It’s that time of year again, and on the outside we are celebrating with family and friends but for our loved ones on the inside, things are not the same. There is grief, anger, depression and loneliness.
There are questions. How did I get here? What am I going to do? When will I get out? These questions are ones that the person asking them may not have the answers for or control over, and if you don’t have control, it is frustrating and debilitating.
What can you do? You can’t get them out but you can support them. The most important thing is to keep in contact. That is vital! Send them a letter, give them a phone call, or go to visit. Yes, it isn’t the same and sometimes it even makes us more confused or saddened for the situation ourselves but think of how they feel. They need our support and love particularly at the holidays.
So, on this Thanksgiving think of them and pray that they know that you love them… because you do.
This post is a revision of one I posted back in 2014. A few things have changed, but the basic premise of a parole package is the same. A parole packet helps the parole board to understand what kind of support – financial, emotional, and spiritual – a prison inmate would have if he or she is to be granted parole.
If an inmate is up for parole a parole package may help the board have information that might help with their decision. Just sending the package may show them he or she is positive and wants to be paroled. It shows incentive on their part. Be sure to check with authorities in the inmates prison as to how they want the package presented: by mail or email. If an inmate is presenting his or her own package they may need to send it through the system or by mail.
This is an excerpt from Jorge Antonio Renauda formerly incarcerated person
Getting ready for parole should start much earlier than your first eligibility date. I believe that readyingyourself to be free and becoming free and staying free entail a certain point of view, a way of looking at life that perhaps you haven’t considered. My philosophy will run through everything I say in this guide, and that philosophy is that you must change in prison, and you must change NOT because you want to make parole and NOT because you’ve seen what being in prison does to your family, but because it is the right thing to do. If you change for that reason, that change will permeate your life. That change will be obvious to everyone, especially to the Board. It will make the Board much more willing to let you go home. And it will make you much more likely to stay out and become one of the formerly incarcerated individuals who doesn’t return to prison.
The Parole Package should contain:
1st page- Cover Letter, Be sure you put: “Parole Review Plan” Inmate’s Name and Inmate’s Federal or State Number, centered on page.
Pg 2. Table Of Contents
Table of Contents (What is in the Package)
Section 1: The Game Plan / Parole Plan The Parole Release Plan including goal statements Housing Confirmation Transportation Confirmation
Section 2: Letter From Inmate (Inmates Name) (Inmate Name)’s Letter of Penance / Regret / Apology asking for parole
Section 3: Support Letters Letter of Support from (Significant Other’s Name) Letter of Support from (Their Mother and/or Father’s Name, Their Sister’s/brother’s or friend’s Name) Letter of Support from (Their Minister / Spiritual Leader’s Name)
Letter of Support from any other entity, particularly one who might be willing to employ inmate.
Section 4: Community Resources Job Resource Site Church Group Area Narcotics Anonymous Schedule Alcoholics Anonymous Schedule
Section 5: Pictures Pictures of (Inmates Name) These should not be photos while incarcerated Pictures of Where He / She Will Live if available
Section 6: Educational History
Copies or transcripts of all education pursued, awards and certificates earned while incarcerated ( They may already have this)
Section 7: Past Outside Employment / Current Employment if employed in the prison system
SAMPLES OF WHAT TO INCLUDE
Page 1 of section 1
(Inmates Full Name) TDCJ# 153XXXX
Parole Release Plan Prepared by: (My name) (or inmate’s name) At the request of: (Inmates Name)
Opening Statement: (Inmates Name) has served nearly XX years calendar time and accrued additional good time on his/her XX year sentence. This is his/her XXXX time in prison, and all his/her past offenses have been drug related. (Inmate) acknowledges that his/her poor decisions have placed him/her where he/she is and is remorseful for the impact those choices have had on his/her family and others. He/she has spent his/her time behind bars furthering his/her education, reconnecting with the God of his/her understanding, and learning work skills and tools to effectively handle his/her addiction. Today, (Inmate) has plans for a better future and desires the opportunity to become a productive, contributing member of society. If given the opportunity to parole, (Inmate) has a plan in place to ensure a successful transition back into the free world. This Parole Release Plan will outline the details.
