| In a small, white collar suburban community | | | | position her well for a decent job. For more |
| just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah the ex- | | | | than five years, she roughed it through |
| offender we spoke with (he asked us to keep | | | | classes and endless trainings, entering |
| his identity confidential) had been a model | | | | smoke-filled rooms with her oxygen mask |
| citizen, receiving promotion after promotion | | | | blackened to simulate rescue situations and |
| at work, avoiding all negative influences | | | | navigating the Appalachian mountain roads |
| from his prior life, and even started his own | | | | near the prison in a yellow fire truck."Any |
| foundation to assist in the rehabilitation of | | | | of the physical requirements that you had to |
| fellow Federal and State offenders. He was | | | | do" for state licensing, "we were required to |
| released from probation, had moved on in a | | | | do in our classes when we were in Federal |
| world where he would finally be able to be | | | | Custody," says Ms. Owens.She eventually rose |
| productive and could use the skills and tools | | | | to the fire team's top rank of lieutenant, |
| that he learned to assist the less fortunate. | | | | garnering 300 hours of training and 100 hours |
| Life was good..His success hasn't come | | | | at the scenes of actual fires in the towns |
| easily. The light haired 38-year-old is an | | | | outside the prison.In January 2001, President |
| ex-offender who had served in the Federal | | | | Clinton granted her clemency on his last day |
| System for filing a false statement with a | | | | in office after receiving her name from |
| federal bank ( lying on a credit application) | | | | Families Against Mandatory Minimums, a group |
| and for possessing "more that four pictures" | | | | that advocates changes in sentencing laws. |
| of pornography, that in 1998 was considered | | | | See eight years in prison, she left Alderson |
| Illegal. Did we mention that it is still | | | | to stay at her parents' home in Alpharetta, |
| illegal in Utah to have conjuical relations | | | | Ga., confident a fire department in one of |
| with your spouse that involve any type of | | | | Atlanta's booming suburbs would hire her. She |
| "oral interactions"..... or more easily | | | | filled out each job application truthfully, |
| defined as oral sex.Walking out of the famed | | | | noting she was a felon. But state law bars |
| "Club Fed" as members of the media have | | | | hiring former felons.Ms. Mitchell says she |
| called this place of supposed rehabilitation, | | | | offered to "clean hoses, flush the truck, |
| he says that he "made a pact with god, to use | | | | even clean the mess hall" anything to get her |
| all of his talents for the good of mankind" | | | | foot in the door -- all to no |
| and ssince being released from prison over | | | | avail.Eventually, she was able to land a job |
| three years ago, he has struggled with basic | | | | with an organization that trains service dogs |
| necessities that we take for granted, such as | | | | for people with debilitating diseases and |
| finding affordable housing and getting a | | | | injuries. Last year, she moved to Utah and |
| valid state ID card.A single non-custodial | | | | started a catering business with her husband, |
| parent with a steady paying job, he would | | | | who she had met back in high school. The |
| normally be considered a prime candidate for | | | | business didn't take off so they are planning |
| public-housing assistance, but he knows the | | | | to try again next year in her husbands home |
| odds are against him. Local housing rules bar | | | | town of Rigby, Idaho.Many ex-convicts leave |
| ex-felons from living in public housing for | | | | prison wanting to start anew, and the first |
| six years after completing their sentence. | | | | step is often trying to get an education. But |
| But this offender is one of the few that we | | | | while 63% of all undergraduates receive some |
| have spoken to that have the support of a | | | | form of financial aid, money isn't easy to |
| family. "So many ex-offenders have no | | | | come by for ex-felons.Federal law states that |
| knowledge that the life of crime that they | | | | first-time offenders convicted on federal or |
| know CAN come to an end, said Sheila Demarco, | | | | state drug-possession or drug-trafficking |
| a substance abuse advisor in Salt Lake City. | | | | charges are ineligible to receive financial |
| "But having the support of a family who cares | | | | assistance for as long as two years after |
| is becoming a rare commodity" said | | | | their convictions. Completing drug |
| Demarco."In prison, you learn the value of | | | | rehabilitation can cut that time, but such |
| being your word, being respectful and staying | | | | programs can be expensive."I understand their |
| inside the lines" he said, and I really got | | | | concern. A college campus is a perfect place |
