanging with the wrong crowd, and 70 to 80 percent of them have a substance abuse problem. The program addresses these."

Grand Rapids Police Lt. Ralph Mason said his perspective of prisoners has drastically changed because of the program.

"I thrived on putting people in prison," he said. "But we can't keep this cycle going. We've got to stop this revolving door."

Mason said one of the biggest mistakes new parolees make is letting one small mistake -- such as a speeding ticket -- snowball into something larger.

"Some have this fear of police," he said. "In their minds, they think we're watching them. My advice is, if you don't have a plan, tell the warden to keep your bunk.

"Let's give them every tool we can, so they don't come back."

Send e-mail to the author: kjourdan@grpress.com