Improving Iowa’s probation system benefits everyone

We can all agree that government has two jobs: keep us safe and increase economic opportunity for all. Legislation by House Judiciary Chairman Steve Holt, House Public Safety Chairman Phil Thompson, and Senate Judiciary Chairman Brad Zaun will accomplish both goals, all while reducing the cost of government and modernizing Iowa’s criminal justice system.

Gov. Reynolds and the Department of Corrections are already making big improvements. Iowa has reduced recidivism rates two years in a row, dropping well below the national average. Recidivism isn’t just an academic statistic. Every case of reoffending means another victim, another trial, and, likely, another prison cell. In contrast, lowering the re-offense rate prevents crime rather than punishes it after the fact.

The common-sense approach Gov. Reynolds has adopted has focused on education and employment for people in prison. Preparing them for a new path as productive members of our communities cuts reoffending and makes us safer. Indeed, A major study by the RAND Corporation found that providing education programming cuts the risk of participants reoffending by 43% compared to those who did not complete a correctional education program. It’s working here. But we can do more.

In Iowa, only 5-7 percent of people on probation have any education past high school. Without a push to get them to do the hard work of self-improvement, these people will return to their old ways. They will have little chance of building self-sufficient and crime-free lives. And when they fail, our communities become less safe.

We know offering education and job training in prison cuts the recidivism rate. The same approach can be used to help the 28,000 Iowans on probation stay on the straight and narrow. That’s exactly what House File 349 and Senate Study Bill 1004 would do. These bills establish credits that reduce the time under court supervision for those on probation, if they pursue education and vocational training, find jobs, and otherwise follow the rules. And if enacted, they would save Iowa’s taxpayers as much as $82 million over five years. The cost savings free up funds for to hire more police officers, probation officers, and prosecutors, so that our justice system can better focus on violent and repeat offenders.

Yes, the bills by Holt, Thompson and Zaun will increase the safety of Iowa neighborhoods. But they also will help employers, too. As of last December, Iowa had 79,000 unfilled job openings. In fact, 32% of businesses report worker shortages. Incentivizing the 28,000 people on probation in Iowa to find work would make a massive impact on the ability of businesses to succeed and improve the economy for Iowans overall.

For employers, hiring ex-offenders can be a smart move. Experiences shared by some of the state’s largest employers suggest that people with criminal records — so-called “second chance employees” — are among the most loyal workers. Kroger’s “New Beginnings” pilot program, for example, boasted a 93-percent retention rate.

Finally, creating education and employment incentives for those who have made mistakes benefits the taxpayers. By allowing them to earn their way off of probation, we reduce state operating costs. But equally important, people who work are far less likely to go on welfare.

The Holt, Thompson and Zaun bills are a trifecta. Using a proven approach, they will make Iowa safer, while helping employers and reducing the number of people on public assistance. This is a win-win-win.

Matt Whitaker is the former acting U.S. Attorney General and the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa. David Safavian is general counsel and senior vice president at the Conservative Political Action Coalition (CPAC).

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