Opinion: Direct cash assistance can help drive down our state's prison population

The first days after release can be a period shaped by economic uncertainty and insecurity. People often leave prison with nothing but what they came in with, and sometimes less. For those who do not have outside support, they may be lacking stable housing, food security and the means to care for their family. That can be daunting for those returning from incarceration and puts them in a position where they must decide between going without or risking reincarceration with alternative means of survival.

Currently, people leaving incarceration in New York state receive up to $200, depending on the amount in their commissary, which they then have to stretch to cover transportation, toiletries and food. On top of rapidly dwindling finances, returning individuals have to find employment and housing, which is difficult when they may not be able to afford a phone or clothing suitable for a job interview. Providing the necessary direct support during this vulnerable period is critical to breaking the cycle of recidivism stemming from the lack of direct resources such as financial support. 

New York state has an opportunity to lead the nation by passing the Reentry Assistance Bill to provide $425 per month for up to six months to people returning from incarceration. We are proud to champion a city resolution in support of this bill that will support those reuniting with their communities by reducing stigma, eliminating financial stressors and giving them access to resources that help make their transition less daunting. 

Considering the dearth of resources and support for people returning from incarceration, it should come as no surprise that at any given time in New York, 40% of formerly incarcerated people experience joblessness and 2,300 people in New York City shelters are on parole or recently released from jail. Nationally, 20% of people returning from incarceration experience food insecurity – double the rate of the general population. 

Without immediate support, many people struggle to provide necessities for their families such as housing and food. The stress and pressures to financially provide can lead those who recently returned from incarceration to make impossible decisions for survival, including some that can lead to reincarceration. Essentially, our state’s reentry system (or lack thereof) is setting people up to fail. Providing direct and continual financial support can immediately address basic needs such as food, rent, transportation and clothes, giving returning individuals room to breathe and allowing them to focus energy on securing employment and building stability. This level of assistance is proven to increase job security, which is a leading cause of recidivism.

Research consistently demonstrates the efficacy of investing in reentry services and direct financial support. In April 2020, the Center for Employment Opportunities conceived and implemented the Returning Citizen Stimulus program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In New York, this program distributed $4.34 million in cash assistance to 1,756 people. Nearly half of participants had found secure employment just five months after enrollment. 

In addition to the growing body of evidence showing the positive impact of reentry support, direct cash payments are simply cost-efficient.  For the same cost of incarcerating one person at Rikers for one year, 218 people could receive $2550 each in reentry assistance – the total amount of assistance per person proposed in the Reentry Assistance Bill. The state Department of Corrections and Community Services’ Fiscal Year 2026 proposed general fund budget is $3.1 billion dollars. With less than 1% of that proposed amount, the Reentry Assistance Bill could fully fund every person returning from incarceration (around 9,500 people).

The Reentry Assistance Bill is the first step in fixing a deeply flawed criminal justice system. We urge state lawmakers to recognize that the months following release are critical, and that we must provide the critical direct support that will ease the difficulty of the transitional return period instead of continuing to punish returning individuals by reducing access to things like secure housing and employment.

Cost of living is one of the most pressing issues New Yorkers face in their daily lives. New York state has a responsibility – not only to returning individuals, but to its taxpayers – to pass and implement the Reentry Assistance Bill. Investing in potential, particularly when people are most vulnerable, is not only a moral imperative but also an economic necessity for a more just and thriving New York.