The following program
discusses sensitive issues.
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Parents are
cautioned that some material
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may be too candid
for younger children.
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Welcome to the New Journey,
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where you'll
meet real life people
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with real life testimonies
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and real life
working ministries for Jesus.
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I'm your host Aaron Chancy,
come join us on a New Journey.
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Welcome to the New Journey.
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On today's program
we have an exciting,
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exciting story of a woman
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who is involved
with parole re-entry.
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Her name is Miss Fletcher.
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Miss Fletcher, we thank
you for being on the program.
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Thank you for having me.
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Yes, ma'am, yes, ma'am.
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Let's jump right
into our questions.
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Question one,
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you work with the
prison system as a PRL,
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what exactly is a PRL
and what does a PRL do?
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Okay, PRL is a
parole re-entry liaison.
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And as a liaison I
work in collaboration
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with the judicial
system for clients
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that are going to be
released from prison.
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Okay. Making sure that I set up.
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And take assessments
for them so that I can see
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what type of treatment
referrals are necessary.
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Okay, okay, so to get into
this type of work as a PRL,
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parole re-entry liaison,
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what type of degree do you
need to work in this field?
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Well, what's
needed is a background
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in the criminal justice system,
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they like for you to
have a bachelor's degree,
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and I have a master's
but that's not required.
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Okay, okay, great.
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Now, you've been doing
this for a number of years,
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but what was the
motivating factor
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that led you to get into
parole re-entry liaison work?
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Okay. Well,
actually it was God sent.
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Okay.
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That goes back a
little bit to my testimony
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as to where God
originated everything for me.
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There was a time when I was down
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for almost a period of one year.
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I had major surgery
where the doctor didn't know
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if I would be
able to walk again.
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And during that
time it was a time
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where I did a lot
of self reflecting,
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a lot of prayer
and reading my Bible,
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reading other
books in preparation
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for what was to come.
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Well, I went back to school
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and it was from
that point forward
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that I continued
to look to do work
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in the criminal justice system
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in which I ended
up landing this job.
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I didn't apply for the
job, actually my director,
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she sort me out on Indeed
and she said when she met me,
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she said, "I knew I
was going to hire you
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when I read your resume."
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Okay. So was it
was God ordained.
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Okay, well, that's
good news, good news.
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So how many years have you been
doing this type of work now?
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Well, actually before I
was a parole re-entry liaison,
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I worked for the Washington
County Sheriff's Office.
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I did an internship there
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and I was a
clinical social worker
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work with clients doing
and take assessments there,
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meeting with psychiatrists
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and other social workers to find
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what would be the
best possible treatment
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for the client.
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Okay, okay. Great. Now,
let me ask you a question.
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Dealing with parole re-entry,
you deal with a lot of people
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who come out of prison,
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who end up going
back into prison.
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Can you explain to
us what is recidivism
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and what have you seen
that can help an individual
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stay from going
back into prison?
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Okay, it's a relapse
in criminal behavior.
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Often times when
parolees, they get out,
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they're not complying
with the recommendations
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and when they not, they end up
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violating their parole
and going back to prison.
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Okay, now, let me ask you,
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you said that
they're not complying
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with some of
the recommendations.
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What is, what are
some of the recommendations
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that a parolee might have?
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If they need
treatment, if they have
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extensive
substance abuse history,
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we require that they go
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and get an intake
assessment at a provider
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and then comply with
whatever the recommendation is
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whether it's IOP or
residential treatment,
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outpatient treatment.
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Okay, now, have
you seen with this
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that people really
have to be determined enough
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that they want it bad enough
for themselves or is it that...
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Or how much does
environment play a part,
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family play a part
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where the
person is going back to
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when they get out of prison,
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how do all of these
things play into an individual
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going in and out of
prison throughout their lives?
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It's significant. Okay.
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One of the things I'm learning,
and this is one of the...
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What I did when I
started this position,
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I went around to
different facilities,
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introduced myself, try
to build some relationships
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so that I can assist these guys
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when they get out
in finding avenues
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to be able to help
them to be successful.
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But one of the things that was
very disheartening for me was
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when I approached
some of the pastors,
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they all wanted
to help initially
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and then when
it came down to it,
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I really didn't
get a lot of feedback
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as to in what
ways they could help.
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And so the Metropolitan
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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in Evansville, they
really helped out a lot.
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They provided bus
tokens for the guys
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that couldn't get
to from treatment.
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And so that played a
very significant role.
