It’s a staggering number, but it’s true—according to the U.S. Department of Justice, 68% of individuals released from prison are re-arrested within just three years. And by year nine, that number climbs to over 80%. If you’re wondering why, the answer isn’t as simple as “they messed up again.” The truth is a lot more complicated—and more heartbreaking.

The majority of people leaving prison are not handed a fresh start. They walk out with a trash bag of belongings, a bus pass if they’re lucky, and a head full of trauma. Many have nowhere safe to stay, no access to therapy or addiction treatment, and no support system cheering them on.

That’s where Mercy Center of Arizona comes in.

We saw the gap and decided to stand in it. At Mercy Center, we believe that people don’t fail the system—the system fails them. So we built something different. We offer free housing in an upscale hotel environment, located in a safe, middle-class neighborhood—a place where people can begin again with dignity. This isn’t just about a bed for the night. It’s about building a foundation.

But housing is just the beginning.

Most of our clients come to us with a history of untreated behavioral health conditions, often compounded by substance use and the trauma of incarceration itself. Therapy isn’t optional—it’s essential. Without the right support, the odds of falling back into old patterns are nearly guaranteed. And let’s be clear: relapse isn’t always about drugs. It can mean returning to toxic relationships, street life, or survival mode.

At Mercy Center, we provide therapy, case management, peer support, and structure. Our team helps clients reconnect with themselves and the world around them. We believe that people can change—not because we read it in a book, but because we see it every single day.

We’ve watched people walk in broken, silent, ashamed—and leave with their head high, jobs in hand, and peace in their chest.

So yes, 68% is the national statistic. But it’s not our statistic.

We’re here to help our clients be part of the other 32%—the ones who never go back. The ones who prove that with the right support, housing, and healing, the cycle can be broken.

Because at the end of the day, everyone deserves a second chance that actually feels like