Re-Entry

Are you an ex-felon desperately trying to rebuild your life after a felony conviction? You are not alone. With more than 2 million people incarcerated in the United States, statistics show that within three years of release, 67.8% of ex-offenders are rearrested, and within five years, 76.6% are rearrested. It is evident that the struggle to start over is a very real problem that many ex-offenders face. Here we will discuss some practical tips and strategies for rebuilding your life from the ground up, so that you may overcome these obstacles and live a productive, successful life. Let’s get started!

Ways to Get Your Life Back After a Felony Conviction

1. Staying Positive in the Face of Adversity

Staying positive in the face of adversity is easier said than done, especially when rebuilding your life after prison. Although many feel overwhelmed and discouraged by the prospect of starting over, it is important to maintain a positive attitude and outlook.

Keeping a healthy mindset helps to boost motivation and focus on the future. It might help to set smaller goals that you can easily achieve, such as getting a job or enrolling in school. By doing so, you can create an achievable timeline for yourself and see progress along the way. Additionally, find an activity or hobby that brings you joy and encourages you to stay positive in difficult times. Whether it’s playing sports, reading books, or writing a blog, having something that you are passionate about can help make all the difference in your outlook of life.

2. Understanding Your Rights

Understanding your rights is essential to rebuilding life after being convicted of a felony. It is important to be aware of the rights and privileges you may have lost due to your conviction and those that you may still retain.

Knowing what rights are legally in place allows ex-felons to make informed decisions about job, housing, and educational opportunities. Additionally, understanding your rights can help you understand the implications of any legalities related to your conviction, such as parole, probation, or Expungement.

With this knowledge, you can better advocate for yourself during interactions with government agencies and other organizations. Ultimately, by understanding rights and restrictions, you who have been convicted of felonies can better comprehend your opportunities for successful reintegration into society following your release from prison.

3. Understanding Reentry Barriers and Resources

Understanding the barriers and resources available when rebuilding your life is vital to success. These barriers can range from finding employment and housing to overcoming negative stigmas associated with ex-felons. Additionally, resources such as educational programs, career counseling services, job training initiatives, and support groups can be invaluable in helping you, an ex-felon, get back on your feet. Understanding the potential barriers and resources at your disposal is essential to make an informed decision about how best to move forward with your life.

4. Hire an Expungement Attorney

Expunging your criminal record is one of the most important steps for your new life after a felony. Expungement is when an arrest or conviction is removed from a person’s criminal record and can give you a fresh start. Depending on where you live, there may be various requirements and restrictions regarding expungement. It is essential to research the laws in your area and contact a qualified attorney who can help you understand the legal process for expunging your record. Once expunged, those records will not show up in background checks or other searches, which can make it easier for ex-felons to find employment, housing, and other opportunities.

5. Seeking Financial Assistance For Ex-felons

Seeking financial assistance for felons can be a daunting task. Many employers may not be willing to hire you due to your criminal history, and access to traditional loans may also be limited. However, some resources are available to help you get back on your feet. Government grants and scholarships can provide a financial boost when needed, while nonprofits like The Fortune Society offer assistance with job placement and housing. You might also qualify for public benefits or loan forgiveness programs. It is important to research these options thoroughly before applying to have the best chance of success.

6. Gaining Employment After a Felony

Applying for a job after a felony conviction can be difficult as many employers are apprehensive about hiring people with criminal records. However, there are certain steps you can take to increase your chances of landing a job.

Make sure your resume is up-to-date and includes any positive accomplishments or skills you have acquired since your conviction. Additionally, network with people who work in the industries of interest, as this may help get your foot in the door.

Furthermore, consider volunteering for an organization related to the field of work you seek; this will provide potential employers with evidence that you are genuinely interested in that line of work. Finally, never give up on finding gainful employment; perseverance pays off, and plenty of ex-felons have successfully rebuilt their lives and careers since their conviction.

7. Consider Your Business

Starting a business is often a great way for ex-felons to rebuild their lives. Consider the skills and knowledge you have and what type of business you could start that would work with your unique circumstances. For example, if you lack the capital to launch a traditional brick-and-mortar business, there are plenty of online businesses you can start with relatively little money. From selling handmade goods on Etsy to offering services on Fiverr or Upwork, there are numerous creative ways to make an income.

