Re-entry

Prisoner re-entry has been on the forefront of my mind a lot lately. I know this may seem odd to many because it is not a topic that is easy to discuss or crosses the average persons mind, but it is an issue that I encounter daily. Many of the homeless neighbors that I work with daily face huge re-entry barriers. Many do not have a support system to lean on when they are released. All the neighbors that I work with come in with no place to stay causing addition barriers and are currently not employed. On an average it takes an ex-offender five times longer to find employment than the average adult. At this time in our economy, it is taking the average adult 20 weeks to find a job full-time job with no criminal history (I learned this at the training I am attending this week). This is crazy considering that most recently released individuals have a very short amount of time to find employment (usually 90 days) before their parole is revoked and they are sent back to prison.

This significant issue has been in the news in Indianapolis a lot lately. One of the reasons that it has been in the paper this past week is because our new mayor is hosting a re-entry job fair and has named Tony Dungy the chairman of the re-entry committee. The day center that I work at is one of the referral sites for this upcoming job fair. I am excited about the fact that this issue is making the news. Our community really needs to get more employers involved in working towards a solution to this problem. We need more employer that are willing to give people a second chance. This fair should new faces to the table of re-entry discussion. It is my hope and prayer that this will not only temporarily be an issue that it is on the minds of the community in Indianapolis, but one that we continue to look at and work towards solutions. If people are being given a second chance to start over, to make changes, and to work towards being active members of society employment is key. Without employment many people cannot even afford the basic necessities of life including food, shelter, and clothing. The paper said yesterday that without employment they are unable to meet their obligations of child support, restitution, and court fees. Yes these are some of the things that get neglected minus employment, but more importantly they are unable to care for their own basic needs and the needs of their families. This is a shame and it causes so much extra stress to those who trying their best to make the changes needed to be productive members of society.

One of my co-workers, always says that we are all an ex- something or other. He spent many years working in corrections and I have to agree with him. I have made many mistakes, in my life and have at times had to make significant changes in my life in order to live according to God's will. I am lucky to have a God that is loving and forgiving as well as friends and family who are loving and forgiving. I think that our communities would do well to model God's love and forgiveness. After all, those who are exiting the prison system have already paid dearly for what they have done. It would benefit the whole community to work together to give people a second chance. Just as God gives all of us many chances to change and become more loving, holy, and God centered people, we need to do the same for our brothers and sisters. We need to give them the opportunities to change, to work, and to build new relationships.