IMPD looks to curb re-offending rate

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Department of Correction established a 60 minute informational session to help inmates who are close to their release date.

The program is called InPAct. It was developed and implemented two years ago.

The hopes are high but it’s still too early to know if the program is working to change convicted criminals.

InPAct was designed to provide tough love, resources and mentoring to men housed at the Putnamville Correctional Facility. There are currently between 8,000 and 10,000 people that staff estimates will be released this year. Prior to the InPAct program, the percentage rate of offenders returning was high.

“The trend of convicted offenders returning is close to 80 percent, that is why it is important to provide job placement, food, recourses and a mentor to these men,” said Troy Riggs with the Department of Public Safety.

IMPD says it cost around $75 a day to house each inmate. At last check on Wednesday, the facility had a little over 2,400 inmates.

IMPD Chief Rick Hite attended the one hour session. He asked hard-hitting questions that the inmates answered, like who had kids and who has been to prison more than twice. Over half of the inmates raised their hands both times.

“The wake up time for these men is now. They have to come up with a plan that they will commit to or the reality is they will probably re-offend within three weeks,” said Hite.

“I wasn’t sure what to do when I got out. They are going to hand me a whole book of recourses and sit down with me to figure things out. My offense is a class C, I got locked up for robbery. I never want to come back. I used to be an assistant manager of a store. I lost everything, my job, family and will to live,” said inmate James Raymond Shelton.