SADO’s Project Reentry is dedicated to supporting individuals transitioning from incarceration back into society, offering resources and guidance on the reentry process. This new column aims to provide valuable knowledge and guidance from the Reentry team, highlighting the critical work they are doing to support individuals transitioning from incarceration back into society. We hope readers will gain insight into challenges faced by returning citizens and the strategies used to overcome them, fostering a more informed and supportive community.

In the criminal legal system, reentry is still a fairly new concept. Evidence-based practices, measures of success, and key performance indicators for successful reentry are sparse. But over the last several decades, in every corner of the criminal legal system, proper reentry planning has proven to be a worthwhile and transformational investment. Whether it is saving taxpayer dollars on the high costs of incarceration, or the truly holistic rehabilitation of returning citizens in our community, everyone has a stake in reducing our prison and jail population.

For those serving long sentences like so many clients we have in SADO’s Juvenile Lifer Unit, coming home can be daunting. Not only does a person navigate a new, modern world with cell phones, kiosks, and budgeting; they also navigate trauma, mental health, and new approaches to self-care. That’s why reentry starts now—how old habits change, how new behaviors take shape even while someone is still serving their sentence, and how rehabilitation can then become the most compelling argument for freedom.

When the litigation ends and the attorney’s case is closed, a client’s story is far from over. And in most cases, clients must tell their stories once again in front of the Parole Board. We know that there are critical components of reentry to speak about in front of the Parole Board—including housing, employment, transportation, and family reunification—but ultimately, de-programming an institutional mindset requires some emotional heavy lifting. While the opportunities to reflect on one’s own mental health and well-being may feel distant during incarceration, those moments of reflection will also guide clients towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Mental health and self-care must be at the forefront of a client’s reentry journey, and that looks different for each person experiencing this transition. Through peer mentorship, counseling, or simply finding safe spaces to share the collective experience of coming home, it is critical to acknowledge how far a person has come, and how bright their future can be.

In the coming months, the team at SADO’s Project Reentry will be exploring different aspects of reentry planning here, including some of the challenges and successes that we have seen firsthand. We welcome thoughts, topics, and questions related to reentry, so feel free to reach out any time. For more information about Project Reentry, you can contact Anna Kohn, Reentry and Parole Team Lead, by emailing akohn@sado.org or by calling (313) 420-2955.

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