Personal Statistics: Date of Birth: Age: Race: Sex: Height: Weight: Hair Color: Eyes: Marital Status: Children: Siblings:Place of Birth:
Last Place of Residence:
DOC/ FEDERAL/ STATE Offense and Sentence Information: (The parole office may have this information and may not be necessary to include) Significant Controlling Offense: Offense Category: County of Offense:Date of Offense: Felony Level:Case/Cause #: Original Parole Eligibility Date:Outcome: Max Discharge Date: Listed Projected Release Date*: Time Served in*:
Statistics for Offenders with Same Offense of XXXXX: With the same offense: XXXX Offenders Avg Term w/ same offense: XX Years Max Term w/ same offense: XX Years Min Term w/ same offense: 0 Years Avg Time Spent: XXX Years Avg % of Time Spent to Term: XX.XX%
Where Does Parolee Plan to Reside? He/she will reside in XXXXX located at (Street Address) (City), (State) in County. See Housing Confirmation for details of property.
Will There Be Minor Children in the Residence? . Yes / No Description of:
Is There an Alternate Place Parolee Can Reside If Needed?Does Parolee Have a High School Diploma? (Inmate) has completed classes for and earned his GED while in the Custody of XXXX.
What Classes and Personal Improvement Activities Has Parolee Participated In While Incarcerated? In addition to completing his/her GED, (Inmate) has taken substance abuse classes, participated in AA meetings while in XXXX, gathered information on College classes from XXXX University. He/she is also currently attending XXXX.
Does Parolee Have a Trade or Skill to assist in obtaining employment? (Inmate) has previous experience in XXXXX. What Employment Opportunities Does Parolee Have or Plan To Pursue? (Inmate) prefers to find a job in (City), where he/she will be living. The job market is strong in XX City. (Inmate) has been offered an opportunity to work with XXXXX in XXXXXX.
How Will Family Members Be Participating or Available To Assist in the Parolee’s Release Plan? (Inmate) has a very supportive family. His/her mother, who visits him/her regularly and currently puts money on his/her books every month, will continue to help financially support her son/daughter, spend time with him/her, and ensure his/her needs are met. (Inmate) also has a very supportive close family friend, (My Name), who has known him/her for XX years that, in addition to housing and transportation, will provide (Inmate) with emotional and moral support as well as food and clothing.
What Other Activities and Organizations Does Parolee Plan on Attending or Participating In? (Inmate) will be attending XXXX XXXXXX Church in (City). In addition to weekend services, they have a very active XXXX group and men’s/ women’s group for men/ women in their XXs. (Inmate) will also be attending 12 step meetings, such as AA, NA, and Celebrate Recovery in (City) and (Another City) at a minimum of 3-4 times a week. Also, as mentioned earlier, (Inmate) would like to attend Job Skills Classes at XXXX County Job Corp or pursue a degree at an accredited college.
Brief Description of Parolee’s Future Goals: (Inmate) looks forward to redeveloping a relationship with XXXXX family members and continuing to develop even stronger relationships with XXXXX. He/she plans to find a job so he/she can pay child support and provide for himself/herself. By working hard and continually developing his/her skills, he/she plans to continue to find better and better opportunities as time passes. Eventually he/she would like to pursue a degree in counseling and start a career as a substance abuse counselor, where he/she can take his/her experiences and the lessons he’s/she’s learned while in XXXXX and using it to help others make better decisions with their lives than those he/she made in the past.
Closing Comments: (Inmate) has grown a lot as a person and turned his/her life around during his/her time in XXXX. He/she would be very grateful for the opportunity to rejoin society and be there for his/her family and for his/her children. He/she has a strong support system that will help keep him/her on the right track as he/she transitions into a new life. (Inmate) is a good person who made some bad decisions in the past, but he/she has learned from them and is ready to move forward. Please allow (inmate) the opportunity to make us all proud by granting his/her parole and sending him/her home. Thank you for your time and your consideration.
