Friday, April 26, 2019

Resources For Exoffenders, Family And Friends

By Elizabeth Hill


Having a loved one in jail or prison can often be difficult. For, visiting hours are often limited to one or two hours per week. Whereas, loved ones are not always prepared for all that goes on once the individual is released. With this in mind, there are several organizations which have published information in this area, including eight ways loved ones can help as well as a list of resources for exoffenders.

The eight ways to help a loved one in this way include understanding any restrictions placed on the individual by the court, saving money, restructuring the relationship, locating potential food banks, churches and support groups and assisting in the loved one's job search while talking with children associated with the exoffender. If in the process, the individual violates parole or probation, loved ones need to report such behavior to the parole officer immediately.

When it comes to parole and probation, most individuals have these conditions as a stipulation of release. These can often include, electronic monitoring, community service, drug and alcohol tests, a mandatory job search, geographic travel limitations and curfew. One of the best ways to assure these requirements are met is for a loved one to develop a relationship with the individual's parole officer. For, if there were to be a violation, the officer can inform the family.

Saving money towards a loved one's release can often be extremely helpful once the individual is released. For, depending on how long the individual has been incarcerated, it can often take a long time before the individual can readjust to life on the outside. As a result, the more help loved ones can provide in the way of cash, housing and transportation will often contribute to the ex-offender's success against violations of parole or probation and future offenses.

If able to support a loved one in this manner, it is important to make known that the help is only short-term and conditional upon efforts to find a job and a place to live without violating any conditions of the release. Otherwise, it is important to stop providing such support, as doing so could potentially have negative effects on the exoffender, the loved one or the overall relationship.

Loved ones often become extremely excited before the release of an incarcerated family member or friend. In most cases, the loved ones are envisioning a reality as it was before the individual went to jail or prison. For individuals only in jail for a short time, things may not have changed. Whereas, for those whom have been incarcerated for long periods of time, rebuilding trusting relationships can often be difficult.

With regards to an exoffender's needs in the future, loved ones can be very helpful when it comes to seeking out support groups, churches, talking with children, counseling and other services. Although, depending on circumstance, counselors can often provide better resources when it comes to finding the right church or support group. Whereas, loved ones are often more effective when it comes to talking to children associated with an exoffender.

In most cases, there are also a number of websites which can provide a list of services for exoffenders in the local area. For example, information on how to find a job after prison, resume writing courses, how to ace an interview and ten companies which will provide second chance jobs to those with a limited criminal record. Whereas, there are other programs directed toward community service work, emotional and physical health and volunteering.




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