Second
Chance
Family Matters How to help ex-offenders stay exoffenders
God’s Spiritual Growth Plan
Key
Influencers
of the Prison Reform Movement
Juvenile Justice
A system losing ground
L.A County
and Mental Health A Positive Step
Jay Z and Meek Mill
The New Faces of Prison Reform?
Introduction
O
ver the years life has brought me a ton of challenges. Along the way I’ve had the opportunity to encourage a bunch of great men and women. A few years ago while sitting in a probation and parole office I noticed an unusual quiet in the room. Many of the probationers sat in silence and in fear as they awaited their turn to see their officer. I sat and observed and an image came to mind that looked as if they were like “sheep headed to the slaughter”. Men and Women who looked as if they had no hope, help, or voice. I started Second Chance Magazine™ with one goal in mind, to give someone a Second Chance at life. Second Chance Magazine™, is a publication focused on providing its readers, who range from felons to their loved ones, valuable resources for reentry and recovery. It has an eye opening mission to bring the topic of Criminal Justice Reform, its challenges and successes, into to the nation’s spotlight. Along with this, Second Chance Magazine™ is a source of help for those who have had their lives
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and their family’s lives turned upside down by felonies and bad choices. In it, readers will find up to date reentry services, programs, and the tools needed for personal and career development. It also features inspirational articles that serve as daily sources of inspiration for everyday living and growth. With these attributes, Second Chance Magazine™ hopes to expand its reach by partnering with some of the nation’s top second chance programs and influencers of criminal justice reform and reentry. In conjunction with these programs and influencers, the magazine will be able to host job readiness, business, and career development workshops for formerly incarcerated individuals and their loved ones. Second Chance Magazine™, The Voice of New Beginnings.
Larry M. Anderson Founder and Publisher
Table of Contents Key Influencers of the Prison Reform Movement 04 Justice For All »» HB 2270: Is Rehabilitation the Change We Need? 08 »» Cyntoia Brown and the Juvenile Criminal Justice Reform 08 »» Juvenile Justice” A system losing ground 09 »» Kamala Harris: Is She For or Against Criminal Justice Reform? 10 »» L.A County and Criminal Justice Reform: Will they embrac e Change? 11 »» L.A County and Mental Health : A Positive Step 12 »» Van Jones and the First Step Act: the Controversy 13 »» Jay Z and Meek Mill The New Faces of Prison Reform? 14
Faith »» Holding onto Hope 18 »» Potency of Faith 20 »» Seed Sowers 22 »» God’s Spiritual Growth Plan 23
Family »» Family Matters: How to help ex-offenders stay ex-offenders 26 »» The Importance of Fathers 27
Reentry Recovery »» College options for ex-offenders 28 »» Dealing with Loneliness in Prison 29 »» Dealing with Stress 29 »» Finding housing 30 »» How to combat societal expectations of released inmates 31 »» How to dress for success on a budget 32 »» How to prep for job interviews 33 »» Learning to efficiently find work 34 »» Maintaining physical and mental wellness after release 35 »» Reentry For Prisoners 36 »» Reentry - Just the facts 38 »» Reform & Reentry: What is prison reform and how is it supposed to help? 39 »» Statistical Challenges of Reentry 40 »» Top 3 resources for Starting your own Business 42 »» No Justice for Children 44 »» No More Condemnation 45 »» When It Comes to Kids in Lockup, It’s All About “Lack” 46
Second Chance Magazine - April 2019 | 3
Key Influencers
Key Influencers of the Prison Reform Movement Susan Burton Susan Burton is a formerly incarcerated activist who helps women rehabilitate after being released from prison through her organization A New Way of Life. The nonprofit provides housing, case management, pro bono legal services, advocacy, and leadership development for women rebuilding their lives after prison.
