How to Integrate Into Society After Incarceration

According to the Re-Entry Policy Council, about 650,000 former prisoners annually reenter American society. There are resources available to help former inmates learn how to successfully integrate into the community following incarceration. Follow these steps to take advantage of them.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Support group
• Computer with Internet access

Ease Back Into Society Following Incarceration

1. Get clean. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than half of people in prison struggle with substance abuse, yet only about 18 percent receive treatment during or after incarceration. Entering a drug and/or alcohol rehabilitation program should be your first priority.
2. Gather references. A letter from a therapist or drug treatment counselor can demonstrate your willingness and progress toward rehabilitation.
3. Know your rights. While laws vary from state to state regarding what information a potential employer can gather and use in hiring decisions, be aware that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) Title VII stipulates that "an employer may only exclude an applicant because of a criminal conviction if there is a business necessity."
4. Get a second chance from the National H.I.R.E. Network, a nationwide advocate that provides support and services to individuals seeking reentry into society following incarceration (see Resources below).
5. Adhere to the requirements mandated by the terms of your release and keep every appointment with your designated parole officer, if applicable.

Tips & Warnings

• Remain focused, even when it seems like your prospects for the future are dim. Let time help you move on and create distance from your past mistakes.
• Be aware that background checks will probably be conducted by potential employers due to increased security since the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Therefore, never lie about a felony conviction on an employment application.
• Expect speed bumps on the road to reentry into society. For instance, some states may revoke your driver's license. In others, you may be barred from receiving food stamps or living in subsidized housing for five or more years, even if that's where your family lives at the time of your release.
• According to the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics, two-thirds of those trying to integrate into society after incarceration will be arrested again within three years of their initial release.