The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. Psalm 69:33

Recently I was asked by an inmate serving time at USP Leavenworth about the stigma of incarceration when it comes to reintegration and employment.  This is a very common question and concern for many inside – they are basically asking “Is there any hope for us after prison? Will we be accepted?”  I am upfront and honest because I believe that helps successful reintegration long term – the fewer surprises the better when you are released. 

 I of course am optimistic about the future of anyone coming out of the system if they want to succeed, but the challenges faced upon release are difficult for people to understand.  That is true for an inmate, their families and it is true for members of society that do not understand why people would make decisions leading them back to prison again.  After replying to him and a few others, I decided to write a bit more about it. 

Please keep in mind that I am formerly incarcerated, a former successful business owner in digital marketing and now run a non-profit ministry focused on lowering recidivism.  I have experienced the stigma first hand from business owners, church goers, pastors, former employees, former clients, friends and others.  With that said, I have also experienced the exact opposite from many from the exact same categories above that have made very positive impacts on my life and my ministry. 

After spending time in prison it is hard to successfully reintegrate back into society. A cold hard fact that people need to understand is that 68% of all inmates released from prison will be rearrested within 3 years. That number jumps up to 76% after 5 years according to the DOJ.  The odds are stacked against you and there is no simple way to avoid that.  There are several reasons that lead to that.

The stigma of being a felon is real and follows you forever for numerous reasons.  The most difficult for many is how easily accessible information is online and once it is indexed on the search engines, it is never going away.  This is especially true for people that have unique last names or had any type of publicity from their case.  It is difficult for the formerly incarcerated because anytime you Google yourself, your past mistakes are front and center.  If you get a job and your co-worker decides to find out more about you, their positive opinion about you quickly changes.  There is nothing online discussing all the obstacles you have faced and overcome, there is nothing online about your victories, how you have reversed course and are making a positive impact in society.  That is tough to overcome in the short and long term. 

Importantly, this is true when trying to become employed.  Employers will run background checks and many of the formerly incarcerated will automatically be disqualified because of their record.  Business owners and human resources will make unilateral decisions based on the perceptions of people with records instead of evaluating the individual person.  If someone is qualified for the job, give them a chance to get the job even if they have a record.  A blanket company rule and unwillingness to hire a certain group of people based on their perception seems wrong all around. 

Hiring the formerly incarcerated will benefit your businesses for numerous reasons including tax incentives and better employees.  Studies consistently show there is significant value for businesses to hire the formerly incarcerated, which Starbucks and Home Depot have learned firsthand as a positive.  According to CNBC, “The value new employees with criminal records bring to an organization is viewed as equal or even higher than that of workers without records by 82% of managers.” (Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/22/how-hiring-individuals-with-criminal-records-can-benefit-todays-workforce.html) 

Several other studies show that managers notice that the justice-involved individuals are prone to work harder, show up on time, miss less work and be more appreciative of the job because the company took a chance on them.  These studies are easy to find with simple Google searches. 

With that being said, one of the largest factors in reference to succeeding and staying out of prison is employment. However it is a double edged sword because few companies are willing to take the chance on hiring someone with a felony.  One part of our ministry is helping inmates before they are released so they can be as prepared as possible for adjusting to society.  We are lucky to be able to offer full time employment for our members as well once released from prison which is a gigantic benefit.  I emailed this list after spending a few minutes trying to figure out the best way to answer their questions about employment.  I believe the first and most important step they can take is doing everything they can while inside to prepare for their future.  These were not the totality of my email but here were set actions I felt would help this particular group of men immediately.  What else would you add?

When you are released there will be a whirlwind of emotions.  It is important to hit the ground running and do all you can to set yourself up for success after prison.  It will be overwhelming if you are prepared, it will be devastating for you if you choose to not prepare.  One important part of the puzzle is employment.  As a felon, it is important to be realistic with job searches and smart as well. You are not going to become a manager after your first interview and starting a business is not realistic if you have no experience or funds – but it is a great long term goal.  Here are 10 examples of things you can do now to start preparing for employment.

1. Gather Essential Documents: Can’t get a job without this!

While incarcerated, obtaining your birth certificate, Social Security card, and state identification should be a priority. These documents are essential for accessing services, applying for jobs, and securing housing upon release and you can do it all from behind the walls. 

This is something you can do right now and is worth doing immediately.  If you wait until you are released, it will significantly delay your first paycheck, your living situation and more.

2. Mental Preparation: Rejection will happen constantly so mentally prepare now. 

Understand that rejections during your job search are not personal; it's a common part of the process for people with or without records. Prepare yourself mentally by setting realistic expectations about your situation.  Many human resource managers will question hiring you because of your record.  It is your job now to think about ways to overcome that and how you can represent yourself as a person they should take that “risk” on. 

Consider participating in prison programs or therapy sessions that focus on building resilience and coping with setbacks.  Check out the list of common concerns employers have so you can address those during your interview. 

3. Document Your Work History: Any work at all

Create a detailed list of your past jobs and include information such as job titles, employers, dates of employment, and specific tasks you performed.  Take the time to write down what you liked about each job, accomplishments and so on.  It is important to spend time doing this now because this will be the information you use to write your resume. 

