Support should consist of housing assistance, education, job training, and mentors. Simultaneously police and patrol officers should know where parolees live, work and socialize, and keep an eye on their activities.

Not many things in Washington get unanimous support, but a federal law called the Second Chance bill was recently signed by the president.

Most legislators have finally realized that it's much more cost-effective to keep parolees from returning to crime and jail. Every person in jail is a business loss of potential employees, customers and family helpers.

The Justice Department has stepped up research on re-entry issues and has established a National Re-entry Resource Center. They have $165 million dollars a year to give in matching grants to state and local government to do more schooling, drug treatment, housing, employment and family and community building.

Parole officers everywhere have far too many parolees to supervise. Becoming responsible for yourself after leaving prison is often difficult. Prisoners are statistically at great risk for death in the first two weeks after their release. But the longer they remain crime-free, the more likely they are to avoid trouble or being returned to prison.

Planning before leaving prison is critical- sometimes even before entering prison when the right diversionary programs exist to send those charged with minor crimes into the drug and mental programs that they need.

There are new courts that deal with mental illness and addiction. Some faith-based communities do excellent work with ex-offenders without having problems with faith issues. We should encourage those who have received help in the past to give back to the next group of released prisoners.

Unfortunately, over the last three decades, the U.S. has made unprecedented expansion of prisons a top priority at the expense of other policy options. We are feeling the results in the inordinate amount of crime which is a worry for anyone who is trying to live safely and appropriately.

CERTAINTY OF punishment may help to reduce crime, but longer sentences do not. Seattle is expecting police to help with the re-entry problems of former prisoners.

In Philadelphia, we now have two Mayor's Offices for the Re-entry of Ex-Offenders open in Southwest Philadelphia and Kensington that are able to offer many of the resources and programs already mentioned.

They have exceeded expectations, with many services on site and other resources picked up from outside partners.

Former prisoners from state, federal or local jails can be helped by them to solve their difficulties satisfactorily as they become integrated back into society.

The rates for help with education, housing, job search and just being again with communities and families will go up for all and crime rates should go down. *

Ellen Kadransky is a local freelance writer and activist.