| clear on how important family is in ones | | | | to sell drugs, but I also know I can't move |
| life" he said. So, in keeping with the | | | | forward in my life without an education and a |
| commitment that he made to keep his family | | | | good job," says Ms. Wheeler, a former |
| first he decided to do whatever it took to | | | | offender we spoke to who was released last |
| "make it" this time.Now, every month, he | | | | year. She now earns $6 an hour at a The |
| makes the hour-long trek to the local | | | | Training Table, a fast-food restaurant, |
| airport, ready to board a plane, so that he | | | | trying to make ends meet to help support her |
| can visit with his child that lives out of | | | | 1-year-old.For our first subject, finding |
| state. "I have been going to visit my ex and | | | | housing has been the toughest challenge. Upon |
| my child for almost a year now, he said. | | | | being released in 2004 from federal prison, |
| "And I love the way that I feel when I know | | | | he then headed for a halfway house in Salt |
| that I am doing the right things in life."I | | | | Lake City, Utah.Like many prisoners released |
| have to admit, It's one battle after the next | | | | before their sentence is completed, he was |
| -- trying to obtain housing, trying to obtain | | | | required to find a job in 15 days or face the |
| employment," he says. "I want a second | | | | possibility and constant threat of being |
| chance. I want people to see that yes, I have | | | | returned to prison to finish his last six |
| made mistakes, but I am making it right." "I | | | | months. But to get a job, he needed valid |
| know that I can do this, but it is not easy", | | | | identification from the Department of Motor |
| he statedOur subject is one of more than | | | | Vehicles. In Utah, residents need a |
| 630,000 people released each year from | | | | combination of documentation such as bills |
| correctional institutions in the U.S. Not | | | | and voter registration cards that each add up |
| surprisingly, people who have been locked up | | | | to enough cumulative "points" to qualify for |
| for many years, often poorly educated and | | | | a driver's license or nondriver ID.The |
| lacking in financial support, face a range of | | | | ex-inmate we spoke to says that he had a |
| obstacles to re-entering society. Yet some of | | | | federal prisoner ID, a birth certificate and |
| the biggest are put there by federal, state | | | | a Social Security card. Those were not |
| and local governments, including hurdles to | | | | enough. Motor-vehicle personnel asked if he |
| getting student loans, public housing and | | | | had a passport, a bill with his name on it, |
| other forms of government assistance.For | | | | any additional identifiers. "I kept telling |
| years, the thinking among law-enforcement | | | | them that I'd been in prison the last 3 years |
| officials and politicians was that this was | | | | and didn't have any other identification." |
| the price people should pay for breaking the | | | | Eventually he found a sympathetic supervisor |
| law. Now there is an emerging belief that the | | | | who issued him the card.He found a job |
| larger price is being borne by society, since | | | | quickly at a local telemarketing firm, but |
| the practical barriers facing ex-prisoners | | | | switched after a few months to work for a |
| make it more likely that they will slip back | | | | large painting company, where he could use |
| into a life of crime.National Statistics | | | | the construction certificate he'd earned in |
| indicate that two-thirds of ex-felons return | | | | training on the inside.Still, he struggled to |
| to police custody within three years of their | | | | find a cheap yet safe place for he and his |
| release for new crimes or for probation or | | | | daughter. The two are now living in a home |
| parole violations, according to Justice | | | | that was provided for them by a family |
| Department studies. U.S. taxpayers spent $60 | | | | member.The federal government has a small |
| billion on corrections in 2002 at the local, | | | | number of restrictions against ex-felons |
| state and federal levels, up from $9 billion | | | | living in public housing, such as sex |
| two decades earlier. Over that same time | | | | offenders and those who have manufactured |
| frame, corrections (including private prison | | | | methamphetamine in a housing complex. |
| programs) have been the second fastest | | | | However, local housing authorities are able |
| growing government spending category after | | | | to impose their own restrictions on ex-felons |
| health care.Aside from public-housing | | | | living in public housing, and those can be |
| restrictions, many former felons find they | | | | expansive, based upon the local attitude of |
| need special waivers to get licensed in | | | | State Agencies who impose such rules.Howard |
