How to Plan for Life after Prison

Plan for Life after Prison

Usually, not many people give a second thought to a felon after a guilty verdict is served in the courtroom. As far as they are concerned, justice was served and the bothersome person has been removed from society and the rest of us can move on. However, this is a very shortsighted mindset.

It may be easy to dismiss a convicted felon, yet according to a study conducted by the US Department of Justice, the average sentence for felons is just over three years. This simply means that convicts have the chance to live meaningful and productive lives after incarceration.

Therefore, if the goal of imprisonment is to reintegrate felons into society as productive members, the figures don’t look good. A different study found that about 76% of the inmates studied were re-arrested within five years after their release.

You may be wondering, “Why is this the case? Well, besides economic, personal, and societal factors, many other barriers make reintegration difficult, especially for inmates with a felony conviction.

This article will look at some of the barriers to reintegration into society, what can be done to help, and what inmates can do to plan for life after prison. We will also highlight tips to help a loved one adjust to life after prison. Read on to learn more.

Issues That Convicted Felons Face After Prison

1.       Lack of Employment Opportunities

Lack of gainful employment is perhaps one of the biggest issues that a convicted fellow has to go through after a period of imprisonment. Many employers tend to be skittish about hiring convicts, and this can make life very difficult for ex-felons looking for a fresh start in life.

If an ex-con cannot find work or at least one that pays a decent wage, they are likely to revert to a life of crime in a bid to make ends meet. They would consider a life of crime a viable option, and this allows the cycle to continue.

Hiring felons is a hotly contested debate among employers. On one hand, some employers argue that they can be sued and are liable for negligent employment practices if they don’t perform their due diligence by doing a background check before hiring anyone.

On the other hand, using a felon’s criminal history information against them can also make them vulnerable to legal repercussions, especially if their policies end up in discrimination.

Furthermore, since ex-cons are not likely to apply for employment positions with a limited number of open positions, employers may find it easy to lean on the side of caution and employ an equally qualified individual without a criminal history.

What’s Being Done To Help?

Recently, prisoner reform workers have been pushing to “ban the box”, in the hopes of getting rid of questions pertaining to criminal records in employment applications as well as the delay of background checks so early in the hiring process.

The whole point of this endeavor is to prevent employers from discriminating against individuals with criminal records without first giving them a chance to be fairly compared with other job applicants.

Moreover, the federal government has been offering tax incentives to employers who hire individuals going through barriers to employment such as ex-convicts.

2.       Housing

Another issue that convicted felons face is finding suitable means of accommodation. Usually, many landlords tend to deny former convicts the chance to rent a house since they are not considered protected citizens.

What this means is that most felons end up looking for temporary housing among friends and family members, most of whom are usually bad influences that probably helped them get incarcerated in the first place.

Lack of suitable living quarters also compounds the general issues felons go through such as finding work. According to recent studies, failure to secure suitable lodgings sustains the negative cycle of homelessness, which is likely to result in the reincarceration of a felon.

What Is Being Done To Help?

Back in the year 2016, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) suggested a guideline change that would ensure landlords are open to civil suits if it can be proven that they refuse to rent homes to those with criminal records, and end up harming minority groups protected under the Fair Housing Act.

Furthermore, many states in the U.S. offer reentry programs or nonprofit halfway houses to give inmates a stable environment as they reintegrate back into society. Granted, the idea of supervised living may not be appealing to everyone after a life of imprisonment, but it is way much better than the alternative.

3.       Voting Disenfranchisement

Another drawback of being incarcerated- that is often overlooked- is not having the right or opportunity to vote. Sure, this issue may not be as severe as not having a job or a house, but the voting process is also an important duty of an active member of society.

As of right now, about 35 states in the U.S. prevent individuals released on parole from voting. About 12 other states permanently prohibit convicted felons from participating in the voting process. Ex-convicts may have to wait for a significant amount of time before being eligible to vote again.

In states like Virginia, Florida, Iowa, and Kentucky, voting is banned for ex-convicts, and the right to vote is only restored if a board or a state officer signs off on it.

Some other states may offer voter reinstatement processes, however, most critics consider them discouraging and arduous. Therefore, the millions of people who have at one time or another been incarcerated are prevented from choosing their government.

What Is Being Done To Help?

Fortunately, reform groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Fair Vote have been working to lobby the state legislature and presenting challenges to these rules.

