Second Chance Act Solicitation

Only a few days left to apply for grant from the  Second Chance Act


The Smart Supervision program seeks to improve probation and parole success rates and reduce crime committed by those under probation and parole supervision, which would
  in turn reduce admissions to prisons and jails and save taxpayer dollars.  Make a difference!

http://csgjusticecenter.org/reentry/announcements/second-chance-act-solicitation-smart-supervision-grants/

Dan Rodricks and an Ex Offender

In a recent article in The Baltimore Sun, Dan Rodricks featured an ex offender who is back in society after 30 years.   Reentry is often difficult for many inmates.  For those with long sentences as Mr. Grant, in Dan's article, when they return they face changed roads, cities, streets, housing, family changes and  or estrangement.
  Perhaps the only stable for many  is the poverty or run down areas that they left behind.  It is tough to be successful, especially when in prison they little or no access to technology that is so necessary to even apply for a job.
Often their most realistic lifeline to the outside is the information they get from their  Prison Libraries.  My hope is that once they are outside the fence,  they will visit  public libraries to help them in their quest for jobs, housing, and community resources.

Prisoners and Reentry

Today I heard of an inmate who was released after 38 years in prison.  He got $50.00.  He had no home, had lost contact with most of his family, and had no job prospect.

Transition Program at JCI

Constance Parker, Sarah Blusiewicz, Kelton Addison address inmates at Jessup Correctional Institute on Apprenticship, Licensing,Federal Bonding, and Expungement. JCI Librarian Grace Schroeder, is behind the circulation desk

During the past 2 years, Jessup Correctional has transformed from a maximum security prison to being a prison where majority of the inmates are parole violators. This focus of the inmates' information needs has shifted from predominantly legal information to information that will help them when they return to their communities. In addition to collections that help reentry, the library has introduced programs that include outside guests speaking on a variety of topics. Recently, Sara Bluciewicz, Constance Parker and Kelton Addison of the Dept. of Labor Licensing and Regulations, discussed general requirements for apprenticeship, sponsorship requirements, tips on how to present themselves, federal bonding, tax credits, and expungements, and the career one stop centers.

Prisoners and Reentry

The high cost of incarceration, and the high rate of recidivism, approx. 66% are rearrested within 3 years, has made public officials look at developing programs to help inmates make more successful transition back to their communities. The Office of Justice web site list many national and federal resources.

The Maryland Correctional Education Library web site has information on topics like, Looking for a Job, A Place to Stay, Getting Your Driver's License, Vital Records, Disability benefits

Prison Libraries can have direct impact on the reentry process by setting up Career and Transition Resources in their libraries. Lots of materials are on the Internet. They can download these information for the inmates. Libraries can initiate career fairs and invite potential employers to visit and talk to future employees. Reentry collection should consist of materials that include, personal development, getting GED, resume writing, family relationship, anger management, government grants, financial management, and lots of trade books. The past year I purchased lots of books on landscaping, roofing, plumbing, airconditioning, automechanics, starting your own business, wiring, construction, deckbuilding etc. Very very popular among the inmates were, Commercial Driver's License books and cd rom, and Mavis Beacon Typing.

I request that some public libraries send me their publicity brochures, as an encouragement for the inmates to visit their libraries when they reenter society. Many of these brochures list workshops on job hunting or career planning.

Pre release Inmates in Mobile Unit

Hope

Today I saw hope dim in the eyes of a man
He bubbled with enthusiasm, happy to be considered for an interview.
His answers to our questions showed us he was well prepared for the interview. He was happy to be considered and he wanted to convince us he would do a good job.
He lacked experience in our specific area, but we had no doubt he was trainable.
We gave him the opportunity to ask questions. He said he had many. I mentioned “security”. He looked puzzled and asked for clarification. We explained that our interview scoring was one thing, but we had to submit names of potential applicants to DOC for final approval.
“DOC?” he asked. “Division of Corrections”, I said. We explained that everyone gets a security check and because he was still on probation, they may be reluctant to allow entry. He listened quietly, his enthusiasm replaced by a wary look. Initially he said he had many questions but now when I prompted him, he said he had no more questions as he closed his folder with a resigned air and thanked us again for considering him for an interview.
Today I saw hope dim in the eyes of a man.

Conversation With A Prisoner

Yesterday I visited one of the prisons. At the magazine section, an inmate clerk sat reading his Bible. Another inmate approached holding out the Jet Magazine. The inmate clerk, took the magazine, placed it back on the shelf, returned the inmate's ID, and placed a check mark on his list to indicate the magazine was returned.

I greeted him, asked him about usage of the magazines and books on tapes, then asked him how much longer before he returned to society. He said 1 year,. I asked what he was doing to prepare himself for a successful reentry.

He listed them - drug treatment, anger management, school, parenting sessions, life skills. Then he said, " I have been in and out of jail, several times, high on cocaine. I hurt my mother, who is a Christian woman, and my little brother, who also did drugs, but imagine now is a store Manager for... and sends me money. My baby brother! I am 55 years old, and I know that I am no longer willing to live the life that kept me high on cocaine. Sometimes I made my mother promises, but I was too high to even remember. Now I read my Bible, and I know when I get out there, I will be a changed man."

"You better keep that promise. If you leave here I dont want to see you back." I said. He laughed. "You don't have to worry about that."

I went to another prison. As the inmate saw me, he went for an extremely thick file. telling me he had appealed every condition of his sentence. He says he has been wrongly incarcerated. He showed me news clippings about a policeman who lied saying he plans to use this to bolster his defense. He is convinced he will leave prison in a few months. I asked him what he is doing to prepare himself for a successful reentry. He said he had a corportation. I remembered him from another prison 18 years ago. His story has not changed.

Prisoners going home

In maximum security correctional facilities, prisoners are interested in legal materials because they want to get back to the courts to get sentence reduction. As they advance to lesser security, they desire information to get them transition back into the community.ala/olos

They want information on relationship, career, housing, social services, getting back with their family, getting their GED, etc. Many experience difficulty when they get out. http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/national/2007/12/06/the-ex-con-next-door.html?PageNr=1

I am very proud of our recent acquisition in Maryland Correctional Education libraries. - a bookmobile that will have computers to teach Internet skills, and have books on the trades as well as the information to help the inmate. I will be working collaboratively with the transition coordinator, who will ensure that an instructor comes on board to teach employability skills. This bookmobile will go to the pre lease centers and the inmates who are within 6 months of returning to the community, will have priority.

Our inmates do not have direct access to the Internet, but librarians do have access. We have developed a web site with reentry information