Yusef Bunchy Shakur
Tamika Mallory Tamika Mallory was born into activism as the daughter of founding members of the National Action Network (NAN), a civil rights organization led by Rev. Al Sharpton. She served as NAN’s executive director before stepping down in 2013. As a lifelong activist, she has fought for civil rights, women’s rights, gun control, and healthcare. She had also worked closely with the Obama administration on a variety of social issues along with Fortune 500 companies on projects related to mass incarceration and police misconduct. Mallory is a board director at Gathering for Justice, an organization aimed at curbing mass incarceration, and an active member of the Justice League NYC, a task force committed to advancing the juvenile and criminal justice reform agenda. She is perhaps best known as a co-president and co-founder of the historic Women’s March on Washington.
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Yusef Bunchy Shakur, born Joseph Lee Ruffin on February 15, 1973 in Detroit, is a father, author, educator, community activist/ organizer, and entrepreneur, but his journey has been one of overcoming the odds. Jojo, as his friends knew him, grew up in a home without a father, with an abusive mother and alcoholic who also found herself engaging in the street underworld to provide food, clothes and shelter for her three children she was raising by herself. Young Joseph was surrounded by violence and crime and eventually co-founded the notorious street gang “Zone 8”, which led to his incarceration at the age of nineteen for a crime he says he did not commit. Joseph met his father for the first time in prison where they were both serving time. During his sentence Yusef (changed his name to Yusef Bunchy Shakur in prison) says he began a journey of transformation, in large part thanks to his father, from a gang member into an educated young man who would eventually leave prison and continue on a path of redemption. Today Yusef travels the country to speak to youth about his experiences and to help steer young people away from a life of violence and crime. He continues to fight to overcome the challenges of crime, drugs, and violence plaguing the neighbourhood of “Zone 8” where members of his family and many friends still live.
Key Influencers Shaka Senghor Shaka Senghor is director’s fellow of the MIT Media Lab., college lecturer, author, and was convicted of murder in American courts. As of October 2015, he also teaches a class as part of the Atonement Project, a partnership between him, the University of Michigan, and the MIT Media Lab. His memoir, Writing my Wrongs, was published in March 2016. Senghor was named to Oprah’s SuperSoul 100 list of visionaries and influential leaders in 2016.
Chris Wilson
Michelle Alexander
Chris Wilson was sentenced to life in prison for murder at age 17. These days, he’s a free man who heads up two Baltimore companies and has been honored at the White House twice in the past month. He’s currently in talks with publishers to write a book about his life. Today, Wilson heads up House of DaVinci, a furniture restoration and upholstery company, and Barclay Investment Corporation, a residential and commercial contracting firm. He’s earning his bachelor’s degree in business at the University of Baltimore.
Civil rights attorney, social justice activist, and best-selling author, Michelle Alexander’s eye-opening and notable work, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, has been called the “secular Bible of the social movement.” An interview subject in Ava DuVernay’s 13th, Alexander’s commentary in the documentary analyzes the corruption of America’s criminal justice system. During her Tedx Talk conversation in 2013, the Union Theological seminary professor addressed the blunt reality of mass incarceration as a system of “millions of people, often poor people and people of color, locked in literal cages, often treated worse than animals, and then upon their release, they’re stripped of the basic civil and human rights supposedly won in the civil rights movement.”
CeCe McDonald In June 2011, CeCe McDonald was on her way to the store — minding her own business — when a man shouting racist and transphobic comments attacked her with a glass bottle in Minneapolis. The artist and LGBTQ rights activist retaliated by stabbing the man with scissors, and this resulted in his death. McDonald pleaded guilty on her charge of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 41 months in a men’s prison. While in prison, McDonald’s name graced social media via the hashtag #FreeCeCe, sparking a dialogue around the need for more conversations surrounding transgender rights. She was released after 19 months, due to good behavior.