Section 3, Support Letters:
Section 3, pg 2
Sample Support Letter
Month, XX, XXXX
Parole Board Members Board of Pardons and Parole P.O. Box
City State and Zip Code
Attn: (Inmates Name) # XXXXXXX
Dear Parole Board Members, My name is (His/her Moms Name). I reside with XXXX at XXXXXXXX, (city), State, XXXXX. I have lived in XXXXX for most my life. I have worked at XXXXXXXXXX. I attend church every week at XXXXX Church in (City) and actively assist with their youth ministries.
I am the Mother of (Inmate Name), #XXXXXXX.
This is my son’s/daughter’s first time to be incarcerated in prison. I visit (inmate) as often as possible, and correspond regularly. Since incarceration, I have noticed many new, positive changes in his/her life. (Inmate) has accepted full responsibility, and remorse, for his/her actions, and is at peace with himself/herself. I feel he/she is doing all heshe can do to improve his/her life. He/she has completed substance abuse programs, and his/her GED and is attending AA meetings and church meetings as well. A number of the inmates come to (inmate) for spiritual help, and advice. (Inmate) obeys the rules, and has had no discipline problems since his/herincarceration.
As his/her mother, I love (Inmate) very much and I have a willingness to support my son/daughter in every way possible in the event of parole. A family friend has offered him/her housing, transportation to and from work, clothing, some financial help, and support. I will also help out financially, with clothing, advice, love, accountability and emotional support. Everyone involved with (Inmate) cares about him/her deeply and takes his/her reintegration into society very seriously.
I truly believe that my son/daughter has changed for the better. (Inmate) is not a violent person, and he/she would be an asset to his/her family and the community if he/she were to be paroled. Sincerely,
(Name) (XXX)-XXX-XXXX
* All statistics regarding Offenders with Sam Offense and Regarding Offense and Sentence Information are from a Customized Parole Review Report prepared by www.parolesource.com. No template was used for the creation of this Parole Release Plan, though lots of time went into researching what information it should contain and lots of communication between the inmate and family took place to put this report together.
THE FOLLOWING IS COPIED FROM TEXAS PAROLE NOW. COM (This contains general information which can be used in any state, however one should always check state regulations for the state the inmate has been sentenced in.)
Preparing a parole package increases the chances of the offender making parole for a number of reasons, but chief among them is that it makes that potential parolee stand out from the rest of them. Since the statistics show that only a few minutes is spent, on average, with each parolee’s file anything which catches the attention of the hearing officer in a positive way would increase their chances.
The awarding of parole to an offender often appears to be completely random. Two individuals, each with nearly identical cases and history, can receive wildly different results.
Unfortunately, the decision on who makes parole can be based on something as simple as whether the voting members of the parole board “have a bad day”.
The volume of cases voted on in any given month is tremendous and some estimates are that each file is subjected to an average review of 3-5 minutes.
It is this tremendous volume that makes it so important for the potential parolee to make an effort to distinguish their file (in a good way) from the hundred, or thousands of others under review.
The most important thing that can be done to improve the chances of parole is to influence the basic human nature of the voters by “humanizing” the potential parolee.
“Humanize: 1 a: to represent as human: attribute human qualities to b: to adapt to human nature or use. 2: to make humane.” Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humanize;
The first way to humanize the potential parolee is through the use of photographs. Typically, the only visual representations of the person contained in the parole file are “mug shots” or photos taken when the offender first enters the prison system. These are taken within hours of their head being shaved (in the case of males) and typically after long periods without sunshine or adequate rest, resulting in a photograph that makes the person look like someone who shouldn’t be allowed to walk the streets.