Additionally, depending on where you live, there may also be grant programs and other forms of financial assistance available specifically for felons looking to start their own businesses. Whatever path you choose, starting your own business can be an excellent way to break away from the stigma associated with being an ex-felon and establish yourself as a successful entrepreneur. Do your research to explore what options may be available to you to get started on the path toward your second-life success.

8. Establishing Positive Social Connections

It is crucial to cultivate relationships with individuals who can provide encouragement, support, and advice. Consider joining local community groups or taking part in volunteer activities in order to meet people with similar interests and goals. Additionally, building a network of contacts through networking events and professional associations can be a great way to make connections and build trust with potential employers. Lastly, don’t be afraid to reach out to family members or old friends who may be able to provide emotional or financial assistance during the rebuilding process.

9. Developing Life Skills

This can include learning how to manage stress and emotions, developing problem-solving skills, improving communication skills, and learning how to set and achieve goals. It’s important to remember that these skills are learned over time and require practice to become proficient. A great way to start is by taking classes or attending workshops that help individuals hone their existing skills while also introducing them to new ones. Additionally, talking with a therapist or counselor can provide invaluable guidance in developing these types of life skills.

10. Exploring Educational Opportunities for Reentry Success

There are a variety of programs and resources available to ex-offenders that can help them reach their academic and professional goals. Having an education not only opens the door to employment but to other career advancement opportunities as well. By taking advantage of these resources and pursuing higher education, former felons can gain the skills needed for successful reentry into society.

Furthermore, some employers may even be willing to provide job training or apprenticeships for those with criminal backgrounds who demonstrate a solid commitment to improving themselves. Ultimately, exploring educational opportunities can be an invaluable asset in helping ex-offenders successfully rebuild their lives.

11. Creating Goals and Setting Priorities

These are an essential part of the rebuilding process. While it can be hard to stay motivated, having a plan for your future will help you stay on track. Start by developing a list of achievable goals that you want to accomplish in the near and distant future. For each goal, make sure to break it down into smaller tasks that can be completed over time. Additionally, prioritize your goals based on their importance and urgency, as this will help you focus your energy on what matters most. Of course, don’t forget to reward yourself once you have achieved a goal, not just with material rewards, but also with emotional ones like feeling proud of yourself for taking steps towards improving your life.

Conclusion

The most important thing to remember after you have been convicted of a felony is that your life isn’t over. By staying positive, understanding your rights, and using available resources, you can rebuild your life and become a contributing member of society again. It will take time and dedication, but with the right attitude and support system, it is possible to regain control of your circumstances and create an even brighter future. Remember to take things one step at a time, set goals for yourself, and strive to achieve them each day. With enough effort, you can live an even better life than before, no matter what the past may have held.

It’s no secret that the road to reentry for ex-felons can be a difficult one. The challenges of finding steady employment, support from family and friends, and even basic acceptance can be overwhelming. But there is hope! Through hard work and determination, many ex-felons have managed to turn their lives around and achieve success in spite of their past mistakes. In this blog post, we’ll explore some inspiring success stories of ex-felons who are now living meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Successful Ex-felons

1. Daniel Manville

Daniel Manville is an inspiring example of how ex-criminals can turn their life around and make something positive out of a negative situation. He was incarcerated from 1973 to 1976 for selling drugs, but rather than letting his imprisonment define him, he used it as an opportunity. In prison, he focused on taking classes and earning two undergraduate degrees. He taught himself about legal resources, earning a reputation among other inmates as a “jailhouse lawyer” and helping others through the difficult legal system.

Forty-four years later, Manville has achieved remarkable success. He is now a bar-certified attorney and law professor who trains law students to litigate on behalf of inmates who are treated unfairly by the criminal justice system. His work has not gone unnoticed; he is the author of the Prisoners’ Self-Help Litigation Manual, which provides prisoners with an indispensable guide to understanding their rights under the law and protecting them.