Second Chance Magazine - April 2019 | 5
Justice For All
HB 2270:
Is Rehabilitation the Change We Need? By: Akyra Allen • Writers for Justice
I
n Arizona, HB 2270 offers offenders a second chance at life. HB 2270 is a bill that offers offenders a chance to participate in rehabilitative programming and good behavior, which in turn would lessen their sentence. With this legislation, this offers other prisons a chance to offer rehabilitative programming in order for offenders to be released out of prison a better version of themselves. If offenders are rehabilitated from their past mistakes, then there would be a greater chance that they do not commit their previous crime, which is proven in other countries such as Japan. Citation: Formerly Incarcerated People Say Sentence Reduction Legislation Will Inspire Hope In Arizona Prisons. (2019, January 23). Retrieved from https://kjzz.org/content/751878/formerly-incarcerated-people-say-sentence-reduction-legislation-will-inspire-hope
Cyntoia Brown and the Juvenile Criminal Justice Reform By: Akyra Allen • Writers for Justice
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ith the recent clemency of Cyntoia Brown, supporters of Brown are pushing further to include legislation that gives juveniles like Brown a second chance from the crimes they have committed as children. Brown’s clemency gives those hope for those that are serving time for infractions that was committed as children. It also gives insight on the reasons as to why children commit these crimes, which includes sex trafficking as described in Brown’s case. Prosecutors need to pay attention to the reasons as to why people commit crimes as children because many of them may have committed these crimes in a life or death situation.
Citation: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/us/cyntoia-brown-tennessee-criminal-justice.html
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Justice For All
Juvenile Justice A system losing ground Anne Wade senseless to punish a juvenile who may not have the capacity to truly understand the harm they have caused.
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here are several questions concerning juvenile offenders. Each of the questions come back to a very real issue, what do we, as a society, do with youth who refuse to obey laws? In medieval times, the incorrigible children could be executed. That penalty of executing Juveniles was finally outlawed in Roper v. Simmons (2005). A short version of the history of the treatment of juveniles shows vacillation between punishment and rehabilitation (Bernard, 1992). The current debate centers around the age of the juvenile (what defines a juvenile, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18), and how do we punish/rehabilitate/deter/ reintegrate the juvenile in our civilized society? Society certainly demands their “pound of flesh” when a juvenile offender has committed a serious offense harming a victim or victims. However, due to the age of the offender, society also has little desire to warehouse juvenile offenders for the rest of their lives.
Goshe (2013) noted the malleability of society’s concern for juveniles in society. No matter how liberal programs are to assist children “at risk” those are the programs that are cut first in a budgetary crisis. Goshe noted that even when funding is at its peak, social services still has to beg for more money to assist an ever increasing case of juveniles. This begs the question of how committed we are as a society to actually identifying and preventing juvenile’s from committing offenses in the first place. An argument can be made that juvenile offenders do not fully understand the nature of their crimes. They do not have fully developed moral systems and their brain is not as mature as their age would seem to suggest (Scott, 2006). While they understand at one level, they are breaking the law and some societal norms, they may not see consequences beyond the act itself (for themselves and others they have harmed). If that is the case, then it seems
Because of juveniles reduced ability to control themselves, lack of fully understanding the nature of their crime, and potentially delayed brain development, many advocate reduced sentencing for juvenile offenders (Brink, 2004). This argument of reduced sentencing, coupled with aggressive treatment for incarcerated juveniles seems to be the plan in many states. Depending on the degree of harm the juvenile has caused, it could be a risky plan that depends on juvenile services doing a stellar job providing needed services within a small window of time – the reduced time the juvenile is incarcerated versus and adult incarceration. Ultimately, there are no winners in the current juvenile system. Juveniles are treated differently in different states, some are punished others are given programs, and victims continue to suffer at the hands of their offender. All around, there are losers in the system. The juveniles who are incarcerated started life off “at risk” and their victims may or may not recover from the act against them.
No matter how liberal programs are to assist children “at risk” those are the programs that are cut first in a budgetary crisis.
