State prisoner reentry program looks to address unemployment

Inmates who leave Michigan prisons at the end of their sentences need an array of support services to help them successfully reenter society. The Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative was created in 2003 to fulfill that goal. The program has done quite well in the years since, but the state is still seeking ways to improve. The Michigan Department of Corrections is asking service providers to help enhance the post-prison experience for those who’ve served their time. Russ Marlan, the public information officer for the MDOC, explains that as he started his career as a parole officer in Detroit in 1992, prisoners were not offered any services when they were released. They often left without any identification, transportation, or stable place to live.