The example Parole Presentation Package that is part of this e-book has places for a number of photographs, along with captions. The photograph on the cover page should be of the potential parolee alone, and be the best possible photograph you have available. The others in the package should show the person at work or home, interacting with other people including family members. The “caption” below each photo should explain who is in the picture along with what was happening.
Be sure that the photographs do not show anyone, particularly the potential parolee, engaging in or conducting activity the voters may feel is inappropriate. It would not be wise to include photographs of anyone with drug paraphernalia, alcohol, tobacco, or wearing any clothing depicting these. With computers as they are today a few minutes with a software package can remove or cover up any offensive objects. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, almost any print or copy shop can provide you a reference to an individual or company who can “photo shop” pictures into an acceptable format at a very reasonable cost.
A Note:
People ask us “When is the time to start preparing a parole packet?” Most of you know that a parole packet or a parole presentation package is a collection of documents and pictures sent to the parole board to help them get to know the potential parolee a little better. This is particularly important since most of the time there is not an interview nor does the offender ever meet with an actual member of the parole board who will be voting. Our answer as to when to start is always the same. Immediately.
There are many reasons for this, but the main thing to remember is it is better to have the information and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Many times it takes much longer to get the information together than you would think and people are forced to submit packets without all of the materials. When you are trying for parole in Texas or any where else.
Sensitive Needs Yards (SNY) for inmates who need protection from the general population were implemented back in the 1990s. Unfortunately, inmates on those yards have now begun to from their own gangs and they are no longer safe. Because of this failure, in 2018 California began to reintegrate inmates back into general population in what is called non-designated programs. “Non-Designated Programming Facilities are facilities that house inmates together regardless of their designation (Sensitive Needs Yard (SNY) or General Population (GP)) in order to provide greater access to self-help, educational, vocational and rehabilitative programs.”
There does not seem to be any good answer. Inmates must be rehabilitated to the point where they act and participate in such a way that they learn behaviors they will need when they are released, so they can stay out of prison. The U.S. releases over 7 million people from jail and more than 600,000 people from prison each year. However, recidivism is common. Within 3 years of their release, 2 out of 3 people are rearrested and more than 50% are incarcerated again.
To throw prisoners who need protection back into general population does not seem to be a good answer. On the other hand, the SN yards have become as dangerous as the GP yards. What needs to happen is to throw those who are in the new SNY gangs back into general population and make the SNY safe again. Obviously, the selection for acceptance into SNY may be flawed.
Send me an email about what your suggestions or thoughts about this are.
I have written about inmates in prison during the holidays for a number of years and how it affects not only the inmate, but the inmate’s family and friends. Nothing has changed about that… even with COVID-19. As a matter of fact, things are worse. With the current spread of the disease, most prisons and jails are not allowing visitors at all. You need to check your federal or state prison or county jail to see if they are allowing visitors.
This situation is extremely stressful and depressing for everyone involved. Yet another year that your loved one is away, locked up and now you can’t visit. Everyone feels the disappointment and grief and wishes things were different.
I don’t have an easy answer for this. All I can say is that you have to make the best of it. Be sure to write or call and try not to convey disappointment. I know you feel it. I was there for many, many years. I felt the void. I felt the sadness too.
It will end eventually and hopefully the vaccine will be available soon, so you will be able to visit your loved one. Take care and above all, stay safe and follow standard COVID procedures of wearing a mask, washing your hands and social distancing!
My son has been out of prison now for almost two years. Gee, time has passed quickly for me, but has it for him? I’d like to think so, but I know that is not true. Some of his days and nights, particularly in the beginning just after release, were long. He was not able to sleep, was afraid and anxious most of the time, had a hard time getting used to the outside and in general was up and down depending on the day.
In the first few weeks, it was like he was waiting for them to come and take him back. The only thing that made it easier was that he was across the country from his last incarceration in Florida. Now things are a lot better and I think most of the fear and anxiety are gone. He seems to be a lot more settled and knows he won’t be returning to prison.
