Mark Goldsmith, Retired Executive, Helps Youth Succeed After Jail

Although many people would think that inmates leave behind the most difficult time in their lives when they get out of jail, the reality is that the challenges that arise after they are freed are possibly much harder to overcome than their incarceration itself.

And statistics from Rikers Island confirm exactly that: Approximately 60 percent of inmates return to prison, overwhelmed by a lack of direction and goals in their lives and, most importantly, the uphill battle to find a job that gives them a chance to earn an honest living.

NPR reports that a nonprofit in Harlem, N.Y., "Getting Out and Staying Out" was founded by retired cosmetics executive Mark Goldsmith and has assisted more than 1,500 young men. The nonprofit helps them prepare for job interviews, find a place to live and, in some cases, help them pay for college or vocational school. Only 20 percent of those who go through the program return to prison.

"I like to explain to them what a return on investment is," said Goldsmith. "And we tell them about the fact that we're going to invest in them as we would invest in a business.

"So you're a business, an individual -- but you're a business. What do I want back? I want you to get educated. I want you to learn a trade. And I want you to be successful. If you're successful, I have gotten my return on my investment."

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Comments

[Syphilerpes]

08:51 PM on 12/21/2010

To bad this won't catch on, simply because the prison system is one of the fastest growing markets. Its a business, and as its main object is profit. I guess in there twisted logic this would be another win for the right-wing media and Republicans, or the far right media and the baggers.

[SiberianRat]

12:34 PM on 12/20/2010

For those who are so inclined, there are MANY prisoners who are looking for support from the outside (not financial--friendship). I keep in touch with a few inmates I found online. If you google "prison penpals," the first several options are good ones. My personal favorite is www.writeaprisoner.com . Anyway, I get some really great letters from them and I know they very much appreciate the fact that I write. You can go through profiles and choose the type of person you think might be interesting to correspond with. There are thousands (M and F). I highly recommend it.

[m1jones]

11:48 AM on 12/20/2010

The problem in reentry for former prisoners is one of scale - there are 1.8 million people imprisoned in California today.

[m1jones]

11:47 AM on 12/20/2010

Delancy Street in San Francisco has been acting as a half way house for former prisoners for 40 years and now has branches in several cities: http://www.delanceystreetfoundation.org. Their program consists of providing housing, group support similar to what a good family would provide, job training - they run a restaurant and moving company. Former prisoners learn skills that enable them to spin off their own small businesses. They have a version of tough love - live communally (apartments are lovely), stay off drugs, and follow the rules, or you are out of the program and probably back in jail. Their handsome housing looks better than private condos across the street, and their restaurant on the Embaracdero at Brannan Street in San Francisco gets 4 our of 5 stars. Delancy Street was built by private and public donations. Mimi Siebert, a psychologist, has run the organization since its beginning. Delancy Street has a big meeting room and serves food so a lot of politicians rent it out. I've been to victory celebrations and memorial services for politicians there. Local government and private citzens support Delancy Street financially.It works. It also proves that an entrepremeurial version of a non-profit - not free market capitalism - can run a successful social program - and duplicate it in other cities. San Francisco has the public option health care for people who can't afford private health insurance. Our blue government also likes corporations. Nancy Pelosi represents us for good reason.

[maidenofdforest]

11:43 AM on 12/20/2010

People can still be compassionate. Goldsmith is one.

[AJ in ATL]

11:14 AM on 12/20/2010

All I can say is wow, this is a person who is truly making a difference. Prisons are more geared towards isolating the worst of society instead of trying to rehabilitate those members to become productive. Kudos to Mark for trying to change this and hopefully he has created a model that all prison systems can use.

[m1jones]

10:58 AM on 12/20/2010

Why can't our prison system do this? Oh, it would almost put it out of business. If California didn't have such a horrible recidivism rate (upwards of 71%), we might have to lay off some state employees and close some prisons. Not good for the economies in the little towns throughout the state where the huge prisons are located. We incarcerate more people per capita than any place else in the world. By concentrating people together who already had big social adjustment problems (education, ability to get a job, ability to relate well to others) we create people who are more difficult to assimilate back into "normal" life. It's crazy - like a lot of our government these days.

[gaudeamus]

06:01 PM on 12/20/2010

the article did not offer much insight, but are you aware of how labor-intensive such intervention is? are you willing to fund the numbers of workers it would take to address all of these issues for each inmate? the best that can be done in most state facilities is to warehouse the inmate population.

[jettymichael]

09:37 AM on 12/20/2010

Never give a fella a criminal record. You shall have locked him out of 80% of the job market.

[KDMac]

09:23 AM on 12/20/2010

Amazing! this is a much-needed program.

[Kai-HK]

07:56 AM on 12/20/2010

Proof that successful businessmen/businesswomen are better than government programs. Yet another reason to hand everything over to private enterprise. And another example that rich people are paying more than their fair share. Free markets again make the difference!

[thewirah]

08:37 AM on 12/20/2010

What a stupid comment. Lots of people who volunteer for that kind of programs don't have much themselves (most succesful businessman would rather play golf). The US already have free market and the largest population of inmates in the world. What a success!

[Sweet Leaf]

10:07 AM on 12/20/2010

Makes sense if you don't think about it.

[justsayno]

07:47 AM on 12/20/2010

Wow! No one of those awful executives!? Say it isn’t so….

[jerryjerry5959]

05:52 AM on 12/20/2010

Good going Mark.

[oceanofconsciousness]

02:44 AM on 12/20/2010

Kudos to him and the work he's doing. I hope his org gets lots in donations.

[SiberianRat]

01:15 AM on 12/20/2010

I want to do this very thing, but I don't have the money. However, I'm looking for ways to work with the same population--they need as many compassionate souls as they can get! Mr. Goldsmith is going a great thing...

[KDMac]

09:23 AM on 12/20/2010

Many churches have prison ministries, that could be a way for you to get involved.

[Ronnie Avatar Dixon]

01:08 AM on 12/20/2010

Horray for philanthropy!