Theme: Community Integration

• The stigma associated with a conviction is reflected in discriminatory behavior by others and also can affect interpersonal connections and a person’s belief in their own success. When we asked how individuals experienced any stigma perceived to be associated with their convictions, one participant shared:

The stigma is real as far as external, but it is also an internal thing, especially as a sex offender. I think we wear the scarlet letter of this generation. And, so, you not only have the felony, but the nature of your felony . . . I think every felon realizes when you’re out the gate now you’re in second prison because of the things you can’t do and the places you can’t go.

Many participants shared that the judgment and rejection from others took, and for some continues to take, a toll on their self-confidence and belief in themselves and, in turn, their willingness and desire to meet new people and connect authentically with them. For example, one participant shared as follows:

Even walking around in churches, people can’t help but look at my tattoos, and it just creates more shame and more shame. . . . But even looking back and processing it, the way family members or other people treat you under the basis of your past can easily cause me to, oh, shut this cell door on myself again.

Similarly, another participant expressed the following:

When you have those kind of people with that kind of thinking, it creates a hostile environment, and it has the potential to make a man or woman who was formerly incarcerated shrink back and not kind of rise to the occasion of wanting to be successful and wanting to be healthy. I should not be looked at according to my past. That should not define who I am, especially if I present myself in a different kind of way.

• Transformation of one’s sense of self from negative to positive relates to having supportive people in their lives who believe in them and help them to believe in themselves. Several individuals noted how their belief and feelings of self-worth changed since being connected with people who expressed a belief in them. When discussing their relationship with their mentor, one participant shared:

She has seen things in me that I did not see in myself coming out. I didn’t feel worthy to be out in society. I thought I was just a horrible human being for losing custody of my kid and for being an addict and all those kind of things. But really what society tells you are, if you’ve been to prison, you have a felony, you’re X, Y, and Z. And then to have somebody tell you that those things aren’t true and that you can be successful in life . . . So, I think that’s really what’s gotten me on the path that I’m on today and have been on since I got out.

Similarly, another participant shared:

Honestly where the turning point was for me was having someone finally tell me that they believed in me, and that I could do it, and that they made all these promises about this life that I could have that was beyond my wildest dreams—that no one had ever in my whole life ever told me that that was possible, And now, all of a sudden, I had this, not just one person, but a team of people with lived experience that had been there.

• Opportunities to grow professionally, such as pursuing education while incarcerated or after their release and securing employment since release, are also transformational for a person’s sense of self and identity. Many participants described feelings of pride for what they have been able to accomplish since their release, such as education and meaningful employment. For example, when asked to share one thing that they are particularly proud of with regard to their reentry experience, one participant had this to say:

One of the things that I’m really proud of is that I’m able to be a facilitator within the parole office as I’m actually still walking my time down with parole. I have been home for nine years. I also do go back in with a program that I was a part of while I was incarcerated. It’s a great honor and privilege to be a part of it.

Many participants never imagined that they would be where they are now. One participant shared:

I wouldn’t have expected myself to be doing the stuff I’m doing today, getting myself ready to get my CADC [Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor] and being a recovery coach working out of the jails and reentry systems, helping the guys. I would’ve thought I would’ve been dead. I actually came close to it. So, yeah, it’s a big help.

Another stated that they were proud to be an adult “for the first time in my life.” One participant shared:

One of the things that I can say that was most helpful in my transition, as far as my training, obtaining two college degrees while being incarcerated, being a social mentor, as well as a teacher while being behind bars, it helped in my transition with jobs. I mean, I came out, hit the ground rolling as far as jobs, and it’s just been successful ever since in my transition.

Another participant has been able to continue finding avenues for growth:

So since I’ve been out, for 19 years, I have an MBA . . . certified family life educator through the National Council of Family Relations. . . . So I have quite a few certifications behind me; . . . I just published my first book last month.