According to a recent article in Prison Policy Initiative:
“Reentry is tumultuous and challenging to begin with, and the first two weeks after release are among the most difficult. Previous research has shown that, within those first two weeks, the risk of death from drug overdose, cardiovascular disease, homicide, and suicide is elevated. A 2007 study found that the risk of death in these first two weeks can be up to 12 times higher than that of the general population. Building on that study’s findings, this new North Carolina study finds that the experience of any solitary confinement more than doubles the risk of death for people recently released from prison.
The study identifies two additional factors correlated with a heightened risk of death after release: race and the amount(length and frequency) of solitary confinement. All incarcerated people of color are more likely to die within a year of release, and the experience of solitary confinement only amplifies this racial disparity.”
For families of those just released, please know it is not an easy time for your loved one, and as much as you think he or she should be ecstatic with being home, they may not be. Look for signs of depression, suicidal inclination, drug use or anxiety. Recognize it and help them get through it.
I received a request from an inmate asking where they could get free legal services. Most inmates do not have the ability to pay for legal services and sometimes get railroaded because they don’t have anyone to fight for them. Here is a list of organizations, in alphabetical order, that offer free legal services for inmates. Most of them are the state’s ACLU organization, or only operate in that state. At the end are three national organizations serving inmates in all states. I used the Prison Policy Initiative’s list to compile this information.
(Provides a free handbook for prisoners who wish to file a Section 1983 lawsuit in federal court regarding poor conditions in prison and/or abuse by prison staff. It also contains limited information about legal research and the American legal system.)
(This organization only sells the Jailhouse Lawyer’s Manual Eleventh Edition (the JLM Eleventh Edition”) explains the legal rights of prisoners, and how to navigate through the justice process to secure those rights. You can download it for free. Cost to mail to inmates is $30.00)
This is a portion of a recent release from Prison Policy Initiative, and covers what’s happening in our prisons and jails as far as what they are doing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our incarcerated population.
Public health officials, the CDC, and WHO have explained the importance of social distancing, isolation, and quarantine in order to “flatten the curve” of the COVID-19, or coronavirus, pandemic. Unfortunately, the fact that local jails and prisons are “amplifiers of infectious diseases” is often left out of virus planning, so we — and others — have been calling for urgent action.
There are many possible actions to protect the most vulnerable in the criminal justice system and to stop the excesses of our criminal justice system from undermining efforts to control the pandemic. On March 6, we published No need to wait for pandemics: The public health case for criminal justice reform with 5 policy ideas, and The Justice Collaborative is tracking, in a comprehensive spreadsheet, national, state and local level demands for reform.
The response is still too slow, but some state and local governments are starting to take action. To help advocates, journalists, and policy makers see what positive action could look like, we are curating examples of actions taken to slow the spread of the disease in prisons, in jails, and among people on probation or parole.
Release people from jails and prisons
We already know that jails and prisons house large numbers of people with chronic diseases and complex medical needs who are more vulnerable to COVID-19, and one of the best ways to protect these people is to reduce overcrowding in correctional facilities. Some jails are already making these changes:
In Cuyahoga County, Ohio, judges began expedited hearings on Saturday to help reduce the jail population. On a single day, they released 38 people from the Cuyahoga County Jail, and they hope to release at least 200 more people charged with low-level, non-violent crimes. (March 14)
In Los Angeles County, California, the Sheriff reported that they have released more than 600 people to mitigate the risk of virus transmission in crowded jails. (March 16)
In Travis County, Texas, judges have begun to release more people from local jails on personal bonds (about 50% more often than usual), focusing on preventing people with health issues who are charged with non-violent offenses from going into the jail system. (March 16)
Reduce jail admissions
Lowering jail admissions reduces “jail churn” — the rapid movement of people in and out of jails — and will allow the facility’s total population to drop very quickly.
