WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US Department of Justice’s decision to release 6,000 prisoners will compel a conversation over new laws to help former inmates re-enter society, advocacy group Justice Action Network Executive Director Holly Harris told Sputnik.
"This action actually gives us a platform to talk about the need to address re-entry legislation," Harris said on Wednesday.
On October 6, media reported the Justice Department would release 6,000 prison inmates between October 30 and November 2.
"We expect these newly-released individuals to go into a halfway house for a short time and then re-enter society as crime-free citizens. That starts with a good-paying job. And legislation like the bi-partisan supported Second Chance Act could have a real impact here," Harris said.
The report noted that the large population numbers decreased the total male employment rate that year by 1.5 to 1.7 percent.
The decrease cost the US economy between $57 billion and $65 billion in lost output, the report said.
The United States has the largest prison population in the world at 2.2 million with another 4.5 million on probation or parole, and about half of all inmates are in jail on non-violent drug-related offences, according to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics.
