WEEK 3: CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

 TODAY'S CHALLENGE:
AFTER PRISON

Life after prison can often be just as difficult as time spent behind bars. Most former convicts struggle with culture shock, mental health issues, disenfranchisement, unemployment and a whole host of other challenges upon release. Today we will learn more about some of those issues and the struggles formerly incarcerated individuals face when trying to re-integrate into society. 


WE CHALLENGE YOU TO TAKE...

Long-term imprisonment inevitably changes the personalities of former convicts. Read these interviews with 25 former 'lifers' who served an average of 19 years in jail. 
Maryam Henderson-Uloho was convicted of obstruction of justice and was sentences to 25 years in a Louisiana prison. When she was released she felt dehumanized. Watch the incredible story of how she turned her life around - and continues to support other female ex-offenders. 
Former inmates are unemployed at a rate more than 27% higher than the overall U.S. unemployment rate. This even holds true during periods of economic downturn, including the Great Depression. Read this article that outlines the barriers formerly incarcerated people face when looking for employment.  
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
WEEKLY ACTION ALERT

LEVEL 1 :  Visit  The Sentencing Project  to get involved and take action in criminal justice reform. 

LEVEL 2 :   Since 2014,  The Marshall Project  has curated some of the best criminal justice reports from around the web. Included are the most recent and authoritative articles on the topics, people and events that are shaping the criminal justice conversation.

JOIN THE  21 DAY CHALLENGE FACEBOOK GROUP   FOR CONVERSATIONS WITH FELLOW PARTICIPANTS