January 14, 2022
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Second chances: New Tennessee law aims to keep released prisoners from returning - WTVC

Tony Oliver (Image Sam Peña)
Tony Oliver (Image Sam Peña)

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Recidivism--the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend--is a major issue in Tennessee. The state has a 47% recidivism rate, significantly higher than the national average, which sits at 32%.

"It becomes overwhelming," says Tony Oliver, a Chattanooga local who went to prison twice. "You start to gravitate back to your old ways."

A new Tennessee law aims to reduce high recidivism rates, by partnering local organizations and prisons to allow training and education to inmates.

Prison overpopulation and recidivism are major concerns in Tennessee. The state has 47% recidivism rate, which has stayed constant for many years. A new Tennessee law allows community colleges and local organizations to partner with prisons to train and educate inmates.. Image via Sycamore Institute TN.
"I take chances on the people no one else will," says Oliver.

He says his time in prison made employment difficult, but he was fortunate to find a job cleaning offices for a local company.

Oliver owns a thriving local cleaning company and he tries to hire people with shared experiences.

"I want to find people like me, I want to give a person a chance," says Theo Sanders, another former inmate. "I can help them have a better life."
After serving time twice in prison, Tony Oliver was given a chance by a local Chattanooga company to clean their offices. Today, Oliver’s business is thriving. He constantly looks to hire recently released inmates to give them a second chance. Image: WTVC

After being released, Sanders learned carpentry and today owns his own business.

He says learning the trade in prison would have given him a head start.

Like many former inmates, he struggled following his release and nearly turned back to crime.

Life will turn out the way you want it turn out, if you have the strong mindset to say 'this is what I want to do and what I want to accomplish,'" says Sanders.

Sanders says learning a trade helped him avoid a return to prison, but he also credits Public Safety Director Troy Rogers for the change in his life.

"You need to make sure that you meet the needs they have and also hold them accountable," says Rogers.

Rogers mentors several inmates after they've been released and he says providing education and training while they're still in prison is critical.

The only thing when you go to prison that stops you is you," says Rogers. "So while you're stopped we need a program in place so when you're ready to come out, you're ready to go.

With the chance to start education early, the state hopes the men and women re-entering society won't be forgotten.

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source: https://newschannel9.com/news/local/second-chances-new-tennessee-law-aims-to-keep-released-prisoners-from-returning

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