By CELESTE M. HART

As the month of April ends, opportunities begin for those ending incarceration time. April, designated under several titles, including, Second Chance Month, Re-Entry Month, or, Transitional Month, since 2017, led by the non-profit organization, Prison Fellowship. Susan Burke’s organization simply calls it, A New Way of Life, everyday, for 26 years, officially. In her home state, California, 1998, Burke founded ANWOL following her own decades long, in and out, incarceration. Since, ANWOL expanded throughout the United States including in Louisiana and now, North Carolina..

“We provide housing and support for formerly incarcerated women for successful community reentry, family reunification and individual healing,” said Burke.

ANWOL, recently opened a home, in Charlotte, called SAFE, that provides safe housing for women returning from incarceration. The reentry services provides job training, workforce development and connection with local resources.

“At SAFE home, we create a supportive community of women that are not defined by their past, and look forward to making a better future through an holistic approach,” said Dante Butler, JD, ANWOL Southern Regional Director of Housing Services.

Butler said many come home without proof of identification, a social security card, or, birth certificate. “We help these citizens obtain these critial documents necessary for a successful journey.”

The number of women held in local jails has grown exponentially in the last several decades, outpacing rates of growth for men. Women are particularly vulnerable to the harms of incarceration for several reasons: the majority of women in custody have experienced trauma, have unmet mental and physical health needs, are single mothers, and come from low-income communities of color, according to NC Criminal Justice Services.

The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners proclaimed April as Reentry Month in the County. April is a month to recognize the work it takes for a formerly incarcerated person to transition back into the community. 

“Reentry is tough, but Mecklenburg County is committed to supporting the justice-involved population,” said Sonya L. Harper, Criminal Justice Services director. “They deserve a chance to begin again with support for housing, employment, and healthcare.

Mecklenburg County receives approximately 1,200 residents returning from state and 300 from federal incarcerations each year. Data shows the tough road ahead for justice-involved persons as they are 10 times more likely to experience homelessness, the unemployment rate is five times higher, 30-40% suffer from chronic disease, up to 20% suffer from mental illness and 50% suffer from substance use disorder.

“We envision a world where everyone is valued and systems of oppression are eliminated. Thus, to eradicate recidivism, the in-and-out of incarceration, and to end mass incarceration,” said Burke.

 

April marks the anniversary of Charles Colson’s death, he founded Prison Fellowship, after his incarceration for a Watergate crime.

Governor Josh Stein’s Proclamation for Second Chance Month, April.

https://governor.nc.gov/governor-stein-proclaims-second-chance-month