Families & Loved Ones.
Family members are deeply impacted when their loved ones are incarcerated. CRE understands this and provides meaningful support for the whole family.
Live Events.
The Experience.
A powerful simulation activity that helps families to understand the trauma of incarceration. Formerly incarcerated men and their loved ones will learn the best ways to support one another by understanding other points of view.
Believe In Your Wings.
Inspirational workshop using creative activities to explore coping and thriving through writing.
Show Your Child The Star They Are!
Family scrapbooking workshop to encourage family literacy, teach scrapbooking skills, and build positive school memories.
Check the events page for all upcoming CRE events.
Online Community.
Success IS in My Story.
Our Facebook group provides encouragement and a supportive community. Loved ones of the incarcerated are warmly welcomed.
Monthly Book Club.
Live book club discussion and uplifting conversation is held every Third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 via zoom. The club reads “Embracing Your Story” by Coach Smedley, a book about overcoming adversity and hopelessness. A motivational guest book reviewer leads the discussion each month.
Understanding the Effects of Incarceration.
Being incarcerated is a traumatic event. This series of questions and responses will help you to better understand what your loved one faces after being released.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Why won’t they just take any job?
There are several reasons for this. If they are used to making lots of money, it is embarrassing to be seen taking a little entry level job. Also, going through the interview process is often humiliating for returning citizens! They can experience extreme feelings of rejection. They may feel like “I’m not even good enough to get a job in fast food.” This is very hard on one’s self-esteem, especially when they are desperately in need of a job and income. Most of us avoid situations that make us feel like that.
Why are they so unmotivated?
First of all, you cannot measure a person’s motivation, you can only observe their actions. When our loved ones come home, life has suddenly sped up, got demanding, and can quickly become overwhelming. In addition to this, they may feel lost and confused about how to help themselves. Add to that the pressure from family and friends to “get your life together” can have negative effects on anyone. They may be depressed, discouraged, or a number of destructive emotions.
Why are they so aggressive?
Your loved one has just lived in a hostile environment. Life behind the wall is often about survival, on a daily basis. Imagine waking up every morning and not knowing if you will have to fight or kill someone who comes at you? Soldiers who have seen combat are a close comparison. The difference is that the soldier signed up for military service; our loved one does not want to be incarcerated. The longer they were incarcerated will determine how long it takes to adjust on the outside.
To be blunt, some old friends and family members are too risky to be around! Especially if your loved one is on parole or probation. One traffic stop in the wrong person’s car can mean that they return to incarceration without having a new charge. The old life is what got them incarcerated. Please understand that your loved one will have to find a “new way of life” in order to avoid getting sent back.
They act like they are too good for their old friends, family members, etc. What’s that about?
Why do they stay in their room, or isolate themselves?
Your loved one existed on a strict schedule while inside. They also probably shared a cell with someone, a stranger, who may have been very different (messy, mentally ill, violent, etc). They are searching for peace. Give them time to adjust. They are just trying to find the way back to some kind of normal life on the outside.
Why do they spend so much time grooming themselves?
Depending on the facility, your loved ones' access to personal care may have been limited. Something as small as a haircut may have been denied to them due to lack of resources, guards playing games, or other uncomfortable scenarios. For some, staying in shape and meticulous personal grooming was all that they could control while being confined. Allow them time, space and support to look and feel their best.