Bernard, Thomas J. 1992. The Cycle of Juvenile Justice. New York: Oxford University Press. Brink, D. O. (2004). Immaturity, n ormative competence, and juvenile transfer: How (not) to punish minors for major crimes. Texas Law Review, 82 , 1555 Goshe, S. (2013). Malleable Mandates: Liberal Ideology and the Politics of Protection and Punishment in the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. Western Criminology Review, 14(1), 39-50. Roper v. Simmons 543 U.S. 551 (2005) Scott, E. (2006). Adolescence and the regulation of youth crime. Temple Law Review,8, 337.
Second Chance Magazine - April 2019 | 9
Justice For All
L.A County and Mental Health: A Positive Step By: Akyra Allen • Writers for Justice
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n February 13, Los Angeles county members voted to demolish L.A county’s central jail and replace it with a mental health facility for inmates. This plan is modified from the initial plan of creating a “consolidated correctional treatment facility”, which would house 3,885 inmate patients. The Department of Health Services would oversee the facility, and it would be staffed by the Department of Mental Health. This plan marks a shift in the way the state treat inmates with mental health issues. In L.A county, 70% of the county jail population has either a medical or mental health issue. This is a positive step for those the needs the help that they weren’t able to receive prior to their convictions. This gives those a chance to gain rehabilitation, and to give those an understanding of why they committed the crimes that they did. The United States are one of the few nations that does not offer rehabilitation for their inmates, which I think is detrimental. If an inmate was to be released without an effort towards rehabilitation, then it would be more than likely that they would end up back in prison.
In L.A county, 70% of the county jail population has either a medical or mental health issue.
Citation: “Criminal Justice Reform Is Sweeping the Country. But Not L.A. County.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2019, www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-cullors-criminal-justice-reform-lacey-20190227-st ory.html.
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Justice For All
Van Jones and the First Step Act: the Controversy By: Akyra Allen • Writers for Justice
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NN’s commentator and host Van Jones is no stranger to civil rights initiatives within recent years. However, Jones caught supporters by surprise when he expressed his support for the First Step Act, a bill that was co-sponsored by Democrat Hakeem Jeffries and Republican Doug Collins. The First Step Act targets issues such as
the improvement of facilities, the release of elderly inmates, the increase of days inmates are able to spend in halfway homes, and placing them in facilities closer to their families. While this initiative gives inmates a more humane treatment while they serve their sentence, opposers argue that this act is seen as a shallow effort to address the underlying issue. The First Step Act does not address the decrease of drug charges, the end of long sentencing for these transgressions and giving judges more discretion. Opposers of this act worries that this initiative would shut down a more aggressive approach towards prison reform in the future. So, how does Van Jones fit into this narrative? Jones argues that we need a stable bipartisan consensus in order to solve the issue of mass incarceration. However, it would be proven difficult to support a bipartisan bill with the tension occurring between republicans and democrats. Hopefully both parties are able to move past their vast differences to support a bill that would help those that deserves it.
Citation: George, Justin. “Van Jones Answers His Critics.” The Marshall Project, The Marshall Project, 19 June 2018, www.themarshallproject.org/2018/06/18/van-jones-answers-his-critics.
Second Chance Magazine - April 2019 | 13
Justice For All
Jay Z and Meek Mill
The New Faces of Prison Reform? By: Akyra Allen • Writers for Justice
I
t is only January, and two of the greatest hip hop artists are already taking the initiative to addressing the injustice of our nation’s “justice system”. On January 23, Jay-Z and Meek Mill, among other prominent figures , launched the REFORM alliance, “an organization that aims to reduce the number of people serving unjust parole and probation sentences.” Along with the 76er’s co-owner Michael Ruben, Nets co-owner Clara Wu Tsai, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft, they pledged $50 million dollars towards the initiative, with political commentator and activist Van Jones as their CEO.