Furthermore, in 2018, Florida voters were given a chance to weigh in on constitutional amendments that would restore voting rights for individuals who have finished their sentence, probationary period, or parole.

4.       Education

Most convicted felons tend to be behind the education/learning curve. According to a survey done on over 1,300 inmates, about 30% of convicted felons do not have a GED or high school diploma, dwarfing the 14% of all adults in the US without a GED or high school diploma.

The achievement gap can be challenging, especially in an environment where employers are looking for applicants with a college education.

What complicates things even more, is the fact that education programs in prison are inconsistent and spotty from one state to another. This ends up limiting employment opportunities for ex-convicts.

Moreover, prisoners are not eligible for Pell Grants anymore. Some drug convictions even impact an inmate’s eligibility for financial aid, but this depends on the specific circumstances.

What Is Being Done To Help?

Unfortunately, not much progress has been achieved in congress at the federal level. Criminal justice reform may receive bipartisan support, but as of yet, no breakthroughs have been made in terms of prisoner education.

However, some states have been making strides in providing more educational funding for imprisoned individuals.

How Can Prisoners Plan for a Life After Prison?

1.       Join Pre-Release Programs

One of the most important things that a prisoner can do as they prepare for life after prison is to join pre-release programs. Usually, these programs help inmates to change their beliefs and attitudes about crime.

The programs also give inmates an opportunity for job training, address mental health issues, and much more. So, prisoners must follow and join these pre-release programs for successful reintegration especially if their release date is almost due.

2.       Working Out

With limited opportunities to do a lot of activities, prisoners tend to have a lot of free time on their hands. How they spend their time can impact how they survive life after incarceration.

Instead of letting their bodies go, they can engage in activities such as working out to ensure that their bodies remain strong and healthy enough to take up the menial jobs that are usually available for ex-convicts.

Working out is also a good way to ensure that they stay out of trouble while behind bars.

3.       Getting a Job

As earlier mentioned, one of the biggest hurdles that prisoners face post-release is financing. They will need money for food and housing after release.

Unfortunately, most prisoners get estranged from their friends and family after being sentenced to life in prison, who would have otherwise offered them financial support before they got back on their feet.

To help smoothen the reintegration process, inmates can take up a job while in prison and save the wages they earn.

Usually, prisons in the US offer inmates the chance to earn money by doing various odd jobs within the prison premises, but these opportunities are provided based on prisoner behavior.

They include teaching, cleaning, cooking, and making products in the workshop among others. This money will go a long way towards helping them secure suitable accommodations as well as feed and clothe them after incarceration.

4.       Look for Resources

Inmates should ensure that they continue looking for helpful resources prior to and after release. Whether aid from religious institutions or resources from the government, they can break or make a successful release. These resources can include things like how to find food, how to get a job, or even dealing with substance abuse. Once an inmate determines where to turn to after getting released, this will significantly reduce the anxiety and stress associated with prison release.

Tips to Help a Loved one Adjust to a Life after Prison

·       Empathize with them

The first and perhaps the most important thing that you can do to a loved one who has spent some time behind bars is to empathize with what they are going through. The last thing a convicted felon needs is to come out of seclusion and into the arms of judgmental friends and family members.

The incarceration period may have had a psychological toll on their well-being and the imprisonment conditions are likely to result in coping mechanisms that may not translate well to living outside prison walls.

At most times, prisoners consider anger and aggressiveness as beneficial coping and protective method while incarcerated. However, in society, such traits would only be a hindrance.

Therefore, you should try to identify the negative emotions and try to find out why your loved one may be acting the way they are. Adopting empathy will help you better prepare for when your loved one acts differently or responds unexpectedly. It will also help a former inmate to feel heard, safe, and respected.

·       Understand Culture Shock

Depending on the stretch that your loved one served in prison, one of the greatest challenges they can face in reintegration back into society is culture shock. The longer an inmate spends in prison, the greater the culture shock will be.

Culture shock is basically the feeling of disorientation that a person may experience when they are suddenly required to adjust to an unfamiliar way of life. It can also happen when an individual returns to their former culture after a period of absence.

Your loved one is likely to notice the rise of social media communication, the proliferation of new technology, new cell phone versions, and new language that may not have been present by the time they were incarcerated.

Therefore, they will need help to adjust to the new normal that may feel alien to them.

The best way to help a loved one deal with culture shock is to be patient with them. You can offer them help with new cultural norms, decision-making, and life organization.

