Life after jail or prison can be very
overwhelming for ex-convicts. When they are released, they can come out and
encounter a whole different world. They may discover that society has entirely
transformed, and it has now become a huge obstacle...one that actively
discourages people from positively contributing to society...one where everyone
seems to fear or resent them and is not willing to help them find their way
back to society even after a change of heart, attitude, and/or remorse. This
blog article will discuss 10 Best Ways
Prisoners Can Reintegrate Into The Community After Release.
An
estimated 68% of prisoners who were freed were arrested within three years, 79%
within six years, and 83% within nine years, according to the National
Institute of Justice. These figures indicate how few ex-offenders can
successfully transition. But with the right knowledge, education, and assistance, these numbers may be able to be drastically
reduced.
To help with this, we've gathered some essential guidance on how to reintegrate into society after serving time in jail or prison, whether you have a loved one behind bars or you're a released prisoner seeking to do so. These tips will help to reduce the chances of recidivism for ex-cons.
Here are the 10 best ways that prisoners can reintegrate into the community after they have been released. We are going to divide these 10 tips into two parts because helping prisoners re-enter society is not a task for one individual alone. There is a part the ex-offender would do for themselves, and family and society can also help. So, let us start with what you can do for yourself as a released prisoner.
Part A: What Can You Do For Yourself As An Ex-Offender
1.
Start By Creating Positive Relationships
Many convicts may have relationships that were strained due to their time in jail or prison. They may want to go back and repair such relationships with friends and family. This is a great idea; however, it is important to know what kind of relationships to maintain and which ones are not worth it anymore. The first thing to do to avoid recidivism is to build a relationship with the right people. A good place to start would be with trusted family who is willing to embrace and support you. Being around your family that loves and checked on you while you were in prison can reduce the risk of relapse into harmful and antisocial relationships.
2.
Find A Mentor
Believe it or not, finding a mentor as an ex-criminal
is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Your mentor can be a former prisoner that has
re-entered society and started to lawfully thrive in society. The best way is
to find an individual that has been in your shoes, someone who understands the
struggles that come with re-entering society, an individual that can help you
find your footing and provide you with all the necessary wisdom, knowledge, assistance
and motivation that you need to live a crime-free life and stay on track.
3.
Learn To Deal With Rejection
Rejection
may be part of life but as an individual, with a criminal record, your chances
of rejection are increased. You face rejection when looking for housing or
employment. however, you have to learn to handle and deal with this rejection
properly, effectively, and productively.
This rejection may result in anger and frustration,
but you must refuse to allow them to take you back to the life that you have
decided to leave behind. You must learn to control your emotions. If you are
feeling down, you can speak to people around you like your mentor or your
family members. Remember that you are not a failure. Be gentle and forgiving with
yourself.
4.
Partake In Re-Entry Programs
Reentry initiatives place a major emphasis on
minimizing obstacles to effective reentry. They help enable determined people
who have served their sentence and paid their responsibility to society to
compete for employment, find stable housing, care for their families, and give
back to their communities. This transitional
community assistance for released prisoners can be very helpful, in the
sense that it can help ex-prisoners find a community, share their stories, and
socially adjust back into society.
You may decide to join a government prisoner reentry program or find one
run by a privately owned organization. They can be beneficial as they provide
help for released prisoners. Some of these programs even offer assistance
and/or placement into housing and
employment.
5.
Find Community Resources
Look for more
beneficial resources both before and after you have been released. They could
come from governmental or even religious sources. Your worry or concerns about
how to restart your life can be reduced by using these resources.
6.
Avoid Going To Places That Can Jeopardize Your Freedom
Your main goals in life after prison should be to
maintain your freedom, stay safe, and survive. Hence, you should actively try
to avoid going to places that can jeopardize your freedom and cause you to do
illegal activities. Being an ex-offender, there is a possibility that being in
the wrong places can make you become a suspect when any crimes occur. So, if
you are determined to not return to jail or prison, be careful of the people
you interact with, the places you go, and the things you do.
7.
Increase Your Productivity
Having an excessive amount of leisure time may be
disastrous for some ex-offenders. Having opportunities for positive
productivity can help fight this trend. Even if you have not secured any
employment yet, you can participate in volunteer work. You can participate in
vocational training or you can even
decide to participate in free General Equivalency Diploma and literacy
programs. This way you are keeping yourself busy and making progress.
Part B: What
Family And Friends Can Do To Support A Released Prisoner
8.
Help Them Deal With Culture
Shock
One of the biggest obstacles to social reintegration for offenders, depending on how long your
loved one was incarcerated, can be a culture shock. The culture shock can be
more severe the longer they were incarcerated.
Your loved one will need to be aware of new
terminology that has emerged since they were last released from prison, new
technology, the emergence of social media for communication, and newer models
of cell phones or cell phones in general. To get used to their new
"normal," they will need your assistance.
Being patient with your loved one will go a long way
toward easing their culture shock. Give them guidance on making decisions,
explaining new cultural customs, and organizing their lives. It can also be
helpful if you help your loved one stay abreast of current events and changing
laws dealing with incarceration while they’re incarcerated.
9.
Provide The Basic Amenities
For Them If You Can
They just came out of jail or prison, and they
probably need help before they can go out to start looking for housing and employment
and start fending for themselves. If you have a mutually trustworthy
relationship, you may be able to provide them with food and shelter if they
have nowhere to stay, which can go a long way in ensuring they don’t go back to
jail or prison. You can also help or give them guidance on completing resumes, applications, and other paperwork that you are skilled with as well as help to reduce their learning curve by explaining new or updated information they can use to improve their lives.
10.
Be Patient
In the end, ex-prisoners need you to be patient and compassionate with them. Chances are that they are frustrated about a lot of things. You can encourage them to constructively voice their frustrations and communicate their feelings. It may do a lot to reduce recidivism and inspire them to not give up.
Read more about reentry and incarcerated individuals by clicking on the link below: (Disclaimer: Affiliate Advertising. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)
References
1. https://sites.psu.edu/erincivicissue/2019/02/06/13/
2. https://www.trendwyoming.org/articles/tips-for-building-support-network-after-prison-release/