Unlocking Social Capital
7 Ways You Can Help the Formerly Incarcerated Rebuild Their Lives
The food and beverage director of the country club was crying. The staff manager looked like he might too. "Corporate just sent an email saying we can't have felons on the dining room team," he said over a lump in his throat. "We have to let you go."
Castro closed his eyes. He'd been upfront about the 12.5 years he'd spent in prison throughout the entire interview process. When everyone assured him it was no problem, he submitted his notice to a prior employer, turned down a different job, and accepted the bartending position he'd been offered at the country club.
He took all the shifts he could get over the next two weeks, consistently going above and beyond for his colleagues and the dining room’s guests. Everyone considered him an outstanding hire—everyone except the country club's executives, whom he’d never met.
This wasn't the first time Castro had been barred from something because of his past. He'd also been rejected from 12 apartment complexes, all of which had been more than happy to accept his $45 application payment.
Castro turned in his apron, thanked his superiors for the opportunity, and went back to his job hunt, back to his search for housing, back to what felt like square one.
The Problem
Over 600,000 people are released from state and federal prisons annually1, some of whom were locked up for crimes they didn't commit, most of whom are poor or low income2, and almost all of whom face challenges just like Castro's. Folks with criminal records have few legal protections when it comes to employment3 and housing4. Many can’t get driver’s licenses5, and in some states, those with drug charges are also denied access to food stamps and federal cash assistance for months, years, or even life. 6
If you enter prison without much money or support and you leave only to find you can't drive, get food, put a roof over your head, or land a decent paying job, you're effectively forced to support yourself via extra legal means. Thus, rates of recidivism stay high7 and prison's "revolving door"8 whips around on its axle, dragging whole communities into vicious cycles of poverty, crime, and incarceration that are almost impossible to escape.
This churning nightmare isn't just bad for prisoners. It also takes a huge toll on their families, their communities, and all of society. At any one time, millions of people living in the U.S. are behind bars9, which means they're shut out of the workforce and separated from their children. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, "The system of mass incarceration costs the government and families of justice-involved people at least $182 billion every year."10
How You Can Help
Given that a combination of policy failure, systemic racism, and entrenched inequity are behind this devastating problem, is there anything little old you can do about it?
"Absolutely," commented Jackie Latek, executive director of The SPARC Foundation, an Asheville, NC based organization that strengthens the well-being and personal freedom of people in need. "The first and most important thing you can do is educate yourself about the realities of mass incarceration and reentry in this country."
1. Learn about the social determinants of crime.
Many hear "felon" or "criminal" and immediately think, "dangerous," but the truth is: Most folks wind up in prison because the collective forces of poverty, discrimination, and untreated mental health challenges pushed them into making a mistake. Or becoming someone's scapegoat. Wrongful convictions are heartbreakingly common, and, like everything incarceration-related, affect Black and Brown folks at disproportionately high rates.11
But even if someone was rightfully convicted, listen to their story before you judge them. Think about whether, in their shoes, you realistically would have done anything different. Think about whether, in your shoes, you've ever needed someone to give you a second chance.
By reading "Unlocking Social Capital," you're already getting a jump on this recommendation. You can learn more by checking out the sources referenced throughout, tuning into this month's By Little podcast episodes, and keeping your eyes peeled for our second essay on the subject, arriving on September 6th. Since a large majority of prisoners are in state facilities (88% in 2019),12 we also encourage you to do some research on policy related to incarceration and reentry in your state.
2. Talk about reentry with folks in your community.
According to a report by the Brookings Institution, "The stigma of a criminal record is one of the most important and well-documented barriers to successful reentry and reintegration."13 You can help reduce this stigma by having conversations with your friends and family members about the social determinants of crime, the discrimination justice-involved folks face, and the relationship between barriers to reentry and recidivism.
Then, ask your HR director, your boss, your landlord—anyone you know who's some kind of gatekeeper—what their protocols are regarding applicants with criminal records. If they respond with “rejection,” try sharing some of the information and sources included here to help them rethink that. The more awareness cultivated around the machine of mass incarceration, the better equipped we'll all be to disassemble it.
3. Give someone an opportunity.
After Castro was let go from the country club, he went back to the employer whose job offer he'd turned down. This restaurant owner was sympathetic towards Castro's predicament and promised to hire him when a full-time role opened up, which he did. Having secured a stable job, Castro then visited a 13th apartment complex. Just like always, he told the property manager he’d been to prison. But unlike always, this guy was willing to give him a shot.
