HOW PRISON CHANGE PEOPLE
Seek To Understand, Not To Deny – Prison Has Side-Effects
Longer and harsher prison sentences can mean that system-impact citizens’ personalities will be changed in ways that make their reintegration difficult. Day after day, year after year, imagine having no space to call your own, no choice over who to be with, what to eat, or where to go. There is threat and suspicion everywhere. Love or even a gentle touch can be difficult to find. You are separated from family and friends.
For many, if they are going to cope, confined to that environment, they have no option but to change and adapt. What happens when they come home?
Leaving prison isn’t as simple as walking out the back gate and returning to the life you had before. For many, jobs have been lost, relationships have been harmed, and living situations have changed. You may not have a social network, financial support, insurance, or the resources needed to secure a job, find a home, meet with a therapist, or reconnect with the community.
When released from prison, system-impacted citizens face numerous psychological challenges, including stigma, discrimination, isolation, and instability. This can lead to devastating outcomes, like failed relationships, homelessness, substance abuse, recidivism, overdose, and suicide.
Individuals who end up in prison can be some of the most vulnerable or traumatized members of society, and the prison experience is traumatic. In some ways, the entire family is incarcerated or, at the very least, deeply affected.
Without a support system and the resources needed to reintegrate into the community, recently system-impacted citizens will experience harmful mental health effects.
For many, the painful experiences of incarceration are hard to forget and can have lasting mental health effects. You may have endured solitary confinement, abuse, deprivation, harsh living conditions, and elevated stress and anxiety levels. You may have also adapted to life inside prison, adjusting your schedule, routines, and behaviors to fit the norms, which suddenly change upon release.
While an extreme example, the infamous experience of Kalief Browder sheds light on some of these difficulties. Browder spent three years in Rikers Island awaiting trial, including two years in solitary confinement. After his release, he struggled with mental health issues and ultimately took his own life.
No matter your situation, adjusting to life after prison is difficult and requires ongoing support.
Some of the most common mental health conditions faced by recently released prisoners include:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Post-Incarceration Syndrome (PICS)
- Substance abuse
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Mania
Incarceration changes a family dynamic, and reconnecting with loved ones will challenge system-impacted citizens. Those in intimate partnerships also face hardships, such as the increased risk of divorce.
If a relationship survives incarceration, the dynamic likely won’t be the same. They may no longer know their place in the family, how to handle the addition of new people in their lives, or how to establish new expectations.
They may feel the pressure to secure a job and provide for their family but lack the resources, education, or skills to do so, which puts pressure on the relationship and adds stress and anxiety to their life.
Policy changes, criminal justice reform, and reentry programs must be established to ensure that recently released system-impacted citizens stay out of prison and are mentally healthy while ensuring they access the services they need.
Transitioning from prison to rehabilitation will require an ongoing change at the national, state, and local levels. While many service providers offer housing, work-release programs, and case management at halfway houses at the national, state, and local levels, the healthcare and prison systems need to work more closely to support system-impacted citizens. Compared to many other countries, our prison system is more punitive and less focused on mental health or rehabilitation.
A Word From The Founder Of Wife After Prison
Without legislative changes, federal programs, or criminal justice interventions, thousands of individuals are released yearly without proper care. This exacerbates existing mental health problems, raises the rate of recidivism, and puts many system-impacted citizens in harm’s way.
Challenges facing recently released citizens include, but are not limited to: Gaps in treatment, lack of support, stigma, and challenging life circumstances. If we want system-impacted citizens to thrive, we cannot ostracize them. When they become functioning community members, they are more likely to contribute and less likely to re-offend. Additionally, we must make it easier for these citizens to participate in community-wide activities that promote healthy behaviors.
If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health, substance abuse, or experiencing suicidal ideation after being released from prison, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see SAMHSA’s National Helpline.
A Message For Returning Citizens
Reentry won’t be easy, but you can thrive outside of prison. Don’t be afraid to ask for support, whether seeking professional health or support groups. Utilize social services in your area and take full advantage of halfway houses, rehabilitation services, and job training classes, among other programs. Whatever you do, don’t isolate yourself. There can be no rehabilitation without socialization. Welcome home!
System-Impacted Citizen Mantra
My past will not poison my future. My future will not pay for my past.