For years, Michigan’s prisons operated with a disturbingly steady stream of repeat occupants. People served their sentences, got out, and many soon returned—almost like a grim version of an Airbnb with an oddly devoted customer base, one that taxpayers funded at an enormous cost.

A complex set of obstacles prevents people released from jail or prison from meeting their basic needs, increasing the risk of further crime and reducing public safety.

The U.S. criminal justice system does little to stop the cycle of crime or prepare people for success after release. Studies show that in 2012, roughly 71 percent of individuals leaving prison were rearrested within five years. And of the 5.6 million people jailed annually, at least one in five ends up behind bars more than once in the same year.

Entrance to Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County on Dec. 19, 2024.
Commentary: Robert Ricks, Image: Will Waldron/Times Union

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Lovinah Igbani Perkins speaks with Louis Gould about his life experiences. Louis shares details of his childhood in Flint, Michigan, and later in Houston, Texas, where he encountered significant challenges, including abuse and struggles to adapt to his new surroundings. Feeling isolated from both his family and peers, Louis eventually left home and discontinued his education at an early age.