Youth Amplify

It is true that post-incarcerated individuals face immediate survival needs upon release related to housing, income, healthcare, and that they experience much higher rates of chronic illnesses, mental illnesses, and substance use disorders than the general population does. These unmet needs are directly linked to negative outcomes after release, including…

Stable housing is one of the most important factors shaping the success of individuals returning from prison. Yet across the United States, securing housing after incarceration remains extremely difficult due to landlord discrimination. Even when people have completed their sentences, paid fines, and complied with legal obligations, landlords treat the…

For many veterans, the transition from military life back into civilian society is fraught with obstacles. For a substantial number of people, these problems can lead to contact with the criminal justice system. A growing body of scholarly research explores why veterans can end up incarcerated, and what might help…

Criminal background checks pose one of the biggest barriers to employment for people who were formerly incarcerated, with long-lasting—and often inequitable—consequences. According to the National Reentry Resource Center, routine background screening excludes many justice-involved individuals from job opportunities, limiting their reintegration. Research by the Thurgood Marshall Institute argues that in…

In the United States, jails and prisons serve distinct roles within the criminal justice system. Jails are local, short-term facilities that typically are managed by cities or counties. People are housed there who more recently were arrested and who are also awaiting trial or sentencing. Jails also hold individuals who…

Re-integrating into family and society after incarceration is a complex process fraught with challenges, yet research consistently highlights the critical role of familial and social support in promoting a successful return. According to researcher Thomas J. Mowen, while emotional or interactional support from families may be well-intentioned, it is the…

It is important to provide access to religion inside prisons, so that rights can be upheld and rehabilitation can be served. As per the First Amendment of the U.S. as well as federal statutes such as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), incarcerated people have the full…

Accessing employment after being incarcerated is a large barrier that many inmates face after being released back into society. To start, employment prospects of people who have recently been released from prison are quite low. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, formerly incarcerated people in the United States are unemployed…