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Justice For All
With the uprising of people being incarcerated for various offenses, it is a stride in the right direction to address the underlying issues within the justice system. It is already unfortunate that people within our community receives an absurd sentencing for a very minor crime, while others get a more lenient sentencing for the same infraction. For those that may not know, Meek Mill served 5 months for a technical probation violation which was “popping a wheelie.” While he was serving his sentence, many celebrities, including Jay-Z rallied for his release over this very minor infraction. Meek Mill stated, “Every time I started fulfilling my life within the music industry, every year or two, there was always something that brought me back to ground zero because of probation.” If it is difficult for musicians to get back to who they were before their sentencing, imagine a person that doesn’t have his influence and his connections to reduce his sentencing. There are people that are serving a serious amount of time in jail over “technicalities.” We already know that this is an issue, and seeking two prom-
inent figures in our community create an initiative that our elected officials didn’t also shows what is deemed important to our elected officials. Many feel that our elected officials are not doing what they’re elected for, and it is unfortunate that these elected officials don’t use their platform to make the necessary changes needed to better our community, especially within the prison system. We already know that many correctional facilities are for profit, and many people are ran by how much revenue these facilities generate. Many of these officials see profit over public service, and that also needs to change. There is a change in the foreseeable future. Jay Z and Meek Mill are the faces of this change, using their wealth to fund this change and actually having a voice that people would be responsive to. I remain optimistic that the REFORM alliance will change the way that we view prison reform, the steps needed to change our justice system and what we can do to maintain the longevity of these changes.
I remain optimistic that the REFORM alliance will change the way that we view prison reform, the steps needed to change our justice system and what we can do to maintain the longevity of these changes.
Citation: 1.Jay-Z and Meek Mill launch prison reform organization. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www-m.cnn. com/2019/01/24/entertainment/jay-z-meek-mill-prison/index.html?r=https://www.google.com/ 2. Lockett, D. (2019, January 23). Jay-Z and Meek Mill Launch Prison Reform Alliance, Pledge $50 Million. Retrieved from https://www.vulture.com/2019/01/jay-z-meek-mill-launch-prison-reformalliance-pledge-usd50m.html
Second Chance Magazine - April 2019 | 15
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Second Chance Magazine - April 2019 | 17
Faith but unfortunately that seems to be our default response. To counteract our natural tendency to wander spiritually, we need to intentionally pursue circumstances and experiences that will foster spiritual growth. Developing a plan to grow spiritually is one of the best ways to do this. As artificial as it might feel, creating a plan will keep you disciplined and accountable. It may rub against our culture’s emphasis on spontaneity and the organic, but creating a regular routine need not be legalistic, instead it can be a tremendous scaffold to help you stay on top of what is most important.
1. Schedule Time with God: In the world today, time is money. And one of the most effective ways of making God a priority in our life is by giving him our time. To you, this might sound impossible. The days already feel too short, but while I don’t know your schedule, I do know that time is one of our most valuable resources. And giving our time to God is one of the most tangible ways we can make him a priority. Setting apart space specifically to be with him, is key to our spiritual growth. The first practical step of developing a growth plan is to decide on an amount of time and schedule it into your day. Be sure to give yourself grace if you find yourself unable to fulfill your plan. If you find yourself struggling to accomplish your goals, then step back and reevaluate. Make any needed changes and start over. Setting an overly ambitious plan only to get bogged down, unable to complete it, isn’t helping anyone.
2. Pick your content: Flipping through the Bible, hoping to be struck by spiritual enlightenment, is not the most effective way to be with God. The writer of Psalm 119 speaks
of studying and meditating day and night. He seems to have an ordered approach in mind. Order need not be legalism. We must always be careful to not let our time with God become a duty or a chore (i.e. legalism, spending time to earn favor or forgiveness from God). However, that does not mean we shouldn’t have order. Instead, it’s best to find what works for you. Reading Scripture and prayer are the foundation of our communion with God, but there are many ways to connect with Him. The second practical step is choosing content. Pick both actual reading content (i.e. Scripture, books, devotionals) and practices (i.e. reading, prayer, worship, meditation). I find it helpful to have a mix of practices. Once you decided on what to include, write down a schedule for the time and stick with it. Reevaluate every couple of months, so you don’t get stuck in a rut.
