Community Programs

Communities across the state know that services such as housing, employment, substance abuse and mental health treatment are vital to any effort to reduce recidivism.

At $28,000 per year, prison is an expensive way to address criminal behavior. In addition, the vast majority of individuals who are sentenced to prison end up back in the community. That’s why community-based programs are an essential part of a “smart on crime” corrections system.

Supervision alone has not been shown to reduce recidivism – linking individuals to the appropriate services at the pre-trial, sentencing and re-entry stage of the system – is key to community safety and long-term rehabilitation.

Unfortunately, many services have been eliminated or cut back in recent years. Communities across North Carolina are struggling to preserve their services and many individuals are going to prison – at a higher cost to the state – who could have worked, engaged in the appropriate program and repaid the community. Those same individuals will still need services when they return.

Please join with us in advocating for effective, evidence-based services all across this state – that is the only way we can achieve the common goal of reduced recidivism.