Issue Position: Corrections Reform

Issue Position

Work Release Programs
The Department of Corrections already has work-release programs with several large industries in the state. Unfortunately, the retention of those workers once their time has been served is extremely low. Such low retention rates have made many businesses opt out of the program.

A DuPree administration would work with these employers to develop a stronger work-release program that would help increase retention rates. One way would be to decrease the amount of time incarcerated or to allow more freedoms for non-violent, non-repeat offenders by extending the time required to work at a specific employer.

Rehabilitation versus Incarceration
In Hattiesburg, Mayor DuPree and city leaders took the opportunity to improve the lives of those who have faced problems with law enforcement. They took non-violent misdemeanor offenders and instead of just locking them up they put them on an ankle bracelet monitoring system and confined them to house arrest or work-release programs.

A DuPree administration would look to use this program statewide to help ease overcrowding in county jails and to rehabilitate inmates to lessen the chance that they will be repeat offenders.

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