JustDane’s many programs inspire hope for individuals returning to the Dane County community after incarceration by breaking down the barriers that can prevent them from fully participating in our community and the lives of their families. Just Dane also supports the families of those incarcerated through reading programs, family visit programs and mentoring programs. This helps bring wholeness and healing to individuals and their families.

High rates of incarceration in the United States create a significant cost to families and communities, as well as to taxpayers. More cost-effective approaches are available for non-violent offenders that results in more people living self-sufficient and independent lives. JustDane’s community-based solutions invest in residence, employment, support, transportation and education that reduce recidivism and reconnect returning prisoners with their families and neighborhoods.

Since 2006, the two-year recidivism rate (return to prison for either a new crime or a violation of supervision rules) for JustDane’s reentry services participants is between 5-14% as compared to the statewide recidivism rate of 67%. JustDane is the only Dane County provider of reentry services that track recidivism through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (WI DOC).