Us & Them Encore: Re-Entry

Us & Them

America’s prisons incarcerate people who’ve violated the law, but at some point, at least 95% of all state prisoners will be released back into the free world. Some struggle to navigate that transition successfully. On this encore Us & Them episode, host Trey Kay hears about the challenges of reentry. Some of those challenges are essential but basic — accessing identification materials, birth certificates, social security cards and identity cards. In prison, many of life’s decisions are made for men and women while life on the outside can mean thousands of choices each day. How do we want men and women coming back after prison? How well do programs designed to help formerly incarcerated people succeed? Some people suggest we must first recognize that many of the men and women serving time are victims themselves. Recognizing that trauma may be a powerful step to help people make a new life after they serve their time. This episode was honored with a national first place documentary award from the Public Media Journalists Association. It was also part of a series of episodes that were honored with a first place award in public service through journalism from Virginia's AP Broadcasters.