Returning Home to Family
For many people leaving prison, one of the most emotional parts of re-entry is returning home to family. The thought of reuniting with loved ones is often what sustains someone…[...]
Author: Renee Harris
Reforming the System
We often hear people talk about criminal justice, and the phrase “reforming the system” is heard often. Elected officials say it. Activists shout it. Families affected by the system feel…[...]
Relationships Across the Wall
When someone ends up in jail, it’s not just them doing time. Everyone who loves them feels it too. Families, partners, kids, even friends - they end up carrying a…[...]
Life Inside Jail vs. Life on the Outside
Humility is having the self-esteem to understand that even though you are doing well, you do not have to brag or gloat about it. When people ask what jail is…[...]
Defining Yourself Beyond Conviction
When people think of a scar, they often focus on the size or the place on the body where it rests. What they don’t see are the invisible scars. For…[...]
The Cycle of Poverty and Incarceration
Many people engage in conversations about poverty but often fail to address its causes and seek effective solutions. They assume people are lazy or uneducated, rather than considering how your…[...]
A Second Chance
The time is now that the gates behind the wall is opening. The feeling was akin to landing on a new planet, from the exterior to the sounds. People say…[...]
Recidivism and Reintegration
One of the clearest ways to judge whether a justice system actually works is to look at recidivism-the number of people who end up back in prison after they've been…[...]
Comparing Justice Systems
Happy kindergarten teacher communicating with African American mother and her son at reception desk. It says a lot that a powerful first-world nation, America, would have the most incarcerated citizens.…[...]
Cycle of Poverty and Incarceration
The relationship between poverty and incarceration is one of those cycles everybody can see, but too few people admit is designed into the system. Being poor makes it more likely…[...]