| vocations they learned while serving time. | | | | Harder, spokesman for the Los Angeles City |
| Some find their attempts to get an education | | | | Housing Authority, says there are virtually |
| are stymied by laws barring loans to those | | | | no vacancies in the city in public housing |
| convicted of a crime. Still others can | | | | and with about 136,000 applications pending |
| stumble into technical violations that send | | | | it is unlikely that someone with a felony |
| them back to prison, such as reporting late | | | | record will get in. Besides, ex-felons are |
| for a meeting with a probation officer, | | | | ineligible for public housing for six years |
| submitting a dirty urine sample or failing to | | | | after the completion of their sentence, |
| pay a fine or restitution as required. For | | | | including probation.Until something else |
| those who have completed lengthy sentences, | | | | comes along, he says he'll keep pushing for |
| the most frustrating barrier is also the most | | | | promotions at work. Returning to a life of |
| basic -- getting a legitimate ID card, such | | | | crime and risking a return to prison is not |
| as a driver's license."Having one barrier may | | | | an option, he says: "I don't have another 3 |
| not be considered that big a deal," says | | | | years to give to anyone."Copyright 2006- |
| Anthony Gerry, director of the prisoner | | | | Robert Paisola- All Rights ReservedFor |
| re-entry institute at the Washington | | | | Additional Information see Author, Robert |
| Institute of Criminal Justice in Washington | | | | Paisola, donates his time and resources on a |
| DC. Usually, though, offenders face several | | | | worldwide basis to support the reformation of |
| barriers, he says, adding: "You can't get | | | | criminal offenders and to ease the re-entry |
| housing, you have child support" payments to | | | | process for ex offenders. He established a |
| make, "you can't get ID and no one will hire | | | | foundation to assist in this effort. His |
| you. When looked at in full, that sends a | | | | work and dedication to this cause have |
| signal: You're not wanted." said GerryAfter | | | | resulted in many forms of recognition, |
| years of pushing for tougher sentences, | | | | however, as Robert put's it "It is not about |
| politicians in Washington are now starting to | | | | me" It is about the thousands of inmates that |
| rethink their approach. The Second Chance | | | | we assist each year around the world, to end |
| Act, hammered out by a bipartisan group of | | | | the revolving door of recidivism.If you are |
| lawmakers and introduced in Congress last | | | | in need of specialized motivational training |
| year, would have provided more than $80 | | | | to the inmates, former inmates or drug |
| million in grants for programs to help | | | | rehabilitation patients that you supervise, |
| ex-offenders re-enter society.Lacie Mitchell | | | | Robert Paisola is the person to bring in to |
| might have benefited from a key part of the | | | | visit with your clients. He will PROVE that |
| legislation: a provision ensuring that | | | | there CAN BE and IS a different way of |
| ex-offenders can be licensed in occupations | | | | living. Seminars are also available for a |
| they trained for in prison.Ms. Mitchell was | | | | nominal fee to work with Supervising Staff, |
| determined to learn a skill so that she could | | | | Jail Personnel and Federal Agencies including |
| get a job when she left the Federal Bureau of | | | | the Federal Bureau of Prisons.Does This Work? |
| Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution, in | | | | email for additional booking |
| West Virginia, a women's prison made famous | | | | informationRobert Paisola is driven by a |
| recently for housing Martha Stewart.In 1993, | | | | passion for people--motivating them to reach |
| Ms. Mitchell, who had just finished her | | | | for the highest standards of success. As |
| sophomore year at Santa Rosa Junior College | | | | founder and president of many International |
| in Northern California, obtained LSD for her | | | | Corporations, Robert trains sales and |
| ex-boyfriend and mailed it to him in Georgia. | | | | marketing professionals who want to strive to |
| He was caught and cooperated with authorities | | | | get to the top...and stay there.Routinely |
| against those he had enlisted to secure | | | | Distinguished by The National Speakers Forum, |
| drugs. He was sentenced to two years while | | | | Robert is also a regular contributor to |
| she received 10.Ms. Mitchell, now 32 years | | | | Business Week Magazine, CNN, CNNFN, XM |
| old, joined the prison's all-women | | | | Satellite Radio, The Wall Street Journal, |
| fire-fighting team, a group that provides | | | | Telemundo International, National Public |
| fire protection for the prison and backup for | | | | Radio and many other organizations. |
| other local fire squads. She figured it would | | | | |