We know that the transition home can be overwhelming. Many emotions might come hand-in-hand; excitement, relief, anxiety, fear, and grief. You are not alone and we encourage you to pace yourself, connect with others, and know that the more time you were away, the more it may feel like a roller-coaster the first year back in the community.
First things first. Nobody wants to go back in. Let’s break the cycle of recidivism. Check in with your probation officer, register with the county (if necessary), identify fees and restrictions. Be aware of travel limitations and try to avoid situations with firearms and illegal substances.
We recognize that many “coming home” are without housing or only have temporary shelter. This can feel like an insult to an injury after the struggles you have already been through. Pace yourself and be as diligent, patient, and resilient as you can be. Locating housing is a process that might be incredibly frustrating. You don’t have to do this alone!!
Finding employment can be difficult. Sometimes there are corporate policies that are absolute barriers depending on the type of conviction you had, and how long ago it happened. Try to know as much as possible about the strict limitation’s employers may have, and be prepared to speak to your strengths and in the same breath, be as transparent as you need to be in case, they run a background check. As with everything, don’t waste your time and energy on obvious dead ends. You’re way too valuable for that (courtesy of Torchlighters).
The transition from prison/jail back to the community does not come easy to most. Just like physical health, we all have mental health. Getting support should be expected after being locked away from society. Peer support, talk therapy, and maybe medication management all can help.
Finding employment can be difficult. Sometimes there are corporate policies that are absolute barriers depending on the type of conviction you had, and how long ago it happened. Try to know as much as possible about the strict limitation’s employers may have, and be prepared to speak to your strengths and in the same breath, be as transparent as you need to be in case, they run a background check. As with everything, don’t waste your time and energy on obvious dead ends. You’re way too valuable for that (courtesy of Torchlighters).
Three Rivers Legal Clinic offers expunction clinics throughout the year at Alachua County Public Library.
The Southern Coalition for Social Justice published the Umar Muhammad Clean Slate Toolkit in 2024 which serves as a comprehensive guide.
Copyright © 2024 Released - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.