Hundreds of thousands of people are released from prisons in the United States every year, and millions from local jails. Many of these people will end up reoffending and going back to jail or prison soon after their release. Heather Jackson is a professional in project management and veteran who volunteers with her local chapter of ReEntry Services. She is passionate about helping formerly incarcerated individuals transition back into civilian life.
ReEntry programs exist to help people who have been incarcerated. It can be a struggle for many people to transition back into being a member of their community after they have been released. There are many different programs that exist. Programs can provide mentorship, help finding shelter and work, mental health counselling, and financial literacy training. The goal is to reduce recidivism, increase public safety, and save money that would be spent on housing that person in a jail or prison. Most people who go to prison will renter society at some point, so it is important to help them make the transition back into civilian life.