Copy this CollectionMost people who enter prison will come out at some point, but reintegrating back into society is particularly challenging because just being part of the criminal justice system sets someone back economically. They often come out without a place to live and usually have few or no financial resources. They may not even have identification. They may not be able to access food stamps or student loans. On top of that, many people who come out must start paying legal fees and restitution right away, even if they have no income. Falling behind on that could result in returning to prison.
I was taken by several stories in this collection because they reminded me of time I have spent volunteering at a half-way house for men coming out of prison, and also mentoring several women who have come out. The adjustment to life on the outside is daunting for them. They have to learn to make their own decisions again. They have to find housing and jobs in a society that usually discriminates against them.
The halfway house in Montgomery Ala., reminds me of Dismas House in Albuquerque where I used to volunteer. It gives men a stable safe place where they can focus on sobriety while they find jobs and long-term housing. In Lancaster, Pa., a similar re-entry program offers intense case management and support, as well as housing and employment workshops. Both offer support from others who are going through the same thing. This is really important to help people not be so isolated and feel part of society again.
But even the best-intentioned programs can fail if they don't actually get input from the people they serve, so the Reentry Think Tank in Philadelphia is an intriguing idea for ensuring that input actually happens (which happens so rarely in policy and program creation).
Solving the jobs puzzle is happening in a number of ways. Two of the examples here are a program that teaches coding and is being emulated in other prisons. These skills are in high demand around the country, so this has serious potential. Also entrepreneurship can be a natural path for some former inmates. Many know how to hustle and think outside the box so teaching them to do it in a legal framework leverages skills they already have.