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Let me ask you with a person
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that is incarcerated
getting ready to get out,
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getting ready to
make their parole,
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they've done X amount of
years, they have family members
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who are waiting
for them to come out,
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mother, father, loved
ones or whatever it may be.
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What role can they play
or what can they do to help
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that individual
adjust back to society
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or to refrain from going
back and being a repeat offender
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and going,
getting back incarcerated?
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I think education is key. Okay.
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A lot of times people
don't know the resources
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that are available out there,
and because they don't know,
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then they don't
make good decisions
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as far as helping the parolee,
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you know, be able
to get into treatment,
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be able to seek mental health,
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treatment and
those types of things.
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But once that
information is given,
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usually individuals
they try to gravitate to the,
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"What can I do to help
myself," a lot of them will say,
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"So that I won't go back in."
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But then you
have some, of course,
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that really don't take
the initiative to do that.
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But I think if the families
would help out making sure
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that they hold them accountable
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when they make decisions
that are not favorable,
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I think that
would help a long way.
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Okay, you know, I
remember one time at a prison
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and I was there, I
was incarcerated in Texas
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and there was this
parole re-entry program,
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it was called Project
Rio and what's Project Rio
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is basically
reintegrating back into society.
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And you had different
guys who were in the prison
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and, you know, I
guess they didn't really
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want to do anything.
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They would just lay
in the bunk all day,
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but then you had individuals
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who would get
involved with Project Rio,
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get involved with...
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At that prison there was
something called home habitat,
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learning how to
build homes, get their GED.
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How important
is it for an inmate
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while they are
incarcerated to get involved
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with as many things
they can as possible
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so that things
can be better for them
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when they get out?
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I think, it builds
a foundation for them.
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Okay.
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One of the things
I'm gonna be doing
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is going to the prisons
and talking to the inmates
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before they released,
sharing with them the resources
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that are available for
them once they are released.
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And then sharing how
I can help as a liaison
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to be able to help them
transition back into society.
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Okay, now, you
mentioned some resources.
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What are some of those
community resources that
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the family members can tap into,
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the inmates before
release, after release,
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what are some of those
things that they can tap into?
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One of the
things that just started
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in the state of
Indiana as recovery works
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and it started in November.
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And when a client
gets out of prison,
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they don't have insurance,
they can get recovery works.
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As long as they're resident
of the state of Indiana,
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age, 18 years of age
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and also if they fall
below the poverty line,
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they qualify for the program.
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I get it. Okay.
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Now, let me ask you,
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is it pretty much
the same for different,
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for each state in America
or I'm sure that each state
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had their little
particulars or whatever.
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But how does a family member,
how does a inmate find out
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about the different
things that the prison may have
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or that the resources
that are out in the community
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that can help them, how
do they go about doing that
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in whatever state they're in.
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I think the best
thing to do is get in touch
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with the social worker
that's inside the prison
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and talk to them
about what's outside.
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I know for
Indiana, we communicate
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with the social
worker inside quite often.
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Okay.
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We get a list of offenders
that's gonna be released
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within six months
and we try to set up
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resources for them
upon their release.
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Okay, now, we
hear a lot in society
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about repeat offenders.
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People getting
out, stay out a day,
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couple months,
couple weeks whatever
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and go right
back to incarceration.
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But talk about
some success stories
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that you have seen
over the years of working
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as a parole re-entry liaison
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to give kind of
people some encouragement
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because not
often do you hear of,
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you know, people who get out
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and they're just, you
know, doing right the whole way.
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So talk about some
of those success stories
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that you have seen
over the past few years?
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I'm gonna share
one in particular
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that really stuck with me.
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There was a young
lady, I call her Ann
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just to protect her identity.
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She got out, we met and
she gave her story to me,
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share with me the struggle
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that she had
with substance abuse.
00:09:54.86\00:09:56.86
She lost her
husband, he died abruptly,
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lost her children as a
result of her substance abuse.
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Her mom would not
allow her to see her children
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so she was very distraught.
00:10:06.50\00:10:08.57
But she was determined that
she was going to be successful.
00:10:08.60\00:10:11.51
Yeah, okay.
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And so what she
did, she got into school
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and she started
working very hard,
00:10:14.58\00:10:16.85
she was working a part-time job,
00:10:16.88\00:10:18.21
going to school full
time because she knew that
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that's what she
wanted, that's the new life
00:10:20.75\00:10:22.38
that she wanted for herself.
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Well, one day she
was on her way to school
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and she was hit on her
moped by a drunk driver.
