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Resolution
LULAC URGES PRESIDENT BUSH TO
FUND THE NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE
NATIONAL HOMEWARD BOUND PROGRAM
Whereas,
President George W. Bush has established a
national goal for assisting ex-offenders to
successfully reenter the nation’s communities;
and
Whereas,
more than 600,000 offenders are released from
prison each year; and
Whereas,
Hispanics compromise a substantial percentage of
offenders reentering communities from prisons;
and
Whereas,
the Hispanic community through its non-profit
community and faith-based organizations must
become more involved in the issue of prisoner
reentry; and
Whereas,
without community sponsored reentry programs,
67% of the offenders are likely to return to
prison within a period of three years; and
Whereas,
it sots approximate $35000 per year to
incarcerate an inmate that is young and healthy,
and significantly more if the prisoner is older
and requires medical support; and
Whereas,
the cost to society increases as the ex-felon
returns to prison; and
Whereas,
the higher cost of incarceration mean higher
property taxes, higher business taxes, and less
funds for schools and universities; and
Whereas,
prison life is fundamentally punitive in nature
and for the most part offers little
rehabilitation for offenders; and
Whereas,
currently there is no national Hispanic
non-profit center for providing local reentry
program training and technical assistance; and
Whereas,
the states’ ability to provide funding, training
and technical assistance to non-profit prisoner
reentry programs is extremely limited and
requires development; and
Whereas,
federal funds are required to “seed” local and
state program development efforts; and
Whereas,
State Colleges and Universities have a natural
role in developing state policy and helping to
institutionalize prisoner reentry programs
within the states by developing curriculum,
offering certification programs, evaluating
programs and recommending standards to state
executives and legislatures; and
Whereas,
it shall be the declared goal of the League of
United Latin American Citizens and its
affiliates to establish a network of prisoner
reentry programs within the nation; and
Whereas,
LULAC is a co-sponsor of Homeward Bound a
national partnership of Prisoner Reentry Program
dedicated to successful family re-integration
and the reduction of recidivism within the
Hispanic community;
NOW
Therefore, Be It Resolved, that
the League of United Latin American Citizens
urges President George W. Bush and the executive
branch of government together with members of
Congress to join with its National LULAC
membership to fund the New Mexico State
University and the National Homeward Bound
Program and its proposed local affiliates fro
delivering successful family re-integration
programs within the nation’s Hispanic
Communities.
Adopted this 27th day of
August, 2005, at the National Executive Board
Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Hector M. Flores
LULAC National President |
