Youngkin calls for comprehensive support for those released from prison

About ten thousand people will be released from the state's prisons and jails this year, and Governor Glenn Youngkin fears that one in five will end up back behind bars within the next three years.

“Across the country and here in Virginia, we see surprisingly, disappointingly, shockingly high recidivism rates,” he told a crowd at Goodwill in Richmond. (The nonprofit says 15% of its staff has served time in prison.)

Youngkin says that when inmates who have completed their sentences have the basics: a job, safe housing, medical care, mental health and, if needed, substance abuse treatment, they can make positive contributions to society, reunite their families and relieve pressure on the police.

So he called on state agencies, nonprofits and the public sector to make sure people get those things. In particular, he called on Virginia community colleges to offer programs for people incarcerated and suggested that prisons offer online education. At the justice reform nonprofit Juliancheered Chuck Meire.

“Virginia's community college system is one of the state's greatest strengths and must be integrated into our state prison system,” he said. “By giving prisoners access to education and skills development opportunities, they are equipped for success on the outside.”

And he was pleased when the governor urged the Department of Motor Vehicles to streamline the issuance of ID cards.

“Without an ID, you can't get a job. Without an ID, you can't get health insurance. Without an ID, you can't get an apartment,” he explains. “One of the most common problems we see with people being released from prison is that they don't have a valid ID.”

He expressed hope that lawmakers would allocate some money to what Youngkin called the “STAND TALL – STAY STRONG – SUCCEED TOGETHER REENTRY INITIATIVE,” noting that agencies that could do more for prison inmates have limited resources.

“All of these existing agencies have full-time positions and a lot to do,” says Meire. “I think it's a very positive step that cooperation is being encouraged, but I think additional funding from the legislature would be helpful and necessary.”

And Youngkin only has one year left in office, he added. For the initiative to be permanent, lawmakers need to get something done.

“A key challenge now will be to ensure that all the planning and actions taken during the remainder of this governor's term are continued into the next governor's term – to ensure that we do not lose this momentum.”

The governor asked the Almighty and volunteers for help for this program.

“The volunteer application process is available online on the Department of Corrections website,” he told the crowd. “Go out and volunteer!”

In his decree, he called for the appointment of a coordinator and the establishment of a task force to implement the initiative.