Transition Support

People recently released from prison have a daunting transition to make.

Walking away from prison and successfully returning to a family and community is just the first step in re-starting a former felon’s life.  Most are faced with overwhelming challenges ranging from finding employment and securing housing, to paying restitution or fines, and developing and restoring relationships. Central to all of that, and too often overlooked, is developing and sustaining self-confidence and a positive outlook.

Families, friends and supporters also assist a former inmate’s multi-faceted transition while they undergo their own changes.

Society changes, and we can affect that transition...fashion is proof of this.   Let's co-create positive change! 

While you may get frustrated, take a breath and remember you are on a tough journey. We are all in some kind of transition all the time.  After all, the only constant is change.

   We do not always choose our situation,

    ....but we always choose our attitude.

From Prison to Society

Use our Resource Directory to find of assistance near you!

Specified support for Veterans, Alter-abled, Elders and Homeless

Fair Shake pages that offer transition tips:

Family and Friends:

Considerations for those who are very close to a returning inmate’s transition

Culture Shock:

We expect former inmates to get right back into the swing of things when they are released. But do those of us outside understand the challenges and difficulties in adjusting from being incarcerated to rejoining society?  Life in prison, in many ways, functions opposite to life on the outside.

Reentry Toolkit:

Checklists, forms, tips to reenter the workforce and society.

Fair Shake Member Area:

exclusive to former felons Free virtual office that can be accessed from any computer! In addition to email, data storage and a personal resource directory, members can create a personal web page to use as supplement to employment or housing applications. Instructional tutorials are also available.

Volunteer Page:

Meet new people! Feel important and vital! Volunteering is a great way to connect to others, expand skills and prove reintegration intentions.

Information Center:

Multimedia page: video, audio and print stories of transition

Reentry Tips

Reentry can be both exciting and frustrating!  Our attitude toward release from prison is that it should be a simple matter of getting resettled, resuming routines, and reestablishing your relationships; but reality proves there is much more to it than that. Here is a list of tips to consider that can help you go through the transition process.

Reentry Tips

Culture Shock sample

We expect former inmates to get right back into the swing of things when they are released.

We assume they are ready, that just serving time is enough to consider the impact of their crime and make plans for reentry success. But do those of us outside of prison really understand the challenges of prison life, and the difficulties faced in adjusting from being incarcerated to rejoining society? Life in prison, in many ways, functions opposite to life on the outside.

To appreciate some of the cultural challenges a newly released prisoner has, consider just a few of the examples from our Culture Shock page. Culture Shock sample

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An important step for successful reentry is building relationships, but former felons have an extra difficult hurdle here. The difference between prison relationships and making friends in society is pretty extreme! With extra understanding on both sides, however, we can all help smooth out the transition by recognizing and addressing challenges.

Former felons and people who have never been to prison will understandably struggle with offering trust to each other. Some people will want to try to build a relationship with a former felon and find they just can’t. Their fear is too strong, and everyone must respect that. But for most people, starting a relationship with a former felon - whether socially or at work – is like any other relationship.

We learn about others while we learn about ourselves. As in our other relationships, trust is created little by little as we become more comfortable with ourselves, with the other person, and the environment we share when we meet.

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