What do former inmates cite as the keys to successful integration back into society? A group of former maximum-security prisoners from the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Missouri recently gathered to discuss what worked, what didn’t, and to offer their advice for preparing prisoners for reentry in the future.
The reuniting inmates had been participants in a “Therapeutic Community” program that challenged them to take responsibility for their actions. The participants of this program lived in a special “open door” section of the prison where they received counseling challenging the “criminal thinking” that had to that point dominated their life choices. All those gathered at the event credited the program for helping them turn their lives around.
When asked, most of the attendees were able to tie a specific date to the time they committed to turning their lives around. Not surprisingly, the dates mentioned were also the ones where the inmates said they became Christians.
The former inmates also offered their suggestions for improving the reentry process. Among the proposals:
– Improved educational opportunities
– Use of ex-prisoners for some of the training programs
– Vocational training and job search help
– In-prison counseling and anger management programs
Prison Fellowship is committed to preparing inmates for reentry. Through programs like the InnerChange Freedom Initiative, inmates are given opportunities to develop life skills and work habits that will benefit them throughout their post-prison lives. Providing Christian mentors for these men and women, as well as support from the community through local coalitions like Out4Life also increases the chances that those leaving prison are doing so for good.
Of course, these and other programs only exist through the commitment of our wonderful volunteers. Would you like to be a part of helping these inmates reunite with their families and with society? Visit our Get Involved page to see how you can make a difference in the lives of prisoners and their families!