Save New York's Family Reunion Program

Research has shown that there are just a few jurisdictions within the United States that permit Family Reunion Program, for the incarcerated. Among those that do, evidence suggests that the family reunion program, gives the incarcerated an opportunity to keep their families together.

Additional evidence shows that those who maintain family ties while incarcerated are less likely to recidivate when released. Moreover, the Family Reunion Program, makes it easier for correctional staff to manage program participants during their sentences. As one of the tools that facilitates community reintegration - ostensibly the goal of incarceration %u2013 rather than abandon this program as is now being proposed by New State Senator Michael Nozzolio (see New York State Senate, S3747 http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/S3747-2011)

The effort to terminate the family reunion program is yet another sign of conservative efforts to abandon the rehabilitative ideals related to the treatment of those in prison and also to lessen the likelihood of successful community reintegration. In the age where family values have been inserted into political conversations, it remains shocking that the families of the most vulnerable are not valued. These efforts must not go uncontested.