Inmate re-entry topic of forum
Not enough help is available to inmates once they’re released from prison, according to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The state agency, along with the NAACP and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, held a forum at Morning Star Baptist Church, 1014 East Pine Street, Saturday to talk about solutions.
“The ODOC releases almost 8,000 inmates or offenders a year. Those 8,000 offenders, they go home,” said Reginald Hines, a deputy director with the DOC.
Hines is working on a strategy to help inmates transition from prison to society.
David Greasham will be making that transition next year.
“I’m in prison right now for possession of stolen property,” said Greasham. “I was stealing to support a drug habit.”
Greasham has already served four years. He knows inmates, like himself, face an uphill battle re-entering the community.
“We need housing, we need jobs, we need family support, community support,” Greasham said.
More resources are needed to provide that help. Hines says, successful re-entry impacts everyone.
“Makes it safer for the state of Oklahoma, safer for the offender and safer for the offenders’ families and the communities.”
Plus, inmates are less likely to end up back in prison. The challenge now is developing a network of support that ensures they get help.
Reported by: Krista Flasch
Email: flasch@kjrh.com
Last Update: 8/15 2:54 pm
Comments
By Shelly Lagos on September 25th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Hi… We have been trying unseccessfully in finding help, housing or even a job for our 23 year old son who was convicted of a sexual assault, although the girl he was seeing was 17 and he was 19, he now falls under this category, of a pedifile or however it is spelt…
We live in Southern California and he needs to stay in Orange County, CA unless he can get a transfer, which I understand can be difficult to get…
Do you know of any programs here in Souther California?? We have only found one and he was on a waiting list, but we think we need more options and get him on more waiting lists…
Please help, I dont know where to look for information like this. I have a 3″ binder full of information, however all those resources, I have reached a dead end….
Any help would be appreciated….
Thank You
Shelly Lagos
949-606-4125