Manville’s story serves as an example of what is possible when society gives people who have been in prison the chance to rebuild their lives after being released. It exemplifies that we should never give up hope no matter what obstacles we face in life.

2. Jeff Henderson

Jeff Henderson is an inspirational American chef, author and public speaker who rose to fame after serving nearly a decade in prison for cocaine. Born in San Diego, California, Jeff was arrested at the age of 24 by the San Diego Drug Task Force and charged with intent to distribute illegal narcotics. He was then sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison on federal drug trafficking charges.

In 1997, Jeff left prison determined to make something of his life. Despite difficulty finding a job, he persevered and was eventually hired as a dishwasher before becoming a line cook. He moved up through the ranks of Los Angeles restaurants including the Ritz-Carlton, Hotel Bel-Air, and L’Ermitage Hotel before making history in 2001 when he became the first African-American Chef de Cuisine at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Over the next five years, he worked his way up various prestigious restaurants until 2006 when he became an executive chef at Café Bellagio.

Today, Jeff is a well-known public speaker and bestselling author whose story of resilience has inspired many people around the world. His book Cooked: My Journey from the Streets to the Stove, from Cocaine to Foie Gras offers insight into his journey from prisoner to successful chef and sought-after public speaker. He currently lives with his family in Las Vegas where he continues to inspire others through his work as chef and motivational speaker.

3. Frank William Abagnale

Frank Abagnale was born in New York City on February 2, 1948, to parents of Italian descent. At the tender age of 15, he began committing fraud by opening bank accounts under false names and writing out checks from overdrawn accounts. He also used other methods to con money from banks like placing deposit slips with his account number in the pile of unused ones.

Abagnale’s criminal activities landed him in prison in 1974 and he was sentenced to Federal Correction Institution in Petersburg, Virginia. However, he was granted parole after agreeing to assist the authorities with capturing other con artists.

After his release, he found it difficult to hold a steady job due to his past record and had to devise an alternate solution. He approached a bank offering them his services as a security consultant by showing them fraud techniques used by forgers – this marked the start of his new career as a security consultant and led him to found Abagnale & Associates which advises corporations on fraud prevention measures.

In 1980, Abagnale wrote an autobiography titled Catch Me If You Can that brought into light these alleged victimless frauds which inspired Steven Spielberg’s 2002 movie adaptation featuring Leonardo DiCaprio as Abagnale himself. Today, Abagnale is still consulted by FBI agents and lectures at the Academy about fraud prevention methods which are followed by more than 14,000 law enforcement agencies and financial institutions.

4. Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart was born on August 3, 1941, in Jersey City, New Jersey. She is known for her bestselling books on cooking, entertaining, and housekeeping, and two successful syndicated television programs: “Martha Stewart Living” (1993-2004) and “Martha” (2005-2012). As the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, she achieved success through various business ventures such as publishing, broadcasting, merchandising, and e-commerce.

In 2004, however, Stewart was convicted of felony charges related to the ImClone stock trading case; she served five months in federal prison and was released in March 2005. Despite this obstacle, Stewart began a comeback campaign, resulting in her company’s return to profitability in 2006. In 2011, she rejoined the board of directors for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and became chairwoman again two years later. Stewart overcame her criminal record to become even more successful than before.

5. Frederick Hutson

Frederick Hutson is the head and creator of Pigeonly, a service that helps people simplify finding and communicating with an incarcerated relative. He began his professional journey at the age of 19 when he served in the US Air Force, working on jet engines at Nellis Air Force Base as an electrician. He was honorably discharged in 2005 after the base began downsizing and eventually turned his business efforts to sending marijuana through parcel companies, which netted him approximately $500,000 annually.

In 2007 Frederick Hutson was arrested by the DEA, and he served a 51-month sentence beginning that same year at only 23 years old. While in prison, he encountered first-hand the difficulty American inmates have with communicating with their families outside of the institution, sparking his idea to deliver communication for imprisoned individuals.

After being released from prison, Frederick Hutson founded Pigeonly. He sought out to make phone calls for those behind bars more affordable by cutting their cost by 80% through his company’s technology, allowing people to send inmate photos, greeting cards, and more right from their cell phones, tablets, or computers. By 2015 Pigeonly had sent approximately one million pieces of mail and facilitated around 8 million minutes of telephone calls.

