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