·       Help Them Set Achievable Goals

Immediately your loved one is released from prison, they are likely to be disoriented by the fast pace of life outside of prison. Initially, while still in prison, someone else dictated what they had to do 24 hours a day.

All the meals are offered at a designated time and even lights go out at a predetermined time. There is simply no flexibility in what a prisoner can do.

Unfortunately, once released, ex-cons can get overwhelmed by the various responsibilities and choices that they have to make on a daily basis. You cannot expect your loved one to immediately get employed, rent a home and become a responsible and active member of society.

So, you can assist with the reintegration process by helping them make set, small, realistic, and achievable goals.

You can help them update their resume, hunt for a job, and build their career skills. You can also help them with their finances as well as help them to get suitable housing options.

Keep in mind that the goals should be achievable so that you do not frustrate your loved one.

·       Get Them Involved In Family and Community Events

When your loved one is straight out of the pen, one of the best things you can do is get them involved in social events happening in your community.

Recidivism requires one to build strong social bonds with other members of the community. This is because former inmates who feel more connected with friends, family, and the general community are less likely to revert to a life of crime and end up back in jail.

You can get them more involved by offering to do some volunteer work with them or coaxing them to join support groups, which can be very helpful especially if the members are fellow ex-convicts.

You can help your loved ones join support groups by contacting their former prison because they can recommend safe and perfect support groups for them.

·       Develop New Hobbies and Habits with Them

In prison, your loved one may not have had many opportunities to get involved in recreational activities. Most likely, they may have developed a new passion for reading or working out. If they did, then you can help them develop these positive habits further after incarceration.

It is also recommended that you help them develop new hobbies and habits. This will not only help them avoid reverting to old and dangerous habits, but will also help ex-cons to create new bonds with you and other people involved in a particular leisure activity.

·       Help Your Loved Ones to Build a New Future

Usually, when someone is in prison, their thoughts tend to revolve around getting released. Granted, this is an important goal, but it can also be disorienting once they have been released. Suddenly, your loved one will not have any goal to work towards.

Therefore, you should help your loved one build new habits and set achievable goals. Not only that, you should help them to make these goals a reality.

In this regard, make sure that your loved ones are included in your future goals and plans. This will create positive feelings of hope and help them stay out of trouble.

·       Ensure They Are Taking Care of Themselves

Former inmates usually experience bouts of depression and isolation after incarceration. If your loved one is freshly out of the penitentiary system, ensure that you visit them regularly to check on their progress.

Ask them questions about their well-being to ensure that they are taking care of themselves. You should make sure that they are getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, practicing self-care, cooking meals, grocery shopping, and taking care of their health and hygiene.

While incarcerated, your loved one may have gotten used to ignoring their feelings and general well-being. After being released, they may struggle with daily tasks such as grooming, therefore, it is best to keep a close eye on them during the first few weeks of reintegration.

·       If Possible, Consider Therapy

If you are financially well off, it is recommended that you enroll your loved one in therapy sessions. They are likely to have experienced abuse from correctional officers or fellow inmates during their incarceration period, but this depends on where they were imprisoned.

They are also likely to have experienced trauma that they may not feel comfortable sharing with anyone else as of yet. This is where therapy can come in handy.

Even if they did not experience traumatic situations while locked up, their bodies may have grown accustomed to living in an environment awash with fear and violence. Therefore, once they are released, they are likely to keep experiencing hypervigilance, recurring anxiety, and even depression.

Talking to a therapist can help keep such negative feelings at bay and prevent the ex-con from self-harming or even contemplating suicide.

Conclusion

Getting sentenced to life in prison doesn’t necessarily mean that you are doomed to a life of failure. Eventually, you will be released after serving your term and rejoin society. Unfortunately, adjusting to life after prison is an uphill battle for many individuals.

There are so many barriers to reintegration back into society, which include housing problems, employment discrimination, lack of education, and voter disenfranchisement.

However, this doesn’t mean that ex-cons have to be resigned to a life of despair. They can still build meaningful lives for themselves after incarceration if they plan early for life after prison.

They can learn a new skill, get a job and save wages, join pre-release programs, and look for resources that help inmates post-release. They can also spend their time productively by working out to ensure that they are strong and healthy upon release.

Family and friends can also help in the reintegration process by empathizing, providing support, helping them set achievable goals, involving them with social activities, helping them build a new future, and ensuring that they take care of themselves.

We hope that the tips and information shared above will help ex-inmates to successfully reintegrate back into society and avoid getting sent back to prison.

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