00:10:26.99\00:10:30.89
And in the process she
had to go to the hospital,
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of course, her face
had to be reconstructed.
00:10:33.63\00:10:37.00
She couldn't speak
but she could write
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and what she wrote was,
00:10:39.40\00:10:41.14
"I'm a former substance abuser,"
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that's what she wrote
for the doctor to know.
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And so she was so determined
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that she was not
going to go back to that
00:10:47.41\00:10:49.48
that she wanted him
to hold her accountable.
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And when she came
into the parole office,
00:10:52.68\00:10:54.72
she had to have a pill count,
her pill count was accurate.
00:10:54.75\00:10:57.92
And I had seen
her after her accident
00:10:57.95\00:11:01.02
and she said,
"I'm going to do this,"
00:11:01.06\00:11:02.82
and she shared
with me that her mother
00:11:02.86\00:11:05.73
is now in her life
again, her children,
00:11:05.76\00:11:07.93
she's been reunified with them
00:11:07.96\00:11:10.07
and also she'll
finish school next year.
00:11:10.10\00:11:12.93
So I feel that that's a
very good success story.
00:11:12.97\00:11:15.50
Amen.
00:11:15.54\00:11:16.87
And if she can do it
anybody can do it I feel.
00:11:16.91\00:11:18.84
Definitely, you
know, one of the key words
00:11:18.87\00:11:20.28
that you said in there
with the young lady was
00:11:20.31\00:11:23.11
that she was determined.
00:11:23.14\00:11:25.91
And I know for myself, it
took a lot of determination
00:11:25.95\00:11:29.58
because when you first
get incarcerated you come out,
00:11:29.62\00:11:33.92
you have this record now,
00:11:33.96\00:11:35.96
sometimes it can be
difficult trying to get a job
00:11:35.99\00:11:38.46
and it's almost like
you're stuck in a circle
00:11:38.49\00:11:40.46
chasing your tail.
00:11:40.50\00:11:41.83
For me, I first got
incarcerated as a juvenile,
00:11:41.86\00:11:44.67
I went through juvenile system
00:11:44.70\00:11:46.23
then I went to jail
charged as an adult,
00:11:46.27\00:11:48.50
went to prison at 19 years old.
00:11:48.54\00:11:50.51
I get out and all you see
00:11:50.54\00:11:52.97
is a bunch of
stuff on my record.
00:11:53.01\00:11:54.38
I didn't finish high school,
00:11:54.41\00:11:55.74
I only finished the
tenth grade, got a GED.
00:11:55.78\00:11:57.88
And so many
individuals that I have met
00:11:57.91\00:12:00.25
even while I was out
there, it's almost like
00:12:00.28\00:12:02.62
we're just
running in this circle
00:12:02.65\00:12:04.32
and we can't get out.
00:12:04.35\00:12:05.82
And it really takes
a lot of determination
00:12:05.85\00:12:08.92
for individual to state
and say, "You know what?
00:12:08.96\00:12:12.29
I want to do better.
00:12:12.33\00:12:13.66
Despite my circumstances
I want to do better."
00:12:13.70\00:12:17.17
What have you seen
00:12:17.20\00:12:18.67
when it comes to
these different individuals,
00:12:18.70\00:12:20.54
the success stories versus
the not so successful stories
00:12:20.57\00:12:24.51
has been that key factor
that has made the difference?
00:12:24.54\00:12:27.64
Certainly, some people we know
00:12:27.68\00:12:29.44
that are in a
different place mentally.
00:12:29.48\00:12:31.21
Yeah, definitely.
00:12:31.25\00:12:32.58
And we realize that everyone
00:12:32.61\00:12:33.95
is not going to
take the same steps,
00:12:33.98\00:12:36.28
they need to be
spoon fed if you will.
00:12:36.32\00:12:39.92
Having someone to
say, "I'm going to help you
00:12:39.95\00:12:42.82
through the
process," because I have guys,
00:12:42.86\00:12:45.83
they get out and they just,
they don't know what to do.
00:12:45.86\00:12:48.76
It's like,
"Well, I want to do this
00:12:48.80\00:12:52.17
but I don't know what
steps to take to do it."
00:12:52.20\00:12:55.24
And it's very hard
where you have society
00:12:55.27\00:12:57.41
that's beating you
down that's saying,
00:12:57.44\00:12:59.44
"Well, you know,
you served your time
00:12:59.47\00:13:01.04
but even though
you've been released
00:13:01.08\00:13:02.78
you're gonna
continue to serve your time
00:13:02.81\00:13:04.81
because it's never enough."
