Customer Reviews

But They All Come Back: Facing The Challenges Of Prisoner Reentry

5 star:		(3)
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3 star:		(1)
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Excellent book on all of the issues surrounding reentry of prisoners back into the community. Very comprehensive.

I thought this was a vey good book and one that policy readers should read. Different topics are addressed such as healthcare, education, crime, the economy and welfare.

I highlighted important points all the way through this book! As a correctional educator and author who is interested in prisoner re-entry, "But They All Come Back" covered it all with thorough reasearch along with compassion. This is a must read for ALL citizens interested in improving our society by keeping ex-prisoners successfully functioning as free individuals. Look here for the answers to lowering recidivism and the prison populations. The author has my total respect! Locked Up With Success: A Prison Teacher's Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap in Any Classroom

Some progressive activists say the privileged only help the oppressed when it benefits them. Thus, choice advocates let men know that if abortion is illegal, then they may have to spend 18 years paying for children they didn't want. Supporters of affirmative action tell whites that their children benefit when they learn to feel comfortable in a rapidly diversifying country. The author here takes the same route: he says all prisoners come home and thus the problems of ex-convicts outside of the prison are the problems of all Americans. He gives a great example: if prisoners get medicines in prison but not when they are released, they may develop stronger strains of diseases and may cause more crimes if they are off of their medications. This book may offer a lot of information for many.

That being said, this book also felt about 100 pages too long. The author said he spent five years talking to experts and reading reports. His work can be seen as thorough, but it also feels like everything and the kitchen sink was added. At times, it's repetitive, truth be told.

Furthermore, all prisoners don't come home. Someone dear to me is in prison and he said a whole bunch of guys there are in for life and won't be coming out. As a progressive, I agree that we must do more to help former inmates. Still, I'm not sure I needed to read approximately 400 pages on the topic. People may appreciate Joan Petersilia's book on the topic more.