Most people sentenced to prison will be released some day. Inmates and the community at-large are best served if prisoners develop the skills that enable them to cope with life on the outside — which means they won't reoffend.

Instead of warehousing inmates until they have served their respective prison sentences, the Utah Department Corrections has recognized the considerable benefits of monitoring offenders in the community and helping them prepare for life on the outside. Not only does this approach salvage human capital, it saves money for the state of Utah. Executive director Mike Chabries is to be commended.

Interestingly, it was the state budget crunch that kick-started a strategic plan that includes the early release into the community of some 236 offenders. Only 14 percent have returned to prison on parole violations, according to the Utah State Board of Pardons and Parole. The early success has struck an enthusiastic chord with the state parole board, which had anticipated a much higher rate of violations.

Chabries has built upon the philosophy of his predecessor, Pete Haun, whose administration required inmates to participate in school, work or therapy to keep certain privileges. Such a system not only encouraged inmates to work for certain rewards, their "work" had educational and therapeutic benefits. Through jobs, education and treatment, inmates work to resolve many of the issues that landed them in trouble in the first place: a lack of education; poor social skills; the inability to use unstructured time appropriately, substance abuse problems and mental health issues, to name a few.

True, there aren't ample resources to connect inmates with every service or skill-building program they need or desire, but credit the Department of Corrections for linking many potential parolees with programs that will assist them. Applaud prison officials for recognizing that some inmates — but not all — can be successfully managed outside prison walls with proper supervision.

This paradigm shift is forward-thinking and realistic. Beyond that, it is cost effective.

Sometimes, financial straights force state agencies to reconsider a "business as usual" mode of operation. This innovative approach is laudable not just for saving money but for helping inmates lead successful lives beyond the prison experience.

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