00:13:04.85\00:13:06.45
So when you have
individuals like that,
00:13:06.48\00:13:08.98
I think the best thing to do
00:13:09.02\00:13:10.85
is try to connect
them with good resources.
00:13:10.89\00:13:14.92
And I'm a strong
believer in having
00:13:14.96\00:13:17.63
that spiritual
component for anybody.
00:13:17.66\00:13:21.00
The success
stories that I've seen,
00:13:21.03\00:13:23.23
most people are connected
from a spiritual standpoint,
00:13:23.26\00:13:27.34
they allow Christ
to lead in their lives.
00:13:27.37\00:13:30.01
And once they have that,
00:13:30.04\00:13:31.51
I think the churches
needs to get more involved
00:13:31.54\00:13:33.81
and, you know, what
they can do to help,
00:13:33.84\00:13:36.98
find out what they can do,
00:13:37.01\00:13:38.61
if they need to
do community work,
00:13:38.65\00:13:40.88
allow them to do
community work at the church,
00:13:40.92\00:13:43.12
whatever is needed to be
able to meet the requirements
00:13:43.15\00:13:46.86
that the court puts
on their stipulations,
00:13:46.89\00:13:50.63
I think that will
help them a long way.
00:13:50.66\00:13:51.99
Okay, yeah, definitely.
00:13:52.03\00:13:53.36
I definitely
believe that that will help.
00:13:53.40\00:13:55.76
Now let's talk about the
accountability if a parole,
00:13:55.80\00:13:58.73
parolee is not in accordance
with the recommendations
00:13:58.77\00:14:02.04
that have been placed
upon him by the parole officer,
00:14:02.07\00:14:05.27
by the state,
what happens with that?
00:14:05.31\00:14:08.11
Well, when I make
recommendations for treatment,
00:14:08.14\00:14:11.68
I have the clients to fill out
a release of information form.
00:14:11.71\00:14:16.45
And once they fill out that
release of information form,
00:14:16.48\00:14:18.99
I can contact the
treatment provider to see
00:14:19.02\00:14:21.36
if they've been in compliance
with what's been recommended.
00:14:21.39\00:14:24.46
If they haven't
been in compliance,
00:14:24.49\00:14:26.80
at that time is when I
speak with the parole officer
00:14:26.83\00:14:29.16
and I say we
need to do something,
00:14:29.20\00:14:31.43
you know, we need to
have another intervention
00:14:31.47\00:14:33.70
because this client
is not being compliant
00:14:33.74\00:14:36.47
with what's been recommended.
00:14:36.50\00:14:38.41
And so if we can
stop it early on,
00:14:38.44\00:14:40.51
then we can find out
what are the barriers
00:14:40.54\00:14:42.78
that are preventing
you from moving forward.
00:14:42.81\00:14:45.38
And once we
identify those barriers,
00:14:45.41\00:14:47.22
then we can
reduce, sometimes that,
00:14:47.25\00:14:49.62
you know, they don't tell us,
"I can't get to my treatment,"
00:14:49.65\00:14:52.89
you know, "Well, let's see
what we can do to help you,"
00:14:52.92\00:14:55.72
you know, and so
we just make sure
00:14:55.76\00:14:58.33
that we in
constant communication
00:14:58.36\00:15:00.10
with the treatment
provider to make sure
00:15:00.13\00:15:01.56
they're doing what's expected.
00:15:01.60\00:15:02.96
Great, great. Let
me ask you a question.
00:15:03.00\00:15:04.33
What is the difference
between a parole officer
00:15:04.37\00:15:07.00
and a parole liaison?
00:15:07.04\00:15:08.90
What is the
difference between those two?
00:15:08.94\00:15:10.71
Well, I'm a
parole re-entry liaison
00:15:10.74\00:15:13.34
and I'm the go between
person, kind of, we partner
00:15:13.38\00:15:17.41
with the
Department of Corrections
00:15:17.45\00:15:19.91
just to make sure that we
can meet the client's needs.
00:15:19.95\00:15:24.49
So a parole
officer, what they do,
00:15:24.52\00:15:26.76
they more punitive.
00:15:26.79\00:15:28.59
I would say,
I'm more therapeutic
00:15:28.62\00:15:31.76
in terms of trying to
find the best possible solution
00:15:31.79\00:15:35.56
for a client to be successful.
00:15:35.60\00:15:36.93
Okay, okay.
00:15:36.97\00:15:38.30
So it seems like
as a parole liaison,
00:15:38.33\00:15:41.24
your job is more so to
actually help the individual?
