Breaking the cycle of incarceration

Believe it or not, when law enforcement and ex-offenders come together, good things can happen. This video tells the story of Partners in Hope, a Milwaukee prisoner reentry program where cops, federal agents and prosecutors (among others) offer training, mentorship and friendship to people directly returning from prison or jail. The result is changed perspectives and transformed lives on both sides. Partners in Hope — a “force for healing,” in the words of neighborhood empowerment activist Bob Woodson — is modeled after Hope for Prisoners, a Las Vegas reentry program credited with a significant reduction in recidivism and improved community-police relations. The Badger Institute was instrumental in helping bring the Hope for Prisoners model to Milwaukee.