9 Steps to Support Your Loved One’s Reentry

Reentering society after incarceration can involve many changes at once. Finding a place to live, looking for work, reconnecting with family, managing finances, and adjusting to new responsibilities can all take time. Having a supportive person in their corner can make the process feel more manageable.

Support can begin well before release. The Federal Bureau of Prisons notes that release preparation begins on the first day of incarceration, with more intensive preparation taking place as release approaches.

If someone you care about is preparing to return home, there are several ways you can support your loved one’s reentry.

1. Start Planning While They’re Still Incarcerated

Reentry planning does not have to wait until release day. If your loved one has a release date, start talking about what they will need before they leave.

Depending on their circumstances, this discussion may include identification documents, transportation, housing, employment, medical care, education, finances, and supervision requirements. Ask what they have already arranged and where they still need help.

To further support your loved one’s reentry, you can also encourage them to think through practical questions. Where will they stay? How will they get to work or appointments? What will their first few days look like? Having conversations about these topics ahead of time can help everyone understand what to expect.

2. Ask What Kind of Support They Actually Want

Supporting someone does not mean making decisions for them. Before jumping in, ask your loved one what they need and what kind of help would be useful.

One person may need help finding a job, while another may primarily need transportation, a place to stay, or someone who will listen. Their priorities may also change as their release date gets closer.

Approach the process as a partnership. To best support your loved one’s reentry, you can offer assistance without assuming that you know what is best for them.

3. Help Create a Stable Place to Live

Housing can be one of the most immediate concerns after incarceration. If your loved one will be living with you, talk about expectations before they arrive.

Discuss practical matters such as household responsibilities, finances, transportation, privacy, and visitors. If living together is not an option, you may be able to help them research other housing possibilities.

Avoid leaving major questions unresolved until the day of release, if possible. A clear plan can make the transition less stressful for everyone involved.

4. Help With Employment and Career Planning

Finding work can be an important part of rebuilding stability after incarceration. You can support your loved one’s reentry by helping them identify potential employers, format their résumé, practice interviewing, or look into career training.

The U.S. Department of Labor supports reentry programs that connect formerly incarcerated individuals with occupational training, employment services, mentoring, and other forms of support.

You do not necessarily need to find a job for your loved one. Practical support such as helping them research opportunities or providing transportation to an interview can be incredibly useful.

5. Help Them Connect With Community Resources

Your loved one may need more support than family and friends can provide. Look for organizations and programs in their community that offer reentry services, employment assistance, housing support, education, counseling, or other resources.

The Department of Labor’s reentry programs, for example, include services such as case management, occupational skills training, employment assistance, mentoring, and follow-up support.

You can help by researching available programs, making a list of contact information, or helping your loved one reach out. Having someone to assist with the first steps can make it easier to navigate unfamiliar systems.

6. Support Family Relationships

Incarceration can affect entire families. If your loved one has children, a partner, parents, or other close relatives, reestablishing those relationships may take time.

Encourage honest communication while respecting everyone’s boundaries. Children in particular may need time to adjust to having a parent at home again. Family members may also have complicated feelings about the person’s return.

7. Encourage Healthy Routines

A consistent daily routine can provide structure. Support your loved one’s reentry by encouraging healthy rhythms and routines for work, school, appointments, exercise, family responsibilities, and rest.

You can also participate in healthy activities together. Something as simple as sharing a meal, taking a walk, or helping with a household project can provide an opportunity for connection.

8. Respect Their Independence

One of the most important ways to support your loved one’s reentry is to allow them to take ownership of their new life.

You can provide encouragement, resources, transportation, financial help, or a place to stay when appropriate. But your loved one ultimately needs opportunities to make decisions, solve problems, and build confidence in their ability to manage life outside of incarceration.

Support should create a foundation for independence rather than replace it.

9. Remember That Reentry Is a Process

Reentry is not a single event that happens when someone walks out of a correctional facility. It is an ongoing process of adjusting to life in the community and working toward greater stability.

Blackstone’s Reentry Guide: Navigating Life After Incarceration provides additional guidance for individuals preparing to make that transition. Reading through the guide together may give you and your loved one ideas for conversations and areas that need attention.

The most helpful thing you can do to support your loved one’s reentry is to see what their needs are. Ask questions, listen, offer practical assistance when you can, and adjust your support as circumstances change.

Supporting a loved one’s reentry can sometimes feel overwhelming, but you do not have to solve every problem yourself. There are many resources created to help your loved one with their reentry process. By helping with planning, connecting your loved one with resources, encouraging healthy routines, and providing practical support, you can help create a stronger foundation for their return to the community.

 

Written by Adam Wernham