PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- In recent years,the General Assembly has considered various bills intended to help reformed criminals avoid the stigma of their criminal record once they have completed their sentences.
One such bill, which passed the Senate and now is before the House, would allow the Parole Board to issue a "certificate of recovery and re-entry" to any ex-convict who has completed his sentence and has exhibited good conduct.
Speaking in support of the bill, Sen. Harold M. Metts, D-Providence, said: "When you think that Rhode Island has a recidivism rate of over 60 percent, imagine the amount of money we can save taxpayers if we opened up the door for people to get gainful employment so they that they wouldn't have to go back to crime."
PolitiFact Rhode Island examined his claim about the recidivism rate and ruled it Mostly True. Read the complete analysis here.