US DOJ Grant Funding to Alabama for Women Prisoner Transition Yield Limited Success

Carla Crowder of the Birmingham News reports a disturbing lack of success in reducing Alabama's incredibly large female inmate population. The article begins,

The U.S. Department of Justice gave Alabama $1.3 million in 2003 to help 160 serious or violent female prisoners re-enter society. The grant is soon to expire, having assisted only 69 women home from prison. Meanwhile, $650,000 remains unspent, the women's prison population is at a three-year high, and the state is paying a private company almost $3 million a year to house female prisoners.

I know from personal knowledge that Pardons and Parole has some solid people, and unfortunately some not so talented, yet surely we can expect more than this article reveals. If my math is right that a little over $9,000.00 per woman released but unfortunately only forty five remain in society. That gets us up to almost $15,000.00 per success. Still perhaps a bargain as that is likely less than the cost of incarcerating yet I can't help but think we can do way better. Serious and violent inmates are a tough task in getting back into society, especially if they've been in the system for a long time, yet it seems like the funds are not being used with a full effort. Of course we can also see how advanced Alabama is when they chain women prisoners down during delivery of children. Goat Hill ... are you listening? Peace ... or War!