Castro has proven to be an exceptional employee and tenant ever since. What’s more, as soon as he got his feet underneath him, he turned right back around to help other justice-involved people do the same. He currently works with SPARC and Operation Gateway, another Asheville-based nonprofit, to help reduce recidivism. "Folks reentering society are some of the most hardworking, mission-driven people you've ever met," said Latek. “They want to do good in their communities.”
If you're an employer, give the formerly incarcerated a chance. Chances are, you'll be glad you did. And if you've got property you're leasing, get to know people before you turn them away. Also, consider how much you really need to make from your rentals. "I know we're all trying to keep our heads above water, but if you can lower your rates or even accept government checks, you can make housing, an essential prerequisite for upward mobility, more accessible to those rebuilding their lives," commented Latek.
4. Share your skills.
You don't need to be an employer or a landlord to have something of value to offer the formerly incarcerated. Know how to write? Start a business? Fix cars? Code? If you have any skills you could teach someone to help them get a job, partner with a local nonprofit to do just that. This goes for basic tech know-how too.
“Think about what you wouldn't understand if you lived in a hole for 10, 20, 30 years," said Latek. Something as simple as explaining QR codes, SEO, VR, and AI—the alphabet soup du jour—or showing someone around Google Docs can make it a lot easier for them to navigate today's world.
5. Give someone a lift.
So can volunteering to give someone a lift. "When I first got out of prison, I was lucky enough to have a friend who drove me around town so I could get groceries, clothes, open a bank account, that sort of thing. Because of them, I had something to wear to job interviews and a means of saving up for my first apartment," said Castro.
The first few weeks of reintegration are crucial. Not only is this the time that folks meet with parole officers, but it’s also when they need to be laying a solid foundation of mental, physical, and financial health. If you have a car, an hour or two to spare, and you know someone reentering society, ask if you can run some errands with them. If you have a car and time but don’t personally know anyone who needs a ride, contact local organizations serving the formerly incarcerated. They’ll connect you with someone you can help.
6. Join a nonprofit board or committee.
More of a behind-the-scenes person? You could help a nonprofit reach folks in need by joining its board or serving on one of its committees. "Many social impact organizations need HR, legal, financial, operations, marketing, and business development support to continue the intensive work of serving vulnerable populations,” said Latek. If you have experience in any of these fields, nonprofits need you.
7. Make some connections.
The U.S. is a nation of parallel universes. There's the universe where people have access to educational opportunities, good job prospects, etc. And then there's the universe where people don't. If you operate in the former, inviting a justice-involved person into your network by making an introduction can unlock an invaluable resource for them: social capital.
You can do this formally via email or at a networking event, or informally by inviting them to social gatherings and group activities. One connection can make a massive difference. Whether it leads to employment opportunities or a new friendship, nothing has a greater impact on quality of life than relationships.
However you decide to help someone reentering society, don't wait for them to come to you. "A lot of people released from prison are afraid to put themselves out there," explained Castro. "They know they're going to be facing tons of rejection and judgment for something they can't change, so it's extremely hard for them to ask for help." Whether you reach out by getting involved with a nonprofit or by contacting someone yourself, you’ll not only be helping a person rebuild their life, but you’ll also be empowering them to uplift others in their community.
Experts Featured:
William Castro is a Community Health Worker-Violence Prevention Professional with the SPARC Foundation in Asheville, NC as well as a Reentry Expert with Operation Gateway, another AVL-based organization. He builds safe, thriving communities in WNC by helping to smooth reentry for people who've had involvement with the criminal-legal system.
Castro is also in the process of creating a podcast entitled, The Seeds of Greatness, which will empower listeners to overcome their fears and fulfill their potential. Follow him at @iamcastiron and @theseedsofgreatnesspodcast to be the first to know when Seeds of Greatness goes live.
Jackie Latek is Executive Director of the SPARC Foundation in Asheville, NC and has over 25 years’ experience in human services. Jackie is responsible for identifying community needs and partnering to create sustainable programs that address the well-being and safety of individuals and families.
As a foster parent, Jackie sees the value of and challenges within the system. As a member of the LGBTQ community, Jackie understands the need for allyship. As SPARC Foundation leadership, Jackie is dedicated to ensuring equity and hope are the cornerstones of SPARC.