Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, the United States currently has one of the highest prison populations in the world. Every year, we spend about $34,000 per inmate in our State. In Arkansas, the current rate of reentry after re-offending is about 57 percent, one of the highest in the Nation. We can do better, which is why I introduced the bipartisan Shift Back to Society Act. This bill would enact policies that avert individuals from re-offending, keeping people out of prison. This is accomplished by providing funding for our historically Black colleges and universities for educational programming that they design for offenders who have or who have almost completed serving their time, so engaging to better prepare people we know that are going to be released. By developing this pathway to education, we directly decrease the rate of recidivism. The more education an individual has, the less likely they are to re-offend. This legislation will save millions in current spending while creating an opportunity that will keep individuals out of prison and transition them back into being productive members of society. As we currently face an uptick in crime, both in Arkansas and across our Nation, I am proud to bring forward a bill that will save taxpayer dollars as well as improve paths for successful reentry shifting back to society. Congratulating Mike Poore on His Retirement”