1. Re-Entry: A Perspective from a Successful Participant By Marcus Ransom

2. Education: Most of the re-entry programs now available to ex- offenders were nonexistent or in the infancy when I started down the re-entry road. Most of the re-entry programs now available to ex- offenders were nonexistent or in the infancy when I started down the re-entry road. As such, my story maybe atypical, and then again it may not. As such, my story maybe atypical, and then again it may not. Education is paving my road to a possible successful re- entry to society. Education is paving my road to a possible successful re- entry to society. I say “possible” because I am still in the midst of going through re-entry and will not consider my re-entry a success until my educational pursuits result in a full-time job. I say “possible” because I am still in the midst of going through re-entry and will not consider my re-entry a success until my educational pursuits result in a full-time job. I can say, however, that I am successful in having not become a statistic to the “3-year jinx”—the time most released offenders recidivate. I can say, however, that I am successful in having not become a statistic to the “3-year jinx”—the time most released offenders recidivate.

3. Brownstone Work Release: I arrived at Brownstone Work Release in April 2008. I arrived at Brownstone Work Release in April 2008. The emphasis was on getting a job and working. The emphasis was on getting a job and working. I knew I had to work on myself. I knew I had to work on myself. I wanted to offer employers something tangible, other than mere words of transformation, to help balance the stigma of having a felony conviction. I wanted to offer employers something tangible, other than mere words of transformation, to help balance the stigma of having a felony conviction. My request to attend school (rather than working a job) was not met with a lot of enthusiasm. My request to attend school (rather than working a job) was not met with a lot of enthusiasm. Nevertheless, I was persistent and was accepted into EWU’s School of Social Work. Nevertheless, I was persistent and was accepted into EWU’s School of Social Work. I wanted to keep sharpening the saw in order of prepare myself as much as possible for the day when I would be leaving this place. I wanted to keep sharpening the saw in order of prepare myself as much as possible for the day when I would be leaving this place. And to show people the person my parents raised me to be. And to show people the person my parents raised me to be. I spent 22 years in prison and can sincerely tell you if we can use alternative sentences to prevent sending low-level or non-violent offenders to prison, we should do so. I spent 22 years in prison and can sincerely tell you if we can use alternative sentences to prevent sending low-level or non-violent offenders to prison, we should do so.

4. Negative Public Perception Just like the bitterness in prison that punched me in the face, negative public perception had the same sobering effect upon my re-entry to society. Just like the bitterness in prison that punched me in the face, negative public perception had the same sobering effect upon my re-entry to society. I would say negative public perception or the stigma of being an ex- offender is the number one obstacle to re-entry success. I would say negative public perception or the stigma of being an ex- offender is the number one obstacle to re-entry success. I say this because negative public perception pervades everything an ex-offender must overcome to be successful, especially housing and employment opportunities. I say this because negative public perception pervades everything an ex-offender must overcome to be successful, especially housing and employment opportunities. I can understand the apprehension or attitude society holds for ex- offenders…I get that. I can understand the apprehension or attitude society holds for ex- offenders…I get that. However, the majority of people in prison are going to get out—and that’s a fact. However, the majority of people in prison are going to get out—and that’s a fact. Are we going to continue to contribute to their failures, making our communities less safe, or are we going to allow them a second chance? Are we going to continue to contribute to their failures, making our communities less safe, or are we going to allow them a second chance? I am a living example that offenders do and can make a positive change in their lives and become productive members of society. I am a living example that offenders do and can make a positive change in their lives and become productive members of society.

5. We Are Human We have remorse and regret just like any other human being. We have remorse and regret just like any other human being. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about the victim in my case. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about the victim in my case. I think of what was taken from the victim and his family. I think of what was taken from the victim and his family. I think of the hurt the family experienced and continues experiencing. I think of the hurt the family experienced and continues experiencing. I grieve every day; I will continue to grieve. I grieve every day; I will continue to grieve. But I can’t let this incident define me. But I can’t let this incident define me. This one regrettable page makes not the entire book on my life. This one regrettable page makes not the entire book on my life. I can’t let the weight of the situation crush me. I can’t let the weight of the situation crush me. I can’t go ball up in a corner somewhere. I can’t go ball up in a corner somewhere. We are not inherently bad people. We are not inherently bad people. We made bad choices and decisions. We made bad choices and decisions. We have paid our debt to society. We have paid our debt to society. We are not looking for handouts; we are looking for opportunity. We are not looking for handouts; we are looking for opportunity.