3. Find a Mentor: This is rarely mentioned in churches today, but finding someone who is more mature in their faith if pivotal to growth. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul calls the church to imitate him as he imitates Christ. Built into this sentiment is the idea that we must be watching those more mature than us, so we can learn how to grow. Having a mentor is a powerful source of encouragement and accountability. This person should be someone outside of your immediate peer group, who more mature in their faith, and respected by their church community. The third practical step is to find someone who can be your mentor. At first,
this might not be easy because you are afraid to seek someone out. I recommend you begin by praying for God to give you discernment, so you can tell who would be a good mentor, and for God to bring someone into your life. Talk with church leaders to find out if they can recommend anyone. This is a very easy step to skip, but having a mentor can seriously you help you grow.
4. Stay relationally focused: The main point of this post is to encourage you to orchestrate greater structure into your time with God. But, one of the greatest dangers of this post is legalism. Legalism is the idea that we are spending time with God to check it off the list or to get something from it (i.e. a good feeling, forgiveness). Our posture coming to God should be to be with him, not to get something from Him. One of the hardest parts of spending time with God is releasing our expectation. I always want to learn something, experience something, or get a prayer answered, but that’s not the point. The point is to be with him and that should be our goal. Structure is only a way to facilitate our time with him, sort of like a daily planner helps be where we need to be and do what we need to do.
This isn’t a practical step per say, but rather a posture of the heart to keep in mind each time you enter into time with God.
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Family
Family Matters How to help ex-offenders stay ex-offenders By Larry M. Anderson
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hat type of impact can a relative make on the life of a former offender? One might say that choosing to be better is a personal decision, and while that is correct, none of us got to where we are simply by choosing to work hard and follow the law. We all needed help accomplishing our goals. Even if it is providing housing, recommending an available job, or providing clothes. For someone who has very little, an active support system goes a long way. One of the most effective ways to help a family member with criminal history is to ask how you can help them succeed. Put the ball in his or her court and communicate your desire to help him or her succeed. This type of encouraging behavior reassures former offenders that the path to making an honest living is possible. Additionally, if someone is holding you accountable for your actions, you are less likely to fail.
Your unwavering support will help in more ways than you know. 26 | Second Chance Magazine - April 2019
Some family members choose not to help former offenders because they see it as enabling poor behavior. This is not the case. While allowing a recently released family member to fall back into bad habits is indeed enabling, the idea is to provide a safe place for your loved one to rebuild his or her life. How does that happen? Ask about their goals—long and short term. Then make steps to help your loved one accomplish those goals. With the resources and support of family and friends, long term reformation is attainable. It just takes patience and consistent support. There is difficulty in trusting a loved one who may have previously deceived or taken advantage of your kindness before. But the fact of the matter is we all need help. If your loved one wants to improve his or her life, I urge you to help in any way that you can. Let them know you are there to help them succeed and encourage him or her to keep making the right choices, even if it means not associating with close friends. Your unwavering support will help in more ways than you know. Don’t give up on them.
Family
The Importance of Fathers By Larry M. Anderson
S
tudies have shown the children with the father in prison are more likely to struggle with school and other areas of life. If you have children, you may feel powerless to make a difference in their lives while incarcerated. It may feel as though it’s a hopeless cause. But it doesn’t have to be. Even while behind bars, you can make a genuine difference in the lives of your children. And if they are going to succeed in life, it’s imperative that you do. And it’s worth noting that this doesn’t just apply to your children. You can make an impact on the lives of your grandchildren, your nieces and nephews, another young people that you know. Incarceration doesn’t have to hinder you from making a difference in this world. But this truth is magnified when you’re a father.
