Stay in Touch to Stay Out

JPay communication services help reduce recidivism

Most incarcerated individuals share a singular goal for their time spent as guests of the State:  to get out and stay out.  Unfortunately, a study published last month by Pew research found that the national offender recidivism rate has held steady, with about four of every ten inmates returning to state prison within three years of their release.  According to the study, this 40% figure has remained largely unchanged for the past decade or so, while overall incarceration rates have risen.

The recidivism rates for individual states, however, vary widely from the national average, with states like Alaska (50.4%) and Massachusetts (42.2%) representing higher occurrences of released inmates returning, and others (Oregon, 22.2%; Michigan, 31%) posting markedly low rates.

While the Pew study focuses on the state and national policies that affect recidivism, it takes care to explain that many factors ultimately determine whether an offender will go back to jail within three years (or, indeed, ever).  One of those factors, not mentioned in the Pew report but nonetheless cited in other academic literature, is the frequency and quality of contact between inmates and their families and communities.  Visitation, a bright spot of the lockup experience for most prisoners, has been shown to reduce recidivism significantly.  Two studies, one from 2008 and one conducted in Canada in 2009, show direct correlation between visitation and a decline in readmission to prison.

Certainly, pre- and post-release counseling and optimizing the use of supervision resources – two solutions proposed by Pew – will have a major impact on reducing recidivism.  But so can an emphasis on increased familial and community contact for inmates.  The development of new and better communication channels, including JPay’s own Video Visitation and eMessaging, can help make this recidivism-reducing strategy a reality for many states.

JPay research has shown that Video Visitation – web-based face-to-face communication between and inmate and his approved friend or family member – is just as effective as traditional visitation.  Likewise, the decrease in delivery time for eMessaging – a secure form of email – over traditional prison mail results in more frequent contact between offenders and the people outside who care about and support them.  Prepaid and debit-style phone service from JPay also supports these positive outcomes.

The impacts of JPay’s communication services have been felt in states that have enjoyed low or declining recidivism rates, including Michigan and Oregon (both states’ departments of correction are served by JPay).  These states have made reducing the incidence of repeat offenses a top priority, and have instituted statewide policies and systems to support that goal.  JPay’s services have been – and continue to be – a part of that strategy.  Other states seeking similar results should follow suit, just as the families and friends of inmates should leverage every opportunity to maintain contact with their loved ones.