The State of Nevada has approved my son’s parole! So what’s next? He has to finish his federal time and will be out February 2019, just about a year and a half. Am I nervous? Yes! Is he even more nervous than I am Yes!!!
Can you imagine not having seen scenery like this in 13 years?
You haven’t used a “smart” phone, you don’t know how to use Facebook or Instagram or any of the social media sites. You don’t have job, you don’t have any money, you don’t have transportation and you don’t know where you are going to live. You don’t really know how you are gong to take care of yourself. No matter how big and bad you might have been in the prison system, you are a novice on the outside, and of course you are afraid. Mostly, you are afraid of failure and going back in. You have spent most of your time in solitary and don’t even know if you can function in society. Can you stand the “noise” on the outside? Can you interact properly with people? Can you stay sober when you have been an addict?
The ONLY way you will survive is with the support of friends and family. That’s it, otherwise you are dead in the water before you even start. Family members remember when your loved one gets out they need your support!
I will be here to support my son. I’ll help him find a suitable place to live away from friends who only want to drag him down. I’ll help him find a job and transportation. I’ll help him conquer the new technology. He is signed up to program with Hope for Prisoners. He will also attend substance abuse programs. I sincerely believe he has the determination to adjust to society and will not be one of the 65-75% who go back in.
My only goal is for him to be happy with himself and the new life he will have. Yes, I know it is up to him and not me! But, I will support him and not enable him. He is a changed person and I believe he will be successful!
Keep tuned in to follow us on his path to freedom and to his keeping free!
Information for Friends and Family of Inmates 
I’m so happy for you! That’s fantastic!
My husband is set to be released in 2022, he’s been in since 1996. He’s scared to death of getting out, of course he’s excited too, but it really is intimidating. A lot has changed in the world, and in him.
Your son already has an advantage because he has someone on the outside who wants to help and support him, plenty of guys in there aren’t so lucky. I think he’ll do just fine 🙂
-Squeek
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Yes, a lot has changed. 2022 will be here before you know it. He is lucky that you have stood by him for 26 years! Wow! Please keep in touch with me on our journey. It might help when your husband gets out. By the way, how old will he be? My son will be 45.
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Well I’ve only been standing by him for 2 1/2 years, we met on a penpal site. I was just looking for a friend, but we fell in love very quickly.
He’ll be 51 when he gets out. He has so many plans for starting over, I think the hardest part will be not letting him try to do everything at once.
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I was just reading the blog you are doing for your husband and it is terrific. If that’s his writing, he is very good. It’s amazing how you found each other and I’m happy for you. 51 is still young and you will have a lot of years together.
So, yes, to do everything at once would be too much. At least you are visiting him and that makes a good contact for him with the outside world. I’m sure you are talking about things on the outside, so at least he knows about things. My son is currently in segregation in a Pennsylvania federal prison and has been for three years. He will be moving to a medium in a few months, so I will be able to visit him then.
Take care and keep in touch to let me know how things are going with you.
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I fretted daily about my son returning home, everything I knew about re-entry sounded dismal. But, I am hoping that somehow, there will be someone who will show up at just the right time, who is an alumni of the correctional system, there are many, and that person will hire your loved ones. After being besides myself for a year, my son got out and got a job in a week! I couldn’t believe it. He just happened to interview for a company that installs shade coverings for children’s parks and the interviewer had been to prison too. He wanted to give someone else a break. I will forever be grateful. It was the start he needed and the people he worked with were supportive.
If you haven’t already, and if are concerned about his sobriety, and you have the resources, check for drs who will provide medicinal support, like suboxone or naltrexone. Halfway houses usually don’t like residents to rely on other drugs, but I think there is a greater likelihood to long term success if they have not been off drugs for a while already.
Also, some prisons aren’t so good about getting everything together releasees will need to move forward. Be sure to have his birth certificate available, social security card, state ID, if you can, it’s easier to get a job if you have dependable transportation.
Many communities have second chance job fairs. See if there is a job training program he might be interested in available at your local community college. You can send him the information in the mail so you have some direction.
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Hi Minette,
Thanks for the support. I appreciate it.
We will have the support of Hope for Prisoners. They offer a lot of programs and help with getting them jobs.
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