Don’t allow your past to set the course for your future. You can begin to live as an example today, no matter what you’ve done in the past.
But, you may be wondering, “How can I make a difference well I’m in here and they are out there?” Here are some easy ways to begin having a positive impact on the lives of young people that you care about. Don’t allow your past to set the course for your future. You can begin to live as an example today, no matter what you’ve done in the past. So set a positive example for your children by doing the things
that you hope they will do. Your actions will have a tremendous impact on your children’s views and lives. They will imitate what they see in you. If you want them to value education, then you should value education. Enroll in the class that’s available at your facility. Take a correspondence course. Get your GED. If you want your children to value the spiritual life, live it out and talk to them about it. Attend services when possible. Read the Bible. Pray. And discuss what God is teaching you with them. Finally, one of the best things that you can do as a parent, is to be there for your child. Yes, it may be more difficult why don’t leave prison. But it doesn’t have to be impossible. Call them when you’re able. Make visitations a joy. Speak positively when they’re around and maintain a good attitude. Begin living the wife that you want them to live. It won’t be easy, but few worthwhile things in life are. And your children are worth it. Make sure they know that.
Second Chance Magazine - April 2019 | 27
Reentry and Recovery
there is a wait list make sure you are on it. You never know how soon an availability will come up.
Finding housing A By Cierra Smith
major problem recently released inmates face is locating housing. While temporary programs are available, one of the best ways to prove that you are turning your life around is to secure your own living arrangements. This is an obvious struggle as people have preconceived notions of you being dangerous or high risk because you have been incarcerated. Oftentimes, apartments deny applicants who have a criminal history and banks are reluctant to approve credit to purchase a house. That leaves former offenders with the challenge of creative thinking. While you may have already exhausted these resources, a few helpful options are below: Christian organizations and nonprofit groups offer various forms of housing assistance but sometimes there aren’t many vacancies, resulting in waiting lists for available apartments. Don’t let this deter you, if
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Searching on Craigslist and like sites is another option to find housing. The site has hundreds of listings for available houses and apartments. Many times, land lords may not require background checks, making them felon-friendly options (helpforfelons.org). HUD is also a way to attain low-income and sometimes free housing to those in need. This is income-based local housing that is a great long-term option for felons. There may be a lengthy waiting period but get on the list as soon as possible to increase your chances of adequate housing (helpforfelons.org). Renting a room in a house is another option. This is a Craigslist-type of search for shared housing. Typically, people look for roommates who are clean, respectful, pay rent on time etc. Renting a room in a house is sometimes all inclusive. For a flat fee, you get a room (that may or may not be furnished) with electricity and access to a bathroom, kitchen and maybe even Wi-Fi. The only downside, not much privacy. Lastly, ask your parole officer, family or coworkers if they know of anyone looking for a roommate. It may seem like a shot in the dark, but you never know. If you are making an honest living, you might come across someone who wants to help.
Reentry and Recovery
How to combat societal expectations of released inmates By Larry M. Anderson
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ociety believes that once someone has a criminal record, that person will continuously be in and out of jail for the remainder of their lives. And while statistics may lead people to believe this is true, long term reformation is achievable when one has enough information, support and desire to change. Get used to proving yourself. As previously mentioned, the expectation is that you will fail. Potential employers, your parole officer, probably even family members think you will somehow violate a law, resulting in your return to jail. You must have the mindset that no one will stop you from accomplishing your goal of success and a life as a law-abiding citizen.
