U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), the author of the Second Chance Act, S. 1513, to support state and local reentry programs as a means of reducing recidivism and saving taxpayer dollars, joined a discussion on prisoner reentry at the City Club of Cleveland on Thursday.

“The Second Chance Act takes a small part of the funds we spend locking people up and invests it in breaking the cycle of recidivism through a number of programs focused on drug recovery programs, job training, and mental health treatment and other services,” Portman said. “It has now supported hundreds of local and state agencies, nonprofits, and community- and faith-based organizations that are working to help transition inmates back into their communities with the support they need to break the grip of addiction, to get important skills to get back to work, to stay out of prison.

Portman introduced a panel of local leaders at the discussion who have shown that giving former inmates a second chance can work. The panel included Brandon Chrostowski, the CEO and founder of EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute, and EDWINS graduate Ernie Drain. Portman and Chrostowski have a long history of working together to aid former inmates in reach their potential.

“It’s my view people should not be defined by their mistakes,” Portman said. “Ninety-five percent of people who are currently in jail or prison will be released someday. Ninety-five percent. Unfortunately, more than half of those who are released are now back in the system, back in jail or prison within two or three years. That’s the revolving door. That recidivism costs taxpayers millions of dollars, it destroys families, it increases crime, it tears apart our communities.”

Portman said that recidivism in Ohio has dropped by 11 percent over the last decade, leading to “untold numbers of new crimes that are never committed,” as well as numerous mothers and fathers now being able to be in the lives of their children.

“It means stronger families and safer communities,” Portman said. “The Second Chance Act has brought more than $19 million in grant funding to Ohio. Ohio’s been one of the most aggressive states in using it. The unfortunate fact is that…the program has lost its authorization. In other words, it’s already expired. And so we’re fighting to get it reauthorized. We’re doing this in the Senate on a bipartisan basis with Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy.”

Portman added that reducing recidivism is key but that the underlying problems need to be addressed, pointing to the Senate’s 94-1 passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), S. 524, to lead the way.

“Addiction too often is the reason why people end up in the criminal justice system in the first place and throwing people in jail or prison has not proven successful in order to deal with that addiction issue,” Portman said. “My bill will provide resources for diversion programs for people who face criminal charges because of an addiction, and expand the treatment offered within the criminal justice system to include medication-assisted treatment. It expands educational programs for offenders in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities so that we can do a better job of helping individuals get an education and re-enter the workforce.

“Getting (CARA and the Second Chance Act Reauthorization) to President Obama’s desk and into law is important to communities in Ohio,” Portman said.