Re-entry for the Justice Involved
Behind dark cold walls of correctional facilities, thousands of individuals serve out their sentences, counting the days until they will be released. Although the outside world looks bright and promising, the transition from the inside to outside and becoming a free citizen is rife with challenges. This is where a collaboration of programs steps in, playing a critical and crucial role in paving the way to a successful transition, ensuring that individuals who are leaving our jails and prisons can reintegrate into our communities successfully.
Barriers often faced in the transition stem from securing housing and employment to reconnection with families and avoiding the old patterns of destruction. Without proper support in place, the threat of recidivism will remain high.
The support and commitment of state and local agencies, as well as partnerships with a variety of community service providers, is essential to the successful reentry of the justice involved individual. In order to have stable employment, a career, etc. individuals need to have basic needs met.
Reentry programs and collaborations are specifically designed to provide support and resources to address the barriers each justice involved may face.
The barriers that often need to be addressed are:
1. Identification:
- a. How to obtain a Birth Certificate
- b. How to obtain your Social Security Number
- c. How to obtain a MN Driver’s License
2. Family:
- a. How to build healthy relationships
- b. How to resolve conflicts
- c. Other supportive family services
- a. How to travel short distances
- b. How to travel longer distances
- c. How to obtain a car and insurance
- a. How to get a bank account
- b. How to obtain credit and what it means
- c. How to save, invest, and budget
5 . Employment
- 1 . Taking a Pause
- 2 . Temporary Work
- 3. Employment Resources
- 4. Resume Link Video
- 5. Interview tips
- 6. Advice and moving forward
- 7. Employment Links
6. Housing
- a. How to navigate the obstacles and barriers of housing applications
- b. How to be a responsible tenant
- c. How to find housing for the justice involved
7. Education
As our community scuffles with the ups and down challenges of prison reform and recidivism, the importance of reentry becomes very obvious. By investing in serving the justice involved we are not only helping them we are building stronger, safer, and more cohesive communities.
