Formerly Incarcerated.
Now that you are released, CRE has powerful services for your successful re-entry!
Stop the revolving door.
This chart shows people being re-arrested by age group. With a plan, you can avoid this revolving door back to jail or prison. Let’s get to work!
Mini Workshops.
How Do I Change?
Change comes in stages. This mini workshop will provide you with a plan for change by studying proven transformational techniques.
The 10 Ups of Reentry.
Learn ten practical tools for building the life that you really want using the 10 Ups of Reentry.
Thinking Like An Employer.
Would you hire you? Exercises for job seekers to truly learn how to think like an employer or business owner.
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.
Preparing for Successful Reentry.
Now that you are released from incarceration the real work begins. These are reminders to help your transition back into the community. If you are serious about never being incarcerated again, you must do the work. It is possible to get out and stay out.
What worked while you were locked up will not work now.
Your surroundings have changed. Your behavior has to change, too. The rules that operate behind the wall will get you in trouble on the outside. You cannot talk to people aggressively, control situations with your fists, or manipulate others to get the things that you want or need.
Things changed while you were away.
Very little changes in daily life behind the wall. By contrast, the outside world changes everyday. The longer you were away, the more things changed. You cannot try to recreate how the world was when you went away. Think of your reentry as a new journey! You have the power to grow and learn as you live in this present moment.
Give yourself time.
There is a tendency to move quickly when you are released. You want to make up for lost time. While this reaction is very normal, it can also set you up for a crash. Pace yourself. Give yourself time to reconnect with family and loved ones, and with your free self.
Leave the street life alone.
If you truly want to stay in the community and not risk returning to incarceration, you must make a conscious decision to leave the street life alone. Maybe your crime was not involving the streets, in that case, you must decide to leave illegal, immoral, or dishonest activities alone. To stay out, you must stay out!
Build the life that you want to have.
You are in a unique season of your life when you are released from incarceration. You can begin to chart a destination that may be totally new to you. This may feel frightening and exhilarating at the same time. The best news is that you have the power to choose and to build the life that you could only dream about while incarcerated. Test your muscles as you begin this new journey.
Work on you.
The final reminder for your successful reentry is to work on you. Do not stop examining yourself and doing an inventory of what is going on in your life. All human beings have multiple parts to them. Work on the whole person that you are. Do not neglect the many parts of you - academic, spiritual, financial, health, emotional, sexual, recreational, etc. Get to know who you are.
CRE is here to help you. Our team of professionals have been where you are right now. Stay connected with us.
