Governor Bryan Advocates for Comprehensive Reentry Programs as Part of Second Chance Month

For the final event in observance of Second Chance Month this April, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. hosted a panel discussion focusing on the territory’s efforts towards reconciliation, rehabilitation, and re-integration for the formerly incarcerated. Representatives from the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, VI Justice Initiative, the Law Enforcement Planning Commission and Align Community Incorporated spent just under an hour discussing ways to ensure that a prison term does not become a life sentence of ostracism for Virgin Islanders who run afoul of the law.  “The Virgin Islands has probably the fourth highest incarceration rate in the world,” Governor Bryan guessed. “You could Google it.” In fact, the governor is correct, based on 2015 data. In a more recent edition of the World Prison Population list, the territory is 12th in terms of prisoners per capita – behind neighboring BVI. Despite the nominal improvement in ranking, being among the 15  jurisdictions which lock up the large...