I don't know... it seems all the fuss about this prison re-entry is a bit premature.
It's not like hundreds of prisoners that are released monthly aren't ending up in Frankford anyway..simply because that's where they came from to begin with.
Maybe the prison reentry program isn't such a bad thing.
I know, I'm going to catch hell for that... but I look at it this way: If the nonprofit who is supposed to be overseeing 20 released prisoners can track them and monitor them, that's 20 out of 200 that are being monitored. Is that so bad?
And nowhere that I've read was it ever discussed that the prison re-entry program included group housing of these people. Again, not that this isn't happening everyday in Frankford. Take a look at Leiper St.

Sorry folks, but Frankford is shot. Why not round up all the ex prisoners in Frankford, hire some more cops to patrol the streets, and just avoid the damn neighborhood altogether? Save the neighborhoods that still have a chance: Northwood, Mayfair, Tacony, etc.

There is absolutely no way humanly possible for these non profits to oversee and monitor 20 released prisoners - they can't even track and monitor half of the employees working for these organizations. Not naming any names here, but Check out the local bars during the day. I'm just sayin'.......
Sure, prisoners do end up in Frankford - that's the point. Why would we want a program to specifically direct them here? At least when they are released without these concentrated programs in already crime ridden areas, we "spread the wealth" around - so to speak.
Maybe that's the point - save the State some money, let them out early, fund these goofus organizations and just concentrate all the jackasses to one area - round 'em up in Frankford so that no one else has to deal with cleaning up this vomit! Believe me, the stink will find it's way over to all the "nice neighborhoods" real soon.
I mean, get with it, what do you get burglarizing a house in Frankford? Wal-Mart furniture and senior citizen bus passes? But, what do you get burglarizing homes in Northwood? Jewlery, credit cards, cash, art, collectibles, antiques, nice cars? Hell, it's been broadcast all over the papers about the collections at the Historical Society - how long do you think it will be before these scum figure this out??????
Not to mention that within 24 to 48 hours these ex-prisoners will be tempted by crack cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and on and on. Prostitution, that will probably hook them within fifteen minutes - they get tired being someone's wife behind bars and are looking for some tail real quick and that tail usually carries something for a good, quick high.
What is there not to get about this??????

Well, you said it yourself: They're going to Frankford anyway.
How do you know there is no way for a nonprofit to monitor 20 released prisoners?
I still say that if 200 prisoners originially from Frankford are being released and they are ending up back in Frankford because that's where they're from, what is the harm in a pilot program to see if oversight of 20 less-risky people can actually make it on the outside.
The other 180 people are on their own to fend for themselves with no support services. That's almost a guaranteed trip back to the joint.
Let a pilot program include job placement, drug counseling and supportive services have a shot to see if it works. Enough people in the community already know about the program, so if the nonprofit screws up, we will all know about it..and end of pilot program.

I agree with you in theory. The question is will this program be sold to other released prisoners who did not live here when they were arrested. Will this make Frankford more attractive for criminals to move to and end up increasing our criminal element. If so then that is not the direction we want to go.

The perception is that Frankford is not safe. Is that because the non profits have offered services that are attracting criminals to move into the area. Have they been part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

Ugh. Why weren't they just released to Camden instead? They'll feel at home. Or were these state prisoners?

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</p>Wait. I didn't know it was the Frankford CDC who was overseeing this pilot program. I was under the impression that this was a group of ministries (not Frankford CDC) joining together to address this problem. Well, if Frankford CDC has their hands in this project, I agree, it's just another money grab. However, I do know there are ministers out there that truely believe they can do good for these ex prisoners. I guess it's safe to say that there are more questions than answers regarding this program. It seems that there is alot of misinformation circulating about this. The point about a program like this inviting people to Frankford who didn't live there to begin with is a valid point. But if the pilot program takes off and is sucessful, there are numerous other areas of the city where it could be implemented. The point people are missing is: These prisoners, whether they are monitored by this program or not, are STILL going to end back up in Frankford. That's a given.