Volunteer looking for prison transition resources & needs.

November 16, 2014 3:32 PM

I've just volunteered with a prison ministry in Tulsa, OK devoted to criminal justice reform, helping families of inmates, providing services to prisoners, etc. I'm looking for transition resources & am working on identifying the needs of transitioning prisoners.

I've been tasked with putting together a list of resources that would be useful for people who are being released from prison. I've found some local and national services (Girl Scouts' Beyond Bars program, Salvation Army, Goodwill), and I'm googling lots of different search term combinations, but I'm sure I'm missing some things. I'm also finding it hard to imagine what exactly is most useful for people in this type of transition.


Hence my questions:

1) What's it like transitioning from prison to the outside? What resources do people need? Housing, job training ... what else?

Thank you for your help! Posting for a friend.

posted by countrymod to Human Relations (6 answers total)

Not necessarily the most widely applicable, but some topics that may be overlooked:

Substance-abuse treatment, including AA and NA

Mental-health treatment, including consumer- or peer-led groups like NAMI

Sexual-assault treatment for prisoners who were raped in prison (or before being imprisoned)

Parenting support, including classes and low-cost family therapy (some places have a hotline that parents who are worried they're about to hit their kids can call for support; my quick Googling is not turning one up for Oklahoma, but I certainly may have missed it)

Benefits like Medicaid, SNAP/food stamps, general assistance, or other bureaucratic/govt-supplied support for people in poverty

Low-cost or sliding-scale health care (FQHCs, community health centers, non-profit volunteer clinics)
posted by jaguar at 3:56 PM on November 16, 2014 [1 favorite]

There was a local NPR report about how many long-term prisoners are also being released into a world where technology is very different from when they entered prison, so maybe if local libraries, community colleges, or other agencies offer classes on computer literacy, that would be helpful, too.

And it looks like Oklahoma has a 211 United Way helpline, which would be another good resource, both as a number to give released prisoners and also as a resource for your friend in putting together resources.
posted by jaguar at 3:59 PM on November 16, 2014 [1 favorite]

I have seen these items listed as Material Assistance:

Rental
Furniture
Transportation
Utilities (heating oil, water, phone, electric)
Clothing
Emergency food
Other agency referrals
Prescriptions
Job referrals
Spiritual guidance

Aftercare.
Mediation Services.
Counseling.

(Not an endorsement; offered as an example of how one organization works with prisoners and those transitioning from prison.) The annual report (.pdf) may also be of help.
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:00 PM on November 16, 2014 [1 favorite]

Jaguar mentioned computer literacy--in general, jails and prisons tend to house people with overall low literacy and numeracy skills. It would be good to provide people with info on how to complete/continue their education--adult basic ed/high school completion programs, literacy organizations, GED classes, essential skills training. I work at a community college and we are a popular post-release destination for people, so I suggest you contact your local CC for suggestions.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 4:43 PM on November 16, 2014 [1 favorite]

This is our local group supporting offender re-entry. It might provide some ideas.
posted by pantarei70 at 8:48 AM on November 17, 2014 [1 favorite]

The John Howard Society does this work in Canada and have extensive online resources.
Also google Ban the Box for an example of the kinds of laws that help.
Also google Circles of accountability for another proven reintegration program.
posted by SyraCarol at 4:31 PM on November 17, 2014 [1 favorite]