6. Coss Marte

Coss Marte is a successful businessman and an inspiration to many. He started his career in the world of crime at an early age, selling marijuana as a pre-teen. At 23, Coss was imprisoned for leading a multi-million-dollar drug trafficking organization.

By this time, Coss had ballooned up to 230 pounds, at which point a prison doctor informed him that he either had to make a change or risk dying behind bars. Determined to turn his life around, Coss began working out using simple movements and bodyweight exercises crafted from within the confines of his 9ft by 6ft jail cell. Astonishingly, these exercises allowed him to lose over 70 pounds in six months.

Upon being released after serving ten years, Coss decided to capitalize on what he learned while incarcerated by launching his own business, Coss Athletics. With the help of Defy Ventures, he developed an exercise program based on his experience in prison – Conbody. The program assists both incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals in getting fit and earning a living by teaching others how to exercise. His program has been wildly successful, with over 70,000 clients thus far. On top of that, Conbody has employed more than 50 formerly incarcerated individuals as fitness trainers with an impressive 0% recidivism rate.

Through hard work and determination despite all odds stacked against him, Coss Marte has gone from being an inmate behind bars to becoming a successful businessman who inspires others with his story every day.

7. Shon Hopwood

Shon Hopwood’s story is an inspiring example that redemption is possible no matter how dire one’s circumstances are. He is an American appellate lawyer and law professor at Georgetown University Law Center. Shon Hopwood transformed remarkably from a criminal to a successful lawyer, starting in 1998 when he pleaded guilty to robbing several banks in Nebraska. He was sentenced to 12 years and three months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

During his time in prison, Hopwood took advantage of the opportunity afforded him by dedicating himself to studying the law. He became a proficient United States Supreme Court practitioner, earning him the title of “jailhouse lawyer”.

In 2012, his memoir co-written with Dennis Burke, Law Man: My Story of Robbing Banks, Winning Supreme Court Cases, and Finding Redemption, was published to critical acclaim. The book details his life as a jailhouse lawyer and his relationship with his wife Ann Marie Hopwood, which sustained him during eight years of imprisonment.

In 2015, after being released from prison, he was licensed as a lawyer in Washington. And in 2017, Hopwood became a law professor at Georgetown University Law Center, where he hired 2020 graduate Tiffany Trump as his research assistant.

8. Reginald Dwayne Betts

Reginald Dwayne Betts is a poet, lawyer, and inspirational figure. At sixteen, he committed an armed carjacking, was charged as an adult, and consequently spent more than eight years in prison. During his incarceration, Betts started reading and writing poetry which helped him turn his life around. After his release, Betts earned an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Warren Wilson College and eventually a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School, where he is currently working on his Ph.D. in law.

Betts has achieved remarkable success over the years and is the author of Felon, a New York Times Notable Book, and founder of Freedom Reads. This organization gives incarcerated people access to books. Also, he has won countless literary and journalistic awards, such as the NAACP Award for non-fiction, the National Magazine Award in the Essays and Criticism category, and the American Book Award, etc. In 2012, President Barack Obama announced that Betts had been named a Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention member – an incredible recognition for someone who went from prison to becoming a lawyer.

9. Kevin Mitnick

Kevin David Mitnick is a famous hacker. At the young age of 16, he gained unauthorized access to a computer network in 1979. He was enrolled at Los Angeles Pierce College and USC during this time.

In 1995, Mitnick was arrested for various computer and communications-related crimes. He spent five years in prison for these offenses. Upon his release in 2000, he was initially forbidden to use any communications technology other than a landline telephone and prohibited from profiting from films or books based on his criminal activity for seven years.

In December 2001, after the complete restoration of his rights, he founded his own company called Mitnick Security Consulting LLC, which provides computer security consultancy services. He is also part owner of KnowBe4, a provider of an integrated platform for security awareness training. Additionally, he wrote several books, including the New York Times Bestselling Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker, which details his thrilling story of intrigue and suspense, and unbelievable escapes.

10. Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr. is an American actor and producer widely known for his role as the genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist Tony Stark aka Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Born in 1965 in New York City, he first gained recognition for his roles in films such as Less Than Zero and Chaplin. Despite these successes, Downey had a troubled past marked by substance abuse and several arrests. In 1999, he was sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted of drugs possession and attempted possession of a controlled substance.

After serving time in jail, Downey managed to get his life back and return to Hollywood with a vengeance. He starred in numerous successful films such as Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Zodiac and Tropic Thunder before auditioning for Iron Man in 2008. His performance earned him widespread acclaim and won him multiple awards including an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

His portrayal of Iron Man has also made him one of the most recognizable figures within the Marvel Universe, with fans all over the world celebrating his success story from criminal to superhero icon. Up to now, there have been six films that Robert Downey Jr played with worldwide box office earnings of over $1 billion, of which the highest is Avengers: Endgame (2019), which grossed more than $2.7 billion.

11. Tim Allen

Tim Allen is an American comedian, actor, and voice actor who rose to fame for his role as Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor on the 1990s sitcom Home Improvement. Additionally, he is widely known for voicing Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story series.

Allen had a difficult past which included drug trafficking and driving under the influence of alcohol. In 1978, he was arrested in Kalamazoo, Michigan, for possession of 650g of cocaine and was sentenced to three years in federal prison. After serving two years and four months of this sentence at Sandstone Federal Correctional Institution in Minnesota, Allen was released in 1981 and returned to stand-up comedy. But he was again arrested for driving under the influence in 1998. Even so, he has continued to overcome this obstacle.

Tim Allen has since become one of the most successful actors in Hollywood with a net worth of over $110 million dollars in 2022. Despite his dark past, Allen has managed to make a successful return to stardom proving that even those who have committed serious crimes can find redemption.

12. Christian Slater

Christian Slater is an American actor and producer who has achieved success in both film and television. He is best known for his roles in films such as Heathers, True Romance, Pump Up the Volume, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Throughout his career, Slater has had several legal issues. In 1989, he was arrested for drunk driving and sentenced to ten days in jail. Four years later, he was arrested when he tried to board a commercial plane with a gun in his luggage. In 1997, Slater was convicted of punching his girlfriend, Michelle Jonas, and assaulting a police officer while under the influence of heroin, cocaine, and alcohol. Then in 2005, he was arrested in Manhattan after allegedly groping a woman on the street.

Despite these legal troubles, Slater’s box office success cannot be denied. His role as Will Scarlett in 1991’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves grossed $390 million worldwide and made him one of the major A-list stars of the 1990s. Additionally, he has provided voice acting work for many animated films such as Ferngully: The Last Rainforest (1992), Archer (2014-present), and most recently Inside Job (2021-2022). With an impressive list of credits spanning several decades, there is no doubt that Christian Slater is one successful actor.

13. Jeremy Meeks

Jeremy Meeks, also known as the “hot felon”, is a convicted felon who has experienced an incredible journey of luck and fame. Born in 1984 in Stockton, California, Meeks had a difficult childhood which led him to join a gang at the age of 18. In 2002, he was charged with robbery and violently assaulting a 16-year-old boy, for which he was sentenced to serve two years in prison. However, he ended up spending nine years in jail due to several infractions during his sentence.

In 2014, Meeks was arrested for gun possession and resisting arrest, for which he was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison. The same day his mugshots were posted on the Stockton Police Department’s Facebook page, and within 24 hours from when they were posted, they had acquired more than 15,000 likes and 3,700 comments from women who found him attractive. This was the day his luck began. He became famous after only one night.

After being released from prison in 2016, he signed a modeling contract with photographer Jim Jordan, and since then he has been working with famous brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Fashion Concept GmbH. His net worth is estimated at $5 million by 2022.

Conclusion

No matter how difficult the road to reentry may seem, there is always hope for success. Ex-felons can find strength and encouragement in the inspiring stories of those who have overcome their past mistakes and achieved true success. With hard work and dedication, you too can create a meaningful and fulfilling life for yourself. Don’t give up; stay focused on your goals and remember that you can do anything.