When someone is released from county prison, will he be back again? If he comes back, that's called recidivism. It's a problem everywhere in America. A revolving door in the nation's jails and prisons has made the United States the world's leading jailer, with more than 2.2 million people incarcerated at the end of 2011. The national recidivism average is 69 percent. It's costly, too. Northampton County spends $87.25 to house an inmate for just one day.

Former Executive John Stoffa believed that the best way to reduce this problem is by treating a prisoner instead of just warehousing him. Just before leaving office late last year, he sought and obtained council's blessings for a $3.8 million treatment plan with Community Education Centers. But council member Lamont McClure, the sole no vote, questioned whether the plan is making a difference.

With a new executive and council in place this year, McClure sought and obtained approval for a performance audit, to be conducted by Controller Steve Barron. CEC provides substance abuse vides substance abuse programs called the Future Foundation program for men, Sister to Sister program for women. It had argued that its graduates have a recidivism rate of just 36 percent. Barron's audit reveals that the rate is actually 51 percent, but he told Council that is likely because practically no aftercare is offered after an inmate is released from jail.

Barron shared these findings with county council at their Aug. 21 meeting:

·51 percent of the people who have completed these programs were arrested again, meaning that the recidivism rate is higher than the 36 percent projected to the County.

·Two individuals who were reported as completely rehabilitated were actually residing in the jail at the time of the audit.

·People who participate in these programs tend to have fewer incidents in jail than the rest of the population.

·Only 11 percent of the money paid to CEC is spent on overhead.

·CEC is accredited and meets the standards for programs like the ones provided in Northampton County.

·Northampton County's lack of an aftercare program for recently released inmates is thought to have led some to re-offend.

One statistic that Barron failed to mention was provided by Arnie Matos, the Director of Corrections. Before CEC, the jail's population hovered at around 900 or slightly more. But as of Aug. 21, at the height of summer, it was just 629. "Something that's going on in Northampton County is working," he offered. While unwilling to credit CEC entirely, Matos said it is certainly a part of a more "holistic" approach to corrections, which has included more court involvement.

CEC's Dr. Ralph Fretz agreed with Barron's recommendation that there be more aftercare. "That's where the rubber hits the road," he said.

Glenn Geissinger said he would have preferred that this contract be considered by the new Council. But he added, "When you're dealing with human beings, we need to create the programs." Mat Benol suggested that parameters be placed in the contract. Scott Parsons stated he was happy that all Council members agree that some kind of treatment program is needed. "We're putting a dollar out on somebody's life to help them get better," he reasoned.

Executive John Brown told Council that he needs to discuss the audit with the "stakeholders", referring to the courts and jail officials. He said he would study how aftercare could be implemented, either with or without CEC.