It is beyond debate that serving time in prison has a lasting effect on inmates well after they are released. Prison records follow them as they apply for jobs, attempt to procure loans, or find a place to live. Opportunities to network with new business associates and clients have to start from scratch. And in some states, ex-prisoners are banned to work in locations that serve alcohol, deal with children, or require some kind of state license (for example, a plumber, electrician, or even a cosmetologist).
However, some former inmates are actually using their time spent behind bars to their advantage. A recent story in the Wall Street Journal looks at a number of cases where ex-prisoners are using their experiences while incarcerated to establish a new life.
John Webster was a defense attorney who spent 13 months in prison for lying to law enforcement officials to protect a client. Barred from ever practicing law again, he decided to use the knowledge gained from his sentence, establishing a consulting firm that advises incoming prisoners and their attorneys on how to prepare for life behind bars, and what to expect when they are released.
Some ex-convicts use their experiences to become corporate trainers or consultants on matters such as security. Others become authors or motivational speakers, telling others about their time behind bars, and how to avoid it.
Still others take advantage of lessons learned in prison and launch their own entrepreneurial enterprises. Fabian Ruiz trained as a paralegal while in prison for murdering a man who shot his brother. He recently launched a new business that mails copies of legal documents to prisoners who lack the Internet access needed to obtain them. A non-profit program is providing Ruiz with the training and funding necessary to get his vision started.
Of course, even those who are able to leverage their prison sentences into new and legitimate careers need assistance. Old habits must be broken, and counseling and mentoring are important to keeping former prisoners focused on their new paths. Prison Fellowship offers assistance and counseling to prisoners and ex-prisoners alike, preparing them for life after incarceration, and offering mentoring and assistance to those who have been released. To find out more about Prison Fellowship’s reentry programs, visit https://www.www.www.prisonfellowship.org/reentry. And to figure out how you can be involved in impacting prisoners and their families, check out https://www.www.www.prisonfellowship.org/get-involved.