In Bexar County, Texas, Sheriff Javier Salazar released a COVID-19 mitigation plan that includes encouraging the use of cite and release and “filing non-violent offenses at large,” rather than locking more people up during this pandemic. (March 14)
In Los Angeles County, California, the police department has reportedly reduced arrests from an average of about 300 per day to 60 per day by utilizing citations rather than booking people, in an effort to reduce jail admissions. (March 16)
Reduce unnecessary contact, visits to crowded offices, and technical violations for people on parole and probation
We don’t (yet) know of any notable reforms in this area, but there is an important letter from current and former probation and parole executives saying what must be done to promote social distancing and continuing to support people under supervision.
Eliminate medical co-pays
In most states, incarcerated people are expected to pay $2-$5 co-pays for physician visits, medications, and testing. Because incarcerated people typically earn 14 to 63 cents per hour, these charges are the equivalent of charging a free-world worker $200 or $500 for a medical visit. The result is to discourage medical treatment and to put public health at risk. In 2019, some states recognized the harm and eliminated these co-pays. We’re tracking how states are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic:
Table created March 13, 2020 and last updated: March 17, 2020. We welcome updates from states that have revised their policies. States can contact us at virusresponse@prisonpolicy.org.
States that do not charge co-pays
States that have suspended all co-pays for incarcerated people in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
States that have suspended all co-pays for respiratory, flu-related, or COVID-19 symptoms
States that have not made any changes in co-pay policy in regardings to COVID-19 pandemic
States that have not replied to our survey and are presumably still using co-pays to discourage medical treatment
California
Illinois
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Mexico
New York
Oregon
Vermont
Wyoming
Arizona
Colorado
District of Columbia
Delaware
Hawaii
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Nevada
Ohio
Oklahoma
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Reduce the cost of phone and video calls
Most federal prisons, state prisons and many local jails have decided to drastically reduce or completely eliminate friends and family visitation so as to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure in facilities. In normal times, we would point to the significant evidence that sustained meaningful contact with family and friends benefits incarcerated people in the long run, including reducing recidivism. But it is even more important, in this time of crisis, for incarcerated people to know that their loved ones are safe and vice versa. While many facilities have suspended in-person visitation, only a few have made an effort to supplement this loss by waiving fees for phone calls and video communication. Here is one notable example:
Shelby County, Tennessee suspended jail visitations, but also decided that to maintain these vital connections between families, they are waiving fees for all phone calls and video communication. (March 12)
Other jurisdictions have instituted cost reductions that — while better than nothing — are embarrassingly stingy:
Montgomery County, Ohio has agreed to provide people in jail with 1 free phone call per day and 2 free emails per day. (March 14)
In Connecticut, state prisons are providing 2 free phone calls per week for the next 30 days. (March 12)
In Florida state prisons, the Department of Corrections is offering people in state prison 1 free video call, 2 free phone calls (up to 15 minutes) per week, 4 free JPay stamps each week, and they have reduced the cost of outbound videograms reduced by 50%. (March 12)
Harris County, Texas is offering people in jails 2 free phone calls per week for the next 30 days. (March 13)
In Delaware, people in state prison now have access to 2 free 5-minute phone calls per week for the rest of March. (March 16)
The Vermont Department of Corrections released a statement reporting that they are offering video calling starting this week (1 free video call per week up to 25 min). (March 13)
Hallelujah! It has been a year since my son walked out of those doors from a Florida federal prison and he is doing fantastic. It can happen for your loved one too.
The key is that they have to want to make the change, and they have to have support. We were lucky to have him join the reentry program, Hope for Prisoners, in Las Vegas, NV. As I’ve said a million times, our prison systems send inmates out without money, skills, jobs, transportation or sometimes even a place to live. Without support, most will just give up and go back to their old ways.
When my son walked out those prison doors January 28, 2019, neither one of us was positive he would make it. He carried all his worldly possessions in a laundry bag: a couple of pairs of socks and underwear, some legal papers, two t-shirts, a few education certificates and nothing else. Without my help and the help of Hope for Prisoners what was he to do? Where would he live and how could a convicted felon get a job that could support him?
