Making Societal Re-entry Easier
Have the prisoners read “'Free but Still Walking the Yard': Prisonization and the Problems of Reentry” by Liam Martin
Reflections
- What are some routines/ habits/ behaviors that you have picked up in prison that may be harmful or not accepted in society? Why did you pick them up? How have they helped you in prison? Why and how would they not be appropriate in society?
- What have you done while in prison to prepare yourself for release/ reentry into society? How do you think your particular form of preparation will help you? What else could you have done?
Part 2: Introduction to the Societal Re-entry Problem II (for the community)
Have concerned community members also read “'Free but Still Walking the Yard': Prisonization and the Problems of Reentry” by Liam Martin
Reflections
- How have you contributed to making societal reentry more difficult for released prisoners?
- What are some things you can change to make it easier?
- Why should you care about making societal reentry easier? Who benefits from smooth societal reentry?
Part 3: Mediation and Discussion
Have prisoners meet with concerned members of the community and discuss their ideas about societal reentry. These ideas can be rough at first but with time should be detailed with specific achievable goals clearly spelled out.
Together, they can also read this article about reentry.
Reflections
- When discussing ideas, did each group seem to be aware of the other’s needs and expectations?
- Was there anything you were surprised to hear the other group raise a concern about? Was there anything they left out that you thought should have been mentioned?
- Can some of the changes that need to be made be implemented by the society on their own? Or are the problems systemic? Do law and policy makers need to be involved to make these changes?
- Do you agree with the findings of this article?
- What finding stood out to you the most?
Part 4: How to Implement the Necessary Changes
Review the video and article from last time, focusing on the reentry program featured and talked about.
Also read and learn more about Community Re-Entry, Inc , a mission found in Cleveland, Ohio that implements programs that enable people released from prison to re-enter society smoothly and in a way that benefits them and their community.
Reflections
- Do some of the actions implemented by the reentry program in the article and by Community Re-Entry align with some of the things you have discussed/ want to implement? If so, which ones?
- How did these programs/ organizations achieve these things? What did they need? (Funds, resources, community support, etc)
- Who are the necessary people to communicate and work with to meet these goals? (Local authorities, policy makers on the state level, etc)
References:
Martin, Liam. “‘Free but Still Walking the Yard’: Prisonization and the Problems of Reentry.” Sage Journals, 47, 5, 2018, pp. 671-694. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0891241617737814