Leaving the doors of a prison can in some ways introduce more fear than the initial entrance. 

This can be especially true for those who entered decades ago, or even in their youth.  There are countless barriers for former inmates as they attempt to re-integrate back into society as an independent, and they often have no idea where to begin.  There are many barriers that specifically the women at Rachel's House with Lower Lights Ministries face after being released.  These barriers often entail lack of stable housing opportunities, job security, healthy relationships, medical services, essential belongings, etc. Our hope is that all who support LLM could gain a greater understanding of what barriers our participants face, and hopefully invite a deeper sense of compassion and drive to action! If they are statistically destined to plummet, it is critical someone intervene. 

Transition

Culture Shock

The reality of prison is agonizing.  It is hard for those who only imagine it as a distant place to empathize with those recovering from their experience, but incarceration itself can be traumatic.  The transition can be extremely difficult, especially if you've accustomed to prison culture and its ways of survival.  Re-entering society can include immense culture shock, depending on the amount of time spent incarcerated, because it is possible that the world has shifted much since they last left society. Their schedules and daily rhythms have completely shifted to fit prison norms, and disconnecting from those patterns can feel difficult & foreign.  These women have naturally developed a way of living, often in survival, that isn't transferable to the outside world.  And shouldn’t be! 

Loss

By the time our women are released, they have likely lost quite a multitude of things.  Everything from health insurance, a potentially expired drivers license, or even simply a place to sleep at night.  It is also possible that they've lost certain voting, travel, or custody rights.  This can include the potential access to certain job and housing opportunities.  There truly is a deep sense of starting over. 

Challenges

Stable Housing & Employment

One of the first barriers is a stable housing opportunity.  It is common for family or previous roommates to have cut relational ties due to the situation that led to incarceration in the beginning, or it has been so long that these relationships have simply dissipated.  Job security is the next battle. Most employers will hire someone with no criminal record over a former inmate which makes their attempt to rebuild a life a lot more frustrating and seemingly impossible.  Fair chance employers do exist, but they’re harder to come by.  It’s already difficult to prove yourself in interview processes, but these women have a dense extra layer of breaking stereotypes. 

Medical

Physical health statistically declines throughout incarceration.  This is due to a combination of factors, but it's often due to the women being under intense stress and lacking proper nutrition, which is more than enough to lead to a general health decline.  In a likely poorer state upon release, considering that they might have not even been doing well prior to imprisonment, former inmates are left with the task of locating and accessing care from local care providers.  Setting up these appointments can be extremely difficult to manage without a computer or phone, which is a common predicament.

There are many visible battles in managing life after prison, but often the challenges of the mind are overlooked and neglected.  More commonly, we see a more rapid decline in mental health status during incarceration.  We can not forget that the prison experience is likely very painful, and the residue of that hurt carries with them, and it will build if not tended to. It’s possible they’ve endured abuse, intense anxiety or depression, negligence, or at minimum, intense loneliness.  In leaving prison, they’re often very preoccupied with survival in obtaining employment, housing, food, etc.  This can result in a negligence of mental health that continues its decline and increases their inability to maintain relationships, interview for jobs, search for housing, or make necessary appointments, further digging them into a pit.  We then see the cyclical tendencies of imprisonment show itself through survival coping and re-offending through more petty crimes such as stealing food, unlicensed driving, drug acquirement, etc.  Mental health treatment needs to be a priority when leaving prison. 

Relational

Debatably the most emotionally taxing barrier is the relational strain most experience during and after their incarceration.   Families take a massive hit when one of their members is absent.  Spouses' likelihood of divorce skyrockets, custody of children is jeopardized, and the family unit dynamic suffers.  This is one less parent to provide care for children or income for the household, and oftentimes there isn’t one left to tend to these duties.  It's common for intense poor emotions to be held towards the incarcerated individual for the relational strain they’ve caused a family unit, which can make returning all the more damaging.  Even if no grudges are kept, there is still time lost in watching your kids grow up, missing out on significant family events, losing a sense of closeness, etc. 

These struggles come on top of stifling social stigma that can hinder community & true sense of belonging. It can greatly taint any attempts of social reintegration post-incarceration.  Prison associations can invite judgment and bring a sense of shame to whatever network a former inmate attempts to engage.  This is hard to bypass, but certainly not impossible.

Coping/Cyclical Nature

All of these barriers are a lot to cope with, and can additionally invite the struggle of destructive coping mechanisms through substance abuse, toxic relationships, etc. Former inmates need proper guidance on how to healthily cope with hardship and navigate the societal systems that are second nature to most of us, because we likely had someone to show us, but we can assume that many of them do not. 

There is Hope

Looking at all of the barriers introduced after prison, it is easy to feel a sense of hopelessness with them, but individuals coming out of prison are not hopeless at all.  At Lower Lights there are countless stories of redemption.  One program graduate says “I had fears of employment, interviews, and getting my license.  I'm not sure why I feared anything because since I've been in prison God has always provided and made the impossible possible.”  She continues to comment on the faithfulness of God in saying that “He has walked with me and opened the doors in His timing.”  A powerful testimony of defied odds and perseverance.  It is true that these individuals can be some of the most traumatized and vulnerable members of society, and though they can not do it alone, healing is possible.

So what can you do now?

We’re talking about these barriers because the power of understanding can lead to powerful compassion and action!  If direct involvement with our Rachel’s House program through volunteering or donation is not in your immediate capacity or interest, simply commit to hosting a posture of compassion towards this demographic in thought, deed, and speech.  Dignify them!  

Restoration is more than possible, and we are so thankful to have such a wide group of people helping us with our mission to see more women experience healing!  It is our hope that with this series you are given a deeper understanding into just how hard it is to begin again, but just how possible it is with the right care.

Follow this link to support: https://www.lowerlights.org/rachels-house