New Bureau of Prisons Guidelines Will Leave Jewish Inmates With Less Family, Shul Time

The amount of home release and halfway house time able to be earned by prisoners in federal jails was cut from 12 months to only 2, a memo from the federal Bureau of Prisons stated Wednesday.

Jewish Inmates relied on this allowance to spend time with their families.

The organization Tzedek slammed the decision, writing in a statement:

“This decision will cause immeasurable harm, especially to the children yearning to be reunited with their parents. It makes no sense to cut a program that should be more cost-effective than prison, reduces recidivism, and alleviates overcrowding. Rather than cutting this essential program, it should be expanded!”

Tzedek promised to fight the new rules and asked that the tzibur daven.

Rabbi Moshe Martaretten, President of Tzedek, spoke with Belaaz, expressing his dismay.
“My heart breaks for the spouses and children who will now endure prolonged separation from their loved ones for many months longer,” Rabbi Margaretten said. “This is wrong on every level, and we will fight tooth and nail to have it reversed—period. This program has been proven to reduce recidivism, it will recklessly overcrowd an already overburdened and understaffed prison system, and home confinement should be more cost-effective than incarceration, making this decision even more senseless.”