Michigan Works Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren is touting the success of its Offender Success program. Program Director Derek Knuth tells WSJM News it works directly with the Michigan Department of Corrections to help those who are being released from prison.
“They’re coming into our communities on supervision on felony parole,” Knuth said. “So, basically the plan is to have a seamless re-entry plan for that individual to help them reintegrate back into society.”
Knuth says released offenders face particular challenges.
“A lot of these individuals have been incarcerated for quite a long time, and with the age of some of them that we see, technology is often an issue. Some of them don’t have the basic support systems and/or social supports to even begin looking for work, whether that’s IDS, transportation, clothing, things of that nature”
Knuth says when those released offenders are helped out with those things, their chances of reoffending go dramatically down. The Michigan Works Berrien, Cass, Van Buren Offender Success program achieved the highest placement rate in the state of Michigan, with 93.9% of those served into employment over the first half of this year. Knuth says since the state launched the program, there’s been a more than 20% drop in former inmates winding up back in prison.