Remember to say thank you. Every small assist, even if it seems like common courtesy, is a chance for you to show appreciation for someone helping you when it was not required. You’d be surprised how much ‘thank you’ encourages someone to keep helping. Keep your nose clean. Society expects you to lie, cheat and steal to get ahead. The only way to earn respect is by succeeding set expectations. It’s not just a matter of securing honest employment. You need to continue to find ways to improve your education, living situation, and physical well-being. In your free time, instead of ‘hanging out’, enroll in a free program that helps individuals with a criminal past or
go to the library and use public resources to job search, read or network. Stay busy bettering yourself. Be aware of your surroundings. If you find yourself in a ‘wrong place wrong time’ situation, understand that no one will give you the benefit of the doubt. As an effect, you need to always be on guard for situations that could potentially compromise your freedom. And if you feel uncomfortable, leave the area. This takes intuitive action; and while at the time people may not like that you don’t attend the late-night party or use recreational drugs, your goals of long term success require extreme sacrifice. Remain steadfast in your choice to do good.
If you find yourself in a ‘wrong place wrong time’ situation, understand that no one will give you the benefit of the doubt.
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Reentry and Recovery
Reentry For Prisoners By Justin Steward
I
ncarceration is a life-altering event that impacts many people for many years. The process of leaving the prison and reentering society can often be very stressful and life-changing as well. The opportunity to be released presents the individual with a new life filled with many new opportunities, but it also presents him/her with many struggles and many decisions. Many of the decisions have to be made before one even leaves the cell: where will you live? Where will you work? Will you have food and clothing? What kind of support system will you have? This is just a few of the decisions that have to be made. The list could feel overwhelming. Throw all that stress in with a demanding parole officer and one depressing statistic: twothirds of formerly incarcerated inmates will be re-arrested and re-incarcerated in a period of three years. “Sadly prisoners often go back to prison not because they committed a
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Reentry and Recovery
Support systems are like framed in walls, or foundations of a house. These provide structure and support to one’s life.
crime, but because they simply violated parole” (Prison Fellowship). Many of our brothers and sisters of the human race find life on the outside to be like another kind of prison, and often too much to handle and end up returning to the familiar. This means as a society we have to reform the system the best we can and do all we can to provide tools to help them reintegrate into society. It might be an uphill climb, and it may seem like the cards are stacked against them, but it is possible. One of the most important things to do is to establish a positive support system in your life. Often times the larger the community the more safety nets are in place to catch you when (and before) you fall. Whatever that community looks like it will be very important to establish it. Often time’s incarceration strains family relationships, and in many cases tears families apart. It is imperative for the newly released to do what he can to make things right with those in his family, because he will need the support that they have to offer him. When this is not possible there are other supporters that can help meet this need. One thing to avoid is the negative support system, the old “crew” that helped get you in trouble. One must be very picky about which community he will choose to associate with. Even if you have been reformed remember “bad company corrupts good manners.” Some of these old friends, and social communities should be avoided completely. This has been the downfall of many
well-intentioned. Often times parole officers will prevent the going to bars but they cannot always follow you into every private home. This will be one’s own choice. It will be important to find new communities and groups to build support and motivation to get on your feet. Some of these groups will be formal and required as part of your parole/probation. Such as the various group therapies: anger management, narcotics anonymous etc. A faith community can meet this need and a variety of others as well. Many group programs encourage its pupils to find meaning in a “higher power.” One way to do this is to join a church, Bible study, or other faith-based community. This activity will connect you with people that want to help you, who can speak into your life, and help you stay accountable to your goals on the outside. Furthermore, it connects you with a group of people where you can begin to build new healthy relationships. It will also provide moral transformational teaching to help keep one on the “straight and narrow.” Support systems are like framed in walls, or foundations of a house. These provide structure and support to one’s life. This is an important step and can begin being built even before one leaves behind the bars of their prison cell. Speak to the social worker, or the chaplain. See who is coming in to see you regularly (besides family); these are your cheerleaders, this is your support that you should build on.
Justin Steward – Bio. Justin is an ordained minister, teacher, and freelance writer. He lives with his wife and three small children near Buffalo, NY. He has written and published two books, and maintains a blog at https://jms22782.wordpress.com/
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