Peer to Peer, These Programs are Making a Difference
Prison education efforts and comprehensive reentry programming are supported by the data around them, demonstrating reduced recidivism, saved tax payer dollars, and contributions that strengthen the workforce. Beyond these measurable outcomes, the value of such programs can be understood in the ways former participants extend support to current ones. Across the country, former and current inmates are participating in a positive cycle of mentorship and peer guidance– a testament to the lasting power of thoughtful reentry initiatives.
In Louisiana State Penitentiary (LSP), also known as Angola Prison, the “New Men” program is a source of hope for inmates there. The prisoner-led project emphasizes sobriety, and offers a specific place for participants to stay while at Angola to ease their transition away from addiction. Those “new men” remain in the program to act as mentors for new arrivals, offering solidarity and encouragement to those who are facing the same challenges they once had. LSP is no stranger to the power of faith-based initiatives, and has partnered with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to provide theological training to incarcerated individuals. Graduates from the seminary are often serving sentences that extend far beyond their educational endeavors. Their training provides them with the tools to become peer ministers and offer both guidance and a positive example to their fellow inmates. Following Angola’s example, women’s prisons and facilities in Mississippi have partnered with the seminary to provide education and mentorship.
In some Texas prisons, a similar inmate-led model is allowing people to leverage their experience with addiction and hardship to help those around them who need it most. The voluntary program groups inmates together and has a role for “peer recovery coaches,” other inmates, to offer insights and encouragement. Reports indicate that, because of the model’s effectiveness, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is seeking to expand it across the state. The peer mentor model offers a consistent reminder of the hope that is on the other side of addiction, and the steps necessary to get there.
The compounding effect of evidence-backed rehabilitation and reentry efforts can be observed after sentences are completed. In North Carolina, formerly incarcerated individuals who struggled with disease, mental and physical illness, and/or substance abuse are leading efforts to help those currently struggling. These Community Health Workers are able to offer a deep level of empathy to newly released individuals, and connect them with the same resources that made such a difference in their own lives. Sponsored by University of North Carolina Family Medicine, the North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition Program reaches those in need through the experiences and expertise of those with an incarceration background. One of the greatest challenges in reentry is maintaining the hope needed to motivate change. The Community Health Workers offer both an example of hope and a lifeline to tangible treatment options and resources.
The ripple effect of redemption never stops at one life. Those inmates, current and former, who have benefitted from the education and ministry made available to them are paying it forward across the country. When evaluating the strengths and needs of Louisiana’s prisons and prisoners, a key indicator of strong programming is how its impact reaches beyond immediate participants and to future ones. For policymakers, this underscores the value of promoting and sustaining programs that extend their influence beyond incarceration.