To: The Mississippi State House, The Mississippi State Senate, and Governor Phil Bryant
Assistance for the Needy
We, the concerned citizens of Lowndes County in Columbus Mississippi and the surrounding areas, are concerned about injustice and discrimination to our fellow citizens (those with drug offenses) being released from the Department of Corrections. These reformed individuals have paid their debt to society and/or been released on parole. If they are to truly have a second chance at life, we believe that they should have the same basic freedoms and privileges afforded to other detainees release from the department of corrections. We are told by the Department of Human Services in according to Mississippi form MDHS-EA-900 (revised 10-01-11), that anyone with a drug offense (whether a seller or user) is not allow to receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and /or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Although we do not condone the crimes that these individuals have committed, we do agree that these reformed individuals should be afforded the same basic rights and privileges as other detainees released from the Department of Corrections. Our hope is that some temporary assistance might bridge the way back to these individuals being fully productive tax paying citizens as opposed to them reverting to a life of crime.
We, Neighborhood Watch Committee (Ward 1) of Columbus, Mississippi, are seeking programmatic changes concerning the distribution of TANF and SNAP funds for individual with drug offenses being released from the Department of Corrections.
We, Neighborhood Watch Committee (Ward 1) of Columbus, Mississippi, are seeking programmatic changes concerning the distribution of TANF and SNAP funds for individual with drug offenses being released from the Department of Corrections.
Why is this important?
Many unfortunate citizen with an arrest history in MS and other southern states are in need of basic assistance but, denied assistance because of their prior criminal history. In an effort to follow federal agencies and others, we can assist those returning from prison and jail in becoming productive citizens, and save taxpayer dollars by lowering the direct and collateral costs of incarceration to enhance community safety and wellbeing.