In The News

Professionals working to reduce recidivism gather at this year’s reentry summit in the Mat-Su
- KTUU-TV, September 22, 2023

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, professionals who work in the reentrant industry gathered in person for the 2023 Mat-Su Reentry Summit held the Menard Sports Center in Wasilla. The gathering, hosted by the Mat-Su Reentry Coalition, featured a number of guest speakers and panelists to share their experiences either being in or working with the prison system …“When individuals that get out realize that they could go on and be successful by embracing their story and using it as a strength — and not some image where people are saying because you’re a felon your life’s over — I think if we can embrace that culture a lot is going to change, and that’ll start there,” [guest speaker] Ian Bick said.”

At Alaska’s Prison Farm, a different way of serving time - Anchorage Daily News, June 30, 2023

Point Mackenzie Correctional Farm feels nothing like a typical prison. That’s by design … To earn placement at the farm, inmates must be classified as “minimum custody” by institutional probation and parole officers, meaning they are seen as a low security and escape threat … It’s a true example of rehabilitation-focused incarceration. And while the model might not work for higher-security prisons and inmates, there are elements that could be expanded [including] purposeful work, earned autonomy.

Simulation shines spotlight on struggles associated with reentering society after incarceration - KTUU-TV, April 20, 2023

The Mat-Su Reentry Coalition, a partner of the Alaska Reentry Partnership, held it’s third reentry simulation … “The simulation is to help community members be aware of what people getting out of prison might go through, especially in the first month of getting out,” said Barbara Mongar, the coalition’s coordinator.

Reentry Simulation Gives Glimpse of Life After Incarceration - Juneau Empire, November 3, 2022

Finding affordable housing and transportation can be a challenge for anyone in Juneau. For recently released incarcerated people it’s even more difficult and only adds to the numerous other hurdles and hardships they have to overcome to reenter society.

Alaska Department of Corrections wants prisoners to have tablets to aid reentry - KTOO-News, June 15, 2022

In his 26 years of being incarcerated, Sylvester Byrd Jr. never had access to the internet. … There are skills he wished he could’ve learned beforehand that would’ve made reentering easier. Things like online banking, filing taxes, paying bills online, how to look for a job, how to present yourself over Zoom and interview online, how to identify spam. The list goes on. … The Department of Corrections is moving forward with planning to implement tablet use to supplement existing resources and teach inmates some of the skills on Byrd’s list.

Incarcerated people face barriers to reentry post prison. How one initiative aims to help - PBS News Hour, May 19, 2022

A new national initiative looks to reduce barriers and make reentry smoother and more effective for people returning to their communities after incarceration. Reentry 2030 is a collaboration between the Council of State Governments Justice Center, the Correctional Leaders Association, and advocacy group JustLeadershipUSA to establish more comprehensive reentry programs in states across the U.S.

Juneau reentry program is helping justice-involved people get housing
- Juneau Empire, April 28, 2022

A Juneau mental health organization is helping people formerly involved in the justice system get housing, and the program is working. Nathan Block is a reentry case manager with JAMHI Health & Wellness. He works with people before they are released from incarceration to develop a plan once they are out so they can reenter society successfully.

Reentry house opens in Ketchikan
- Ketchikan Daily News, April 10, 2021

Sitting in the warm light streaming through the windows of her new residence Tuesday afternoon in Ketchikan, Jennifer reflected on her path from addiction, incarceration, assault, and hopelessness to a new life of possibilities…

Out of Prison But Still Trapped: Examining The ‘Afterlife’ of Incarceration - NPR, March 24, 2021

For people serving time in jail or prison, it may seem like punishment ends on the day of release. But in fact, thousands of restrictions dictate the terms of life incarceration too…

Alaskans in crisis often get tangle in the criminal justice system - Anchorage Daily News, March 11, 2021

When the state’s biggest provider of behavioral health services is the prison system, experts say, it’s time to start thinking differently about crisis intervention…

Alaska needs a new way to help those in crisis
- Anchorage Daily News, March 1, 2021

Alaskans experiencing a behavioral health emergency tend to end up in one of two places: the ER or jail. Now a coalition of agencies, advocates and providers says they’ve found a better way…

First Mat-Su Valley Reentry Simulation draws high volume of participation - Frontiersman, November 20, 2019

For about 90 minutes, dozens of locals cycled in and out of hypothetical jail during Mat-Su Reentry Coalition’s first Reentry Simulation.

“You have to do the right stuff or you’re in trouble and trouble means lack of freedom,” participant Linda Kabealo said.

Participants filled up a Menard Center meeting room Wednesday, Nov. 20 to walk a simulated mile in the shoes of prisoners attempting to reenter society without winding up back behind bars…

Breaking the cycle: Community leaders role play a rough reentry to society - Juneau Empire, October 30, 2019

Bus fare. Rent. Food money. “Seth” didn’t have any of it. Plus, he missed his meeting with his probation officer, and it was looking like “Seth,” fresh out of a stint in prison for breaking and entering, was headed right back. “Seth” was entirely fictional — created to show community members just how hard it can be to reenter society after incarceration — but the struggles real re-entrants face are not…

Gardening project results in nostalgia, inspiration for inmates - Juneau Empire, August 24, 2018

As a drizzling rain fell Friday afternoon, Patrick Sweeney stood in the courtyard at Lemon Creek Correctional Center and talked about the flower beds he neglected when he was younger. Sweeney, who has been an inmate at the prison since 2014, said his father had gifted a little property to him when he was 18, which included flower beds. As he looked over the marigolds and cosmos growing in the prison’s garden, he thought back to that property…

Farm to Prison
- Juneau Empire, August 20, 2017

In a twist on the popular farm to table movement that has swept the country, with restaurants and cities promoting ways to bring fresh-from-the-dirt produce directly to consumers, state prisons are experimenting with ways to bring produce grown by inmates to their own kitchens and even out into the community…