Every forty-five seconds, a prisoner gets released. Walking through the gates to the outside may be easy. But staying out—in a world fraught with responsibilities, decisions, and opportunities for failure—can overwhelm ex-prisoners. Recidivism rates testify to this difficulty.
So what makes staying out such a challenge, and how can ex-prisoners get help to succeed? For returning prisoners and those determined to assist them, the benchmarks of successful reentry come in threes.
THE FIRST THREE HOURS: ANXIETY AT THE GATE
When Tim Kepler, an addict, emerged from California’s Folsom State Prison, he had two hundred dollars in his pocket and a strong resolve never to return to prison.
"I could be so much more. I did not want to spend the rest of my life in jail," he remembers. He also thought that he had a safe place to stay—with his brother. He was wrong.
When Tim crossed his brother's threshold, he walked straight into a crack party. Faced with such bald temptation, he joined the partiers. High and homeless within twenty-four hours of his release, he began stealing food to eat and scrap metal to sell to feed his crack addiction.
Inside prison, people like Tim witness other inmates' frequent departures and returns. When their release date comes, they know the poor odds they face.
Not surprisingly, during their first day out, most "ex-prisoners' emotions are high; they are anxious," says Sam Dye, who has ten years of experience preparing prisoners for release as the national program director for the InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI), a values-based reentry program developed by and affiliated with Prison Fellowship.
Anxiety begins at the gate, Sam explains, where the ex-prisoner faces the first big hurdle of freedom: transportation. The ex-prisoner may have a reliable family member or friend willing to pick him up—or he may not. Friends and family die or drift away during long prison sentences, and most correctional facilities lie far from the urban centers to which prisoners usually return. The Department of Corrections will supply a bus ticket, but, as Sam points out, bus stations are often located in rough parts of town, and they make less than ideal destinations for those trying to steer clear of crime.
The best solution, says Sam, is for a mentor—like one of those trained by Prison Fellowship—to pick up the ex-prisoner. The mentor can safely transport the ex-prisoner to his destination. The mentor can also help with initial purchases, like basic toiletries and groceries. And while looking after physical needs, the mentor can assuage mental anxieties.
Sam recounts sitting in a diner with one of his own mentees who stared helplessly at the options on a breakfast menu.
"You pick for me," the mentee insisted. An everyday, basic decision paralyzed the released prisoner, but Sam remained by his side to walk him through his first difficult hours.
"It's just such an overwhelming day [for them]," Sam reflects. "To be able to share the day with someone else really helps."
THE FIRST THREE DAYS: ADJUSTING TO THE OUTSIDE
In the first three days, Sam says, ex-prisoners begin to get their lives in order. A trip to the DMV for an identity card will enable an ex-prisoner to cash a check or make purchases. When the search for employment begins, mentors can help check résumés and rehearse interview questions.
The ex-prisoner may also meet with his parole or probation officer, as mandated by the conditions of release. Depending on the state, the officer may allow the mentor to attend the meeting.
When Reggie Holmes, a young man released in Virginia, went to his first parole hearing, nervousness gripped him. He had heard bad stories.
But because his mentor, Stephan Hicks, came with him, he felt able to relax during the interview. Stephan made the parole officer's job easier by providing extra accountability, along with the support and encouragement that has empowered Reggie to succeed.
If an ex-prisoner has a substance abuse problem, the mentor can help him or her find a local meeting, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or Celebrate Recovery, a biblically based 12-step program used by many churches to help overcome harmful habits.
But most importantly, says Sam, mentors should keep in touch on a daily basis to help the ex-prisoner manage unexpected setbacks. When the tenth application for employment gets rejected, or when a drug-using friend from the past returns, the ex-prisoner may need help navigating tricky territory. If the line of communication with a caring mentor remains open, the ex-prisoner will have someone to turn to.
THE FIRST THREE MONTHS: FORMING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS
In the first three months, many ex-prisoners struggle to outrun loneliness, says Sam, especially if they have completed a values-based program like IFI. Like a soldier leaving military service, an ex-prisoner transitions from a context of social cohesion to one of isolation.
"Loneliness is what drives people to do stupid things sometimes," says Sam. Hungry for camaraderie, ex-prisoners may form relationships with people who do not share positive values.
During this vulnerable period, mentors have two important roles:
Mentors can encourage participation in a welcoming church community. Church involvement will allow ex-prisoners to form positive, communal relationships.
Mentors can ask difficult questions about how and with whom ex-prisoners are spending their free time.
"Just having supper with the guy is not enough," says Sam. "You have to pull the blankets back and ask: What are you worrying about? What are you struggling with? What are you spending your money on?"
Asking the right question at the right time can help uproot a destructive behavior before it spirals out of control.
THE FIRST THREE YEARS: LEARNING TO GIVE BACK
By the end of three years, says Sam, an ex-prisoner should demonstrate good decision-making skills, as well as stability in employment and relationships. Beyond that, Sam looks for his own mentees to start giving back to their communities in meaningful ways.
"Recidivism is talked of a lot," says Sam. "But that's a pretty low bar. It isn't enough for people not to go back to prison. They need to be responsible leaders and servants."
As ex-prisoners take up their roles as responsible citizens, relationships with their mentors change. While a long-term friendship may continue, the ex-prisoner no longer depends on the mentor, and the intensity of the relationship lessens. This is a natural, desirable progression.
"[Mentors] don't take care of people," Sam insists. "I'm responsible to the person I'm mentoring, but I'm not responsible for them."
As ex-prisoners take responsibility for their own successful reentry, they develop the skills and maturity to help them attain it. And through the new, post-release journey—from three hours to three days to three years—ex-prisoners can create productive lives that benefit themselves, their families, and their communities.
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