Beyond the Cell Door: Why Alternatives to Incarceration Work and Why They Matter

A warm welcome to Squared Away Consulting and an honest, motivating

conversation about a system that can do better for all of us.

Michelle T. Ries

Founder, Squared Away Consulting | March 2026 | www.squaredawayconsulting.com

Hello, and welcome. I'm Michelle T. Ries, founder of Squared Away Consulting, and I'm so glad you're here.

Starting this business felt like the natural next step in a journey that has taken me through community advocacy, academic research, and the real-world complexities of our legal system. I've sat with families navigating the aftermath of incarceration. I've pored over studies and policy briefs. And through all of it, one truth has stayed with me: locking people up is not the same as keeping communities safe.

At Squared Away Consulting, I help organizations, policymakers, and individuals understand, design, and champion smarter approaches to justice approaches rooted in evidence, compassion, and a genuine belief that people can and do change. This is not just possible. It is already happening. And you can be part of it. The case for doing things differently.

Our current system is costly — not just financially, but humanly. High rates of return to incarceration tell us something important: punishment alone, without addressing the root causes of why someone entered the system in the first place, rarely leads to the outcomes communities need. But there is real, measurable progress happening — and the numbers are nothing short of inspiring:

Statistic	Value
Percentage of people released from state prisons who are rearrested within 10 years	82%
Amount saved for every $1 invested in drug treatment programs	$12
Drop in state re-incarceration rates since 2008	23%
Estimated savings if just 10% of eligible people received community treatment instead of prison	$4.8B

Progress is real and it's bipartisan

What gives me the most hope is that this work transcends political divides. The Second Chance Act, signed into law in 2008, has now supported over 1,200 grantees across 48 states serving more than 400,000 people. State reincarceration rates are down 23% over that same period. [3] These aren't abstract wins; they're families kept together, neighborhoods made more stable, and taxpayer dollars used more wisely.

The First Step Act of 2018 extended that progress to the federal level, creating pathways for people to earn early release by participating in programs shown to reduce recidivism. The U.S. Sentencing Commission continues to actively study and expand alternatives-to-incarceration efforts in federal courts today. [5]

Every win in this space, every person who completes a treatment program, finishes community service, or successfully navigates probation, is proof that the system can work better. And proof that you can make a difference in how it does. What this means for you

Whether you're a nonprofit leader, a public defender, a policy staffer, or someone who simply cares about justice in your community, there is a role for you in this work. You don't have to have all the answers. You just have to be willing to ask better questions and to believe that the answers exist.

If you're navigating the system yourself or supporting a loved one who is, know this: you are not alone, and there are real options worth fighting for. Real people are winning. Real communities are healing. And there is more we can do together.

Squared Away Consulting exists to help you find those options, understand what the evidence says, and build programs and policies that actually deliver. This is just the beginning of the conversation, and I am genuinely grateful you are in it with me.

With warmth and purpose,

Michelle T. Ries

Founder, Squared Away Consulting

Ready to get started?

Have questions or want to explore how Squared Away Consulting can support your

work? Let's start a conversation.

www.squaredawayconsulting.com

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Citations:

[1] Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice. "Recidivism Rates." Analysis of recidivism in 24 states; 82% of individuals released from state prisons rearrested within 10 years of release. bja.ojp.gov (November 2023).

[2] American Civil Liberties Union. "Diversion Programs Are Cheaper and More Effective Than Incarceration." Citing a 2010 study on community-based substance abuse treatment savings ($4.8B) and drug treatment ROI ($12 per $1 invested). aclu.org (February 2023).

[3] Council of State Governments Justice Center. "50 States, 1 Goal: Examining State-Level Recidivism Trends in the Second Chance Act Era." State-level reincarceration rates 23% lower since 2008; Second Chance Act grantee data. csgjusticecenter.org (April 2024).

[4] Bureau of Justice Assistance. "Justice Matters: Restorative Justice." Restorative justice as an alternative or complement to current criminal justice approaches. bja.ojp.gov (November 2023).

[5] United States Sentencing Commission. "Annual Report 2023." Commission's 2024 policy priorities include examining alternatives-to-incarceration and diversion programs in federal court districts. ussc.gov (July 2024).

© 2026 Squared Away Consulting | Michelle T. Ries | www.squaredawayconsulting.com