Frank Wolf

I think the fact that you have this panel probably makes these hearings well worth it.

The question, I think, for state legislators across the country, is what is the balance between funding for incarceration and funding for reinvestment in the community?

There must be a tremendous amount of reinvestment, not just in terms of whole dollars.

You do better by spending money to make certain that there are supportive families and supportive communities.

If we want to fight crime we have to do what the research tells us.

The gang issue, if you are part of a gang and you come out, you may then--if you are having a hard time, and the comment I wanted to make is I guess you are going to have a harder time now with the economy being what it is.

I think we need a best practices list and someone has to say what are the most successful programs.

You cannot have a person come out and not have a job.

I think you just solved the answer of prison rehab-- I think that is the answer.

Well, maybe what we could do, Mr. Chairman, if my amendment is successful to be carried and we can convince the Congress, we could take the money that goes into Prison Industries and thus reclaiming industries that are no longer in the…

Would it make sense to take some of the money that we have under the incarceration punishment category and shift it into rehabilitation but also shift it into rehabilitation after they leave?

I mean, we have spent so much money and we are dealing with live individuals who are, you know, made in the image of God.

William Wilberforce started prison reform in Great Britain. I mean, we are working toward it.

I do not think they have improved.

I think the initial purpose of the faith based was that the churches, the synagogues, the mosques would then come around the person once they left the prison so there was a continuity.

I am going to offer an amendment to require or allow an increase in work, a demonstration project whereby they will make products that are no longer made in the United States.

I was involved in a program called Man To Man where we would go down to Lorette Reformatory which was a pit.

I was the author of the Prison Rape bill.

To find employment is the answer.

I think this is the most impressive testimony that I have heard since I have served in this institution on the issue of prison reform.

I have read that the recidivism rate--they operate a couple of prisons, one down in Texas. They have one of the lowest recidivism record.

I think you have a right to be as mad as hell that we cannot provide security for our prison guards.

I think we may see an increase in crime with the whole aspect of dignity to the individual from almost a biblical point of view, work, and to be involved in something.

If we do not have productive, number one education programs, and number two, the Prison Industries Program, or some form of it, we cannot possibly ensure that inmates learn how to work.

I think it is cruel and inhumane to put a man away for 15 years and not give him something to get up in the morning and go to and work whereby they can, one, put some money aside, whereby you could pay a minimum wage, whereby they can have…