Over recent years a great deal of attention has been given to criminal justice reform under the subsections of crime, crime reduction, mass incarceration, prison privatization, recidivism, and re-entry just to name a few. While it’s obvious through research most Americans agree to the restoration of rights for those previously convicted of offenses. The New York Times published Agreed: Serve Your Time, Cast Your Ballot to support the underlying theme that many Americans believe in second chances. Many of these conversations are being held in spaces in which thought is given towards strategic implementation of policy to afford an opportunity to those who seek to acclimate back into main stream society. I thought it important to highlight some instances in which individual’s who’ve been convicted of offenses (whether by plea agreement or jury trial) are already searching for and implementing measures to piece their life together post incarceration.
In this blog series, the goal is to show these successful moments in which despite numerous obstacles (intentional or unintentional) individuals found a way to place their feet on solid ground. Why? My hope to show people that not only is change possible it is happening in small pockets across the country. Believing in the good nature of people who come to the aid of those that attempt to help themselves a natural progress (in my opinion) would be “returning citizens” would see examples of individuals that have pieced their lives together providing a road map if you will for others. Secondly, if individuals are putting their life back together thereby having a vested interest in the success of their community they are less likely to re-offend meaning a safer community for all. Also, it could give policy makers to support this resurgence of “healthy” communities by creating and supporting policies that expedite this process.
