JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (CNS) -- George Lombardi, director of the Missouri Department of Corrections, has quite a selling point.

In his work to enlist the community's help in reintegrating offenders into society, Lombardi points to one statistic: 97 percent of all inmates someday will return to society.

In recent years the department has partnered with other state agencies and groups, including Catholic and other faith-based groups, on how to assist and prepare these inmates. Lombardi is continuing the effort while forging new partnerships.

Helping offenders cuts across the political spectrum, he told a group at the Missouri Catholic Conference annual assembly in Jefferson City earlier this fall. For every offender diverted from the system, $16,000 is saved by the state, and each crime that is not committed means one less victim.

In Kansas City, he said, business leaders have joined with a former prosecutor and police chief on the Second Chance Foundation that helps ex-offenders.

He cited the difference made by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and similar groups. From housing, jobs and treatment to "simple, everyday things," they provide ex-offenders hope and a path, Lombardi noted.

He urged faith-based organizations to work together with other organizations, including on bigger issues of poverty, sentencing and similar matters, "to make a more powerful voice. There should always be cooperation."

Lombardi recalled when he first began work in 1972 at the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, it was a "bloody and difficult place" with frequent stabbings and murders.

As time progressed more prisons were built and changes were implemented. The more aggressive offenders were separated from the rest of the population.

And gradually the mission changed from just keeping the peace to helping inmates improve their chances of success once they were released.

Along the way a few bumps occurred, including the deinstitutionalization of the mental health system and the resulting increase in former or would-be mental patients committing crimes and being sent to prison.

Now, Lombardi said, the corrections system works with mental health professionals in getting help for inmates.

Mandatory minimum sentences have contributed to a rise in the prison population, making it even more important to make sure those who are released from prison stay out.

Successes have resulted, including extraordinary gains in lowering recidivism rates through programs operated by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Center for Women in Transition, Project Re-Connect and others.

Lombardi called the Missouri Division of Youth Services his model. The system moved toward small, scattered, secure facilities with programs that focused on treatment and education of youth offenders.

The results have been staggering, as the recidivism rate has been under 10 percent, compared to 80 percent elsewhere. The District of Columbia and Louisiana are among the areas that have begun work to emulate what is known as the Missouri model.

The program focuses on therapy, comfortable living conditions and an emphasis on job training and education. Each offender is placed in a small group of 10 to 15, assigned a caseworker and sent to school during the day. Offenders also put on Shakespeare stage productions and play sports. They learn about teamwork through camping and rock climbing.

"Because of their efforts, we didn't build two or three additional prisons," Lombardi said. "The young people trust the staff and trust one another. They talk about issues that brought them there, including abuse and neglect."

Lombardi urged support for early-education programs, drug courts, family courts and other efforts to bring attention to those who need help.

He noted the critical role played by probation and parole officers, and he asked people to volunteer as mentors to ex-offenders: "You really can make a difference in helping people stay out of prison."

Such tasks as getting an ex-offender an identification card are critical to their job prospects. "Mundane things like that really count," Lombardi said.

Copyright © 2009 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops