A Smarter Way Forward: Private Sector Partnership is the Key to Reducing Recidivism

Every April, Second Chance Month challenges us to rethink how we treat those who’ve paid their debt to society. It’s not just about compassion—it’s about common sense.

With nearly one in three formerly incarcerated individuals returning to prison in Alabama, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections' most recent recidivism data, it’s clear we need a better approach. That better way is taking root under the leadership of Director Cam Ward and the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, and it centers on a truth we can no longer afford to ignore: the private sector holds the key to lasting reentry success.

Reducing recidivism isn’t a government-only job. The real breakthroughs come when employers, educators, and community leaders step forward and partner in the process. Cam Ward’s Reentry 2030 initiative reflects this understanding. It’s a statewide blueprint that connects the dots—from job training to employment, from recovery to reintegration. It’s not another government program collecting dust—it’s a public-private partnership model with real results.

Take Alabama’s Day Reporting Centers (DRCs), for example. These partnerships are often established through memorandums of understanding and coordinated workforce development initiatives that align DRC programming with the labor needs of regional employers. Private companies are incentivized through tax credits, access to trained and vetted candidates, and the opportunity to strengthen their local communities by contributing to public safety and economic stability. These centers aren’t just holding points—they’re launching pads. They offer individuals on parole or probation access to addiction recovery programs, cognitive behavioral therapy, GED prep, and employment readiness training. But the game changer? They partner directly with companies like Alabama Power, Ingram State Technical College, and the GEO Group to create employment pipelines that begin before release and continue after. It’s not charity—it’s smart workforce development.

At the Perry County PREP Center, more than 300 people have graduated since 2022.

One graduate, Marcus T., shared, "Before the program, I didn’t see a future for myself. Now I have a trade, a job, and a reason to keep going. They didn’t just give me a

second chance—they gave me direction."

They leave with certifications, confidence, and careers—not one has returned to prison. That’s not coincidence. That’s what happens when business leaders stop sitting on the sidelines and become stakeholders in redemption.

We’ve long heard that the best social program is a job. In reentry, it’s even more true. Employment is the single most reliable predictor of success after incarceration, as demonstrated by numerous studies including the National Institute of Justice's findings on post-release employment outcomes. But it takes more than a help-wanted sign. It takes willing employers who understand that hiring someone with a record isn’t a risk—it’s an investment in resilience. It takes streamlined policies, tax incentives, and public leaders like Cam Ward who can connect the dots between corrections and commerce.

Reentry 2030 is working because it’s built around partnership. The Alabama Department of Mental Health, community colleges, local nonprofits, and forward-thinking businesses are all in. And when the private sector buys in, the public wins—through lower incarceration costs, stronger families, and safer communities.

Cam Ward has laid the groundwork—but the future of reentry success hinges on whether the private sector answers the call. Business leaders must move beyond passive support and become active participants in building the workforce of tomorrow.

That means hiring returning citizens, shaping training programs, and investing in redemption. The path forward is clear: second chances only work when employers are committed. This is Second Chance Month, let’s turn our values into action and show that in Alabama, opportunity is more than a promise—it’s a partnership.