With 65% of formerly incarcerated people jobless—more than four times the highest U.S.
unemployment rate—South Carolina’s Turn90 is rewriting the story of reentry.
By Daisy Boynton
At just twelve years old, Malik (pictured above) was already learning to cook drugs,
package them, and carry a gun. After two stints in prison, it seemed his life was on an
unchangeable path. The lessons from the streets and those closest to him taught him it was the
only way to live. Then he found Turn90, and everything began to shift.
Why Recidivism Fuels Crime
The U.S. incarcerates more than 1.9 million people—more than any other country in the
world. A major reason the numbers stay so high is recidivism, which measures how many people
are reconvicted after release. Nearly 70% of people in state prisons were first arrested as
teenagers, and for many, that first arrest begins a cycle of reincarceration. Even in states with the
lowest recidivism rates, like South Carolina and Virginia, 1 in 5 people return to prison within
three years.
Reducing recidivism is one of the most effective ways to reduce crime because the people
most likely to commit future offenses are the people already in prison. Recidivism is a national
crisis we can address by replicating proven reentry models like Turn90.
Why Reentry Is So Hard
Imagine being released after 20 years behind bars. You reenter a world that runs on
smartphones, online applications, and digital literacy many incarcerated people never had the
chance to learn. You walk out with no transportation, no paycheck, no immediate support, and
enormous pressure to meet basic needs like food, housing, and child support.
Most reentry programs expect people to apply, wait, commute, or commit hours a day
before help begins. With no money and no stability, the streets often feel like the only accessible
option. Many programs also focus on just one area, like housing, mental health, or employment,
without addressing the full picture. Without immediate, comprehensive support, people fall back
into familiar habits for survival.
When Malik was released the first time, he returned to friends still deeply involved in the
streets. Within days he was cooking and selling meth again. Without a real alternative, returning
to prison felt almost inevitable.
True reentry requires tackling both internal challenges like trauma, impulsivity,
aggression, as well as external ones like transportation, income, and housing. This is where most
reentry programs stop short, but Turn90 begins. As Turn90 founder Amy Barch puts it, “We’re
missing the bottom rung of the ladder.”
Turn90’s First Rung Solution
Turn90 is a nonprofit employment social enterprise offering a structured, evidence-based
program for men at the highest risk of re-arrest. Founded in 2014, Turn90 provides a landing pad
immediately after release. It’s a place where support begins on day one.
By 2024, Turn90 expanded to three locations: Charleston, Columbia, and Spartanburg.
The program combines three core components: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) classes,
paid job training, and one-on-one case management. Each component is led by program
graduates who understand the journey firsthand.
Daily group CBT builds coping and problem-solving skills in a supportive environment. Case management addresses urgent needs like transportation, obtaining identification, scheduling medical appointments, or GED tutoring. Trainees also receive on-site job training and a paycheck, giving them both legal income and real workplace preparation. After six months, the program connects graduates to full-time jobs.
The outcomes speak for themselves. In 2024, 70% of the men Turn90 served had been
arrested as kids, and most had been arrested four or more times. Yet by the end of the year, 9 in
10 graduates held jobs for at least 90 days, 78% remained arrest-free, and many achieved
meaningful personal goals.
Turn90’s results come from rigorous data and continuous refinement. When early records
showed younger men were less successful, the program adjusted its age requirement to 24 and
older. Research also revealed that simply getting a job does not reduce recidivism, but
maintaining and succeeding at one does. That insight shaped Turn90’s emphasis on job skills
training.
Turn90 now offers a replicable, evidence-based model that directly reduces recidivism. If
adopted nationwide, the impact on crime reduction could be transformative.
The Economic Case for Rehabilitation
Some argue that people likely to reoffend should remain in prison. But incarceration is
extremely expensive. The median annual cost per prisoner in the U.S. is about $65,000, and in
the most expensive states like New York, Massachusetts, and California, it exceeds $100,000.
We aren’t just detaining people, we’re investing enormous public funds to do so.
It’s far more cost-effective to invest in rehabilitation and reentry. When formerly
incarcerated people become healthy, employable, and stable, communities benefit both socially
and economically. Successful reentry lowers crime, lowers incarceration costs, and strengthens
the workforce.
How You Can Help Build Second Chances
Today, Malik works full-time as a training manager at Turn90. He’s building a
relationship with his daughter, earning a college degree in computer technology, and creating the
life he once believed was impossible. His story isn’t unique at Turn90. This is what happens
when we fund futures instead of repeating failures.
The cycle of incarceration isn’t inevitable. It ends when we choose to fund futures, hire
differently, and demand smarter reentry programs. Turn90 proves that reentry reform doesn’t
have to be experimental. We know what works. Imagine what could happen if the rest of the
country followed suit. Funding a future after prison can mean funding programs directly, hiring a
graduate, advocating for reform, or helping replicate the Turn90 model in your own community.
Every contribution, big or small, fuels the work of keeping formerly incarcerated people out of
prison and helping them build stable, meaningful lives. You can donate to support trainees as
they take their first steps after release or advocate for policies that expand reentry programs
nationwide. If you’re an employer, you can hire Turn90 graduates ready to put their skills into
action. Help bring this proven model to other communities. Second chances don’t happen by
accident, they happen because people like you decide to make them possible.
About Daisy
Daisy Boynton is a 2025 graduate of Harvard University with a degree in Psychology and
Global Health and Health Policy. Following her graduation, she relocated from Concord,
Massachusetts to Charleston, South Carolina, to join the Turn90 team before applying to law
school. Her work with the organization is driven by a commitment to advancing evidence-based
solutions for criminal justice reform and building comprehensive support systems for reentry.