Please be sure to write down as many details as you can about your daily tasks.  When you are released we can help you create a great resume using this information and the more content we have the better.  Also, document all the educational courses from before and during your incarceration. 

4. Leverage Personal Connections:  The best jobs come from business owners that are friends of your family or someone that trusts you. 

Use your time in prison to reconnect with family and friends. Inform them about your desire to find employment upon release and ask if they know of any job opportunities or can offer recommendations.  This is a tactic many people are worried about doing because you have already put your family through a lot emotionally and you do not want to fail them again.  Take this step and commit to following through on success after prison.  This can be one of your best sources of employment. 

5. Focus on Continuous Learning:  Knowledge really does equal power.

Make the most of educational opportunities available in prison. Enroll in classes that align with your interests and career goals. There are mail-in courses you can take advantage of through some nonprofit’s.  If the prison you are at offers courses that further educate you, take them and as many as you can.  This will get your mindset focused on the future, it will look good for employers because you dedicated time to improving yourself and you will likely learn things you didn't know about. 

6. Develop a Release Plan: Spend time on this!

Create a comprehensive plan that outlines your goals, strategies, and timelines for reintegration. Include steps for employment, housing, education, and personal development.  I am going to mail you our 9-page reintegration plan.  Spend a lot of time on filling the information out and thinking through everything.  Preparation and planning will be key to your long term success and staying out of prison.  You know the recidivism rate means that the odds are against you, this is one way to push the odds more in your favor.  Brand 316 has a detailed 11 page release plan we will happily share with anyone interested.  Visit our website to request a copy of our 9-page release plan for your loved one currently incarcerated.

7. Develop a housing plan now for release: Beds versus Cement

There are few options when you are released from prison for housing.  There are the obvious financial barriers, no current employment and so on.  Landlords have the choice to not rent to you as well – and if you are planning on living with someone else their landlord can also say no.  Some try to slide through the cracks by not notifying the landlord, but your probation officer will make sure they know.  Many that are released without a plan are forced to stay in overnight shelters or on the streets.  Homelessness is rampant for the formerly incarcerated. 

It is difficult to figure out your living situation so spend time now thinking about all your options.  If you have family, start talking to them now if they are open to it.  For many, family will not be an option or will be an unhealthy option.  For those, it is important to start researching transitional housing programs or halfway houses in your area. These options provide support and a stable living environment as you transition back into society.  You can discuss this with your counselor directly but they tend to be unhelpful if you are not near immediate release.  Feel free to reach out to us and we can send you a list of places that would be good options for you. 

8. Practice Interview Skills: Becoming Confident again

This seems like something you should worry about once you are finally out of prison, but it is a wise choice to start practicing this now.  You need to learn how to answer questions about your incarceration in a positive way, learn how to address your crime in an honest and humble way and start getting in the mindset of selling yourself to others.  You have value and prison is meant to make you the same as everyone else while instilling the thought in your mind that you are worthless.  You are not and it is important to start focusing on that now.  Your confidence or lack of it will be clear to interviewers and the more you practice your answers, the more natural and confident you will come across.  

This includes discussing your previous jobs and education as well. Prison habits (waking up early, time management, patience, self-control) are all aspects business owners want so learn how to put a positive spin on this negative situation.   I will send you in a separate email a list of common interview questions you can all start practicing on now.  Focus on articulating how your prison experiences have equipped you with valuable skills, such as discipline, teamwork, and problem-solving combined with your previous experience.   Jobs will be hard to get but the more preparation you do now the higher the chance you will be more comfortable in the interviews. 

9. Financial Management – Start Learning now!

Managing your money wisely is extremely important when you're getting out of prison. Think of it like how you handle commissary purchases – don't just buy things without thinking about your bills for the next week. Learning the basics of budgeting is a must and most prison libraries have books that go over this kind of stuff.  Spend time really learning it and start using the techniques now so they become habits for when you are released.  You can also ask your counselor if they have any material on budgeting and financial management also.  Most prisons have a course you can take which covers the basics, but it is important to learn.   These skills will help you handle your finances better, ensuring your income covers your needs and helps you build a stable financial future and unexpected expenses. Money management is important for every single person in society, so start learning it and living by it now.

10. Be Realistic:  Success is built over time, it is not immediate.

It is important to emphasize the importance of having a realistic perspective as you start your journey back into society after your time in prison. It can be tough and finding employment might not be easy right away but never give up.   But I want you to know that every job you take on, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is a vital building block for your future. Each work experience adds to your skillset and your work history, making you a stronger candidate for better opportunities down the road. Success doesn't happen overnight, and that's okay. It's crucial to be patient and understand that the decisions you make now should be focused on the long-term.

When you are a hard worker, excellent employee, show up on time and are dependable, your managers will notice and it will lead to promotions and other higher paying jobs in the future.  Patience is pivotal here. Don't be disheartened if things don't happen as quickly as you'd like them to. Making decisions with a long-term perspective means you're focused on where you want to be down the road.

Think of it as an investment in yourself, where every job you take now is helping to shape a better future with better opportunities and more financial stability. Stay the course, keep your head up, and remember that success is a journey, not a sprint. You've got what it takes to make it happen.