Not only did he go through the Hope program, but he was able to get a great job with one of their partners, Civil Werx. Thanks to Hope for Prisoners and Civil Werx President, Donnie Gibson he has a job he is proud of and loves. Yes, he still has issues, but none of them would send him back to prison. He is free of drugs and follows his probation rules. His issues are related to all the time he spent in prison. Inability to sleep, anxiety in crowds, nightmares, and always watching his back. Those will take time and he may have to live with them for a lifetime. One can’t be sure just yet.
The thing is not to give up hope and to always support your loved one and believe it can happen. They can have a life outside prison!
I have written about inmates in prison during the holidays for a number of years and how it affects not only the inmate, but the inmate’s family and friends. Nothing has changed about that. It can be an extremely stressful and depressing time for everyone involved. Yet another year that your loved one is away, locked up. They feel the disappointment and grief their families feel. The family feels lonely and wishes things were different.
I don’t have an easy answer for this. All I can say is that you have to make the best of it. Be sure to write or visit and try not to place any blame or convey disappointment. I know you feel it. I’ve been there for many, many years. I’ve felt the void. I’ve felt the sadness. I’ve seen my son take his anger out and end up in solitary for Christmas.
For most, it will end eventually and your loved one will come home to spend the holidays. I know about this too, as this is the first year in fourteen years that my son will be spending the holidays with his family. We are grateful for the fact he finally made up his mind to rejoin society, be sober and live life on the outside. He will not go back this time.
I am also grateful to Hope for Prisoners and Jon Ponder, the founder and CEO, based in Las Vegas. This reentry program gave him his life back. This program helped him get a good job. They gave him the skills, determination and opportunity to succeed. They gave him the support and love he needed to succeed.
I’m also grateful to Civil Werx in Las Vegas for taking a chance on him and providing him the opportunity for a job… not just a job, but a great job. Because of my son doing a wonderful job for them, they will now give others a second chance.
GIVING EX-OFFENDERS A SECOND CHANCE!I’ve mentioned Hope for Prisoners in my blogs many times, but have never written an entire blog dedicated to them. They are so important in the world of reentry and giving people a second chance, I wanted to make sure all of you knew about them. I hope anyone reading this will forward it on, so that the whole world hears about them. Hey, you never know, maybe they will end up on Oprah’s radar.
Founded ten yeas ago by three time felon, Jon Ponder, who found salvation in a prison cell, it is the leading reentry program in America today. It’s a non-profit organization in Las Vegas, NV that has had remarkable success. That success is measured in the numbers of people who have taken the program (over 3,000) and in the resulting recidivism rate of 6.7%, confirmed by a study done by UNLV’s Criminal Justice Department. So much success that it is being replicated across the nation. In fact, Jon was celebrated along with Richard Beasley, the Special FBI Agent who tracked him down and arrested him, (now best friends) on our National Day of Prayer in 2018.
I can personally attest to the success of Hope for Prisoners because my son is currently in the program. He completed the intensive portion of the program and graduated five months ago. He continues to be drug free, has completed six months of intensive parole without incident, continues to help in the program, as well as attend classes every week, and has a terrific job….all due to Hope for Prisoners!
For anyone who has or has had a family member who is experiencing or has experienced our prison system, you know it does not rehabilitate in almost every case. This program has been my son’s salvation, and I am truly grateful to Jon and his entire team.
If you are interested in the program, as a person in the reentry world, in probation, in the prison system, or as a friend or family member of an inmate or former inmate who may need help, please go to: https://hopeforprisoners.org. You will find lots of information on their website. Or, you can call them at: 702-586-1371.
I’ve mentioned Hope for Prisoners in my blogs many times, but have never written an entire blog dedicated to them. They are so important in the world of reentry and giving people a second chance, I wanted to make sure all of you knew about them. I hope anyone reading this will forward it on, so that the whole world hears about them. Hey, you never know, maybe they will end up on Oprah’s radar.
Information for Friends and Family of Inmates 