Maryland U.S. Attorney J. Rosenstein and three other members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office will enter FCI Cumberland in Allegany County, Maryland on Tuesday, April 26. Operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, FCI Cumberland includes a medium security federal correctional institution and an adjacent minimum security satellite prison camp. Approximately 1,100 inmates re held at the FCI and 250 at the camp. The federal prosecutors will meet with two groups of inmates: 30 inmates who participate in the Release Preparation Program at the FCI and approximately 30 inmates held at the Camp. These returning citizens face many challenges, including employment, housing, child support, drug counseling and educational opportunities, and obtaining critical documentation such as a driver’s license and social security card.
“Our mission is preventing crime, not just sending people to prison,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Most former prisoners face strong temptations to return to a life of crime. We will emphasize that there are programs available to help them, and that they need to make constructive decisions in order to succeed.”
The U.S. Justice Department designated the week of April 24 as “Reentry Week,” recognizing that supporting successful reentry is an essential part of the Department’s mission to promote public safety.
Under the Release Preparation Program, designated inmates who are approaching their release dates are encouraged to enroll in a job skills class and participate in a mock job fair. The programs teach participants how to obtain jobs after their release. Inmates learn how to prepare a resume and complete an employment application. FCI Cumberland also has a Reentry Center that assists inmates with social security cards, driver’s licenses, identification, credit histories, child support and a variety of other issues that returning offenders may need to address.