After long days of waiting, you’ve finally completed your prison term. But even as you head home, there’s one stumbling block you are likely to face, and that’s readjusting to normal life. The truth is, you will probably deal with some culture shock, social stigma, and in some cases, depression. In this post, we will provide useful and safe tips to help you get back on your feet after jail life.
Be Ready to Learn
The moment you exit prison doors, you should acknowledge that things have changed and that for you to adapt, you must learn the changes. Therefore, developing a learning mentality will help you grasp fast what you’ve been missing. Depending on the length of incarceration, there’s a good chance that technology has changed. For example, you may walk to a shopping mall only to find cryptos or QR Codes as the preferred payment method instead of the traditional paper cash. Ask your family or guardian to make sense of the changes to you.
Find Accommodation
Besides being receptive to learning, the other thing that you should give weight to is getting accommodation. As mentioned earlier, you may find the world a different place from what you used to know. That, together with a bad criminal record, finding a good house can be difficult. If you are lucky, you can get accommodation from family or friends. If not, be sure to check if the prison offers transitional housing for ex-convicts. Last but not least, you can check if you qualify for HUD housing resources.
Avoid Negative Influence
Life out of prison can be tricky. Unless you have a robust support system, the chances are you can be swayed back to the lousy life by the old cycles. The good thing is during prison life, you were taught how to identify and avoid toxic relationships. Use this information to separate makers from breakers/naysayers. Try as much to join support grounds or associate with people with positive/constructive ideas.
Seek Professional Support
Re-entering the free world after jail comes with some mental costs. While the family members may be willing to facilitate a positive social experience, you may still fall victim to stigma, rejection, and denial. As tough as it can be, you’ll undoubtedly need time to process your emotions as you readjust. You can always seek professional assistance if you find the experience beyond your control. Therapists, for example, will give you fruitful advice to help ease your frustrations and lead a healthier life. More importantly, professionals can help you rebuild your relationship with family and community, if need be.
Life in jail isn’t an easy experience, but the transition back out can be challenging as well. You may even need legal advice from professionals, like those at Rollins Law Group, to prevent legal complications in the future. Make sure to follow your parole rules and do your best to turn your life back around.
