Personal Narrative: Beyond The Bridges Ministry

Life after incarceration, here today gone tomorrow. 95% of adults sentenced to prison will return to our communities, and reentry will be their first step back into society. Imagine have a thousand questions flooding one’s mind all at once. Where will I live, how will I survive, and contribute to the family, while maintaining to the stipulations of one’s parole/ probation, without risking freedom. The number one goal for those newly released back into society by way of the reentry program is to never return to the inside of a prison cell.

Nevertheless, God takes all of me, even my own inadequacies, and uses it for His glory. The more I spend time with God, the more I see God changing me for the better. He is working out all the flaws. He is turning me into a beauty I could not

The mission of Lights of Zion’s, Bounce Back 2 Life Program ( BBLT) is to reintegrate former prisoners into the community, reduce prison recidivism, and improve public safety through addressing the educational, employment, healthcare, housing, and family relationship needs of prisoners re-entering society by providing support and connection to needed services in the community after prisoners have been released. Bounce Back 2 Life has served over 800 individuals since its inception, and is dedicated to continue to provide services. such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a predominant psychological method that addresses a broad spectrum of socially problematic behaviors including substance abuse, criminal conduct, and depression.

He really showed me a lot of new perspectives in life and opened my eyes to everything I can

The fundamental basis of the reentry collaboration is that each constituent of the criminal justice system (e.g., law enforcement, the courts, institutional and community corrections) plays a role not only in immediate offender processing and control (e.g., arrest, conviction, incarceration, release), but also in longstanding offender change (e.g., employment, family, mental health, substance abuse, criminality). Since 1999, the Office of Justice Programs has been instrumental in the development of a series of system-wide reentry initiatives, including the Reentry Partnership Initiatives (RPI) (NCJRS, 2002). Many offenders are maxing out and being returned to the community without the supervision through probation or parole; ergo, law enforcement

Changing criminal behavior, not pausing it while incarcerated is what is needed to keep the public safe, making offenders aware of the destruction they have caused to society, and making them accountable via treatment programs and discipline. Unfortunately, upon release an offender may have set backs, being in a structured, disciplined environment, followed by complete freedom may prove bad for some. Many halfway houses are located far away from an offender’s residence, therefore even if employment is secured during treatment when released they return home to no job, or support, and are put back in the same situation. Community support is imperative in the effectiveness of halfway houses, sadly, many communities refuse halfway houses in their communities, lack of education and fear have been a huge

Criminal justice professionals have noticed that more needs to be done with offenders if the habit of re-offending will be reduced. In fact, re-entry has become a popular word and become quite a trend in the criminal justice system. Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center or ADC is one facility that has implemented a re-entry program that focuses on offenders getting released within forty-five days. Offenders are offered information and applications for several different organizations that are willing to help them upon release such as housing and shelters, substance abuse treatment and food stamps. They are also in the process of starting a re-entry dorm to specifically focus on the inmates that qualify and would like to participate.

This type of community-based option has proven to be quite effective in easing the reintegration process, but there are additional programs that offer an even more personal and interactive approach. Circles of Support and Accountability is a perfect example; COSA works with people who have committed crimes, specifically sex offenders, to reintegrate them into communities where they feel unwelcome and unwanted. The core members of the program learn how to, “carry out basic aspects of community life such as looking for work or accommodation and adjusting to life outside of prison. In addition, the volunteers hold the [offenders] to account for their own reintegration” (Clarke et al, p. 3). This is one of the main reasons the program has proven

This specific study conducted by Busbee, Caneda, and Fanning questioned how inmates receiving mentorship would affect them after getting out of prison (Busbee, Caneda, & Fanning, 2011). The study showed that prisons in general face hard decisions after getting released from prison to avoid recidivism these individuals need work release programs and vocation training as well to avoid them coming back (Busbee, Caneda, & Fanning, 2011). The research studies conclude that a policy implication of having programs such as the work release program should be put in place of the prison system (Busbee, Caneda, & Fanning, 2011). Social learning system is said to promote an atmosphere of home for the inmates and give them the support necessary (Akers, 1998; Bandura 1991; Busbee, Caneda, & Fanning,

In all, I can say that service learning has helped to shape me into a person that I am today and continues to makes me a better person. Service to me is a way of life and I can't image my life without service. I feel deeply indebted to the people who took the time to help me to grow into the leader I am today. Now I spend my days trying to give back to my community the way someone did for

I depended on my works for God to be pleased with me and actually love me. I feared His rejection and I became dependent on my self-righteousness. However, God stayed with me and proved His unconditional love over and over. He healed my mind and brought me back into a trusting love relationship with Him. Even though I still struggle with the repercussions of that view, God is working in me and helping me trust Him more each day.

Inciardi, Steven S. Martin, and Clifford A. Butzin’s “Five-Year Outcomes of Therapeutic Community Treatment of Drug-Involved Offenders
After Release From Prison.” This article starts by saying that, according to several drug abuse clinicians and sociologists have stated the importance of the therapeutic community, referred to as TC because it is the “most viable form of treatment for drug-involved offenders, particularly for those whose criminality has resulted in incarceration.” (Inciardi, Martin, Butzin, 2004) The authors state that TC is a treatment environment separate from the prison population and that primary staff members are ex-substance abusers who previously went through TC treatment. There are three effective stages incorporated into TC treatment intervention.

La Greta, I really enjoyed reading your post as I have been a part of such programs since I began my career as a police officer 18 years ago. I started by conducting parole checks on violent offenders and quickly learned how little they were prepared to return to society. You are very correct in that an offender’s re-entry starts the minute they begin their sentence. This is going to require the cooperation and collaboration of the prison system, probation and parole, law enforcement, prosecutors, social services and public housing. The money is out there in the form of federal grants and it just takes a little work to find them on the internet.

Then I’ve learned to always pray for God and trust myself that I can do what I want with Him. I’ve also learned to go with the flow in life because it is the God’s plan for us. And always remember our family will always support us even if it is good or bad. 2. “Enjoy the little

He also taught me to stay motivated no matter how many times I wanted to give up because of my mistakes. I remember the day like it was yesterday even though it was eighteen years ago. This is one of the proudest moments in my life. It’s a lesson that I’ll never forget. Being taught how to ride a bike for the first time was exciting.