00:15:41.27\00:15:43.81
Yes. Okay.
00:15:43.84\00:15:45.17
So for a person
that is incarcerated
00:15:45.21\00:15:47.08
or the family member
of the one incarcerated,
00:15:47.11\00:15:50.48
how do they connect
with a parole liaison,
00:15:50.51\00:15:52.71
because while I
was incarcerated,
00:15:52.75\00:15:55.12
I had never heard
of a parole liaison.
00:15:55.15\00:15:57.39
I knew what parole
officer was, probation officer,
00:15:57.42\00:16:00.62
but I never heard
of a parole liaison.
00:16:00.66\00:16:02.92
So how can a
inmate's family member
00:16:02.96\00:16:06.49
get in contact
with a parole liaison
00:16:06.53\00:16:09.00
so that that
individual can step in between
00:16:09.03\00:16:11.07
and be that
go-between person for him?
00:16:11.10\00:16:13.34
Again, communication is key.
00:16:13.37\00:16:15.80
I think it's
important for the family members
00:16:15.84\00:16:18.01
to reach out to see
what services are available.
00:16:18.04\00:16:21.21
And for me I can only speak
for the district that I'm over.
00:16:21.24\00:16:24.51
I try to make sure that
the family members know that
00:16:24.55\00:16:29.12
I'm there to help
in any way possible,
00:16:29.15\00:16:32.49
making sure that the
people inside the prison,
00:16:32.52\00:16:35.62
the staff know
that we are available
00:16:35.66\00:16:38.83
for whatever needs
that needs to be met.
00:16:38.86\00:16:41.33
I correspond a lot
with family members
00:16:41.36\00:16:43.77
and past events
and that's helped a lot
00:16:43.80\00:16:46.20
as we try to
transition them out of prison.
00:16:46.23\00:16:48.87
Okay.
00:16:48.90\00:16:50.24
What are some of
the steps as the PRL
00:16:50.27\00:16:52.81
that can be taken to
make the proper referrals?
00:16:52.84\00:16:56.11
Well, for one is to make sure
00:16:56.14\00:16:58.38
you do a pretty good assessment.
00:16:58.41\00:17:00.25
And that's just...
Assessment on the inmate?
00:17:00.28\00:17:02.58
On the client, yes. Okay. Okay.
00:17:02.62\00:17:04.35
Inmate, yes.
00:17:04.39\00:17:05.95
Just gathering information
about substance history
00:17:05.99\00:17:10.13
where they compliant, did
they go to their treatment,
00:17:10.16\00:17:13.36
were they, did they
complete successfully,
00:17:13.40\00:17:16.16
did they graduate from
a therapeutic community,
00:17:16.20\00:17:18.83
is there any
mental health history,
00:17:18.87\00:17:20.60
medical problems.
00:17:20.64\00:17:22.60
And I think once we
gather that type of information,
00:17:22.64\00:17:25.71
then we can make
the referrals as needed.
00:17:25.74\00:17:27.51
Okay, okay.
00:17:27.54\00:17:29.38
What if a parolee gets
out, no job, can't afford it,
00:17:29.41\00:17:33.82
what can a parole
liaison at that point do
00:17:33.85\00:17:36.65
if this individual has no
job, family member no income,
00:17:36.69\00:17:40.26
what can they do for the
parole liaison to step in?
00:17:40.29\00:17:43.36
Well, what I do is I
gather again, information,
00:17:43.39\00:17:48.00
and then I make,
complete the documentation
00:17:48.03\00:17:51.33
for the client to be able
to get into recovery works.
00:17:51.37\00:17:54.80
A lot of clients now
that's getting out of DLC
00:17:54.84\00:17:57.21
are signed up for
HIP, that's Indiana Plan...
00:17:57.24\00:18:01.74
Healthy Indiana
Plan for insurance.
00:18:01.78\00:18:04.48
And if they don't
have the insurance,
00:18:04.51\00:18:06.65
then they can get
into recovery works
00:18:06.68\00:18:08.42
but of course, we
utilize the insurance first
00:18:08.45\00:18:11.29
before making the
referral for recovery works.
00:18:11.32\00:18:13.49
Okay, okay.
00:18:13.52\00:18:14.92
While the
inmate is incarcerated,
00:18:14.96\00:18:17.23
what do you feel
are some key things
00:18:17.26\00:18:19.46
that inmate needs to do
while he is incarcerated,
00:18:19.49\00:18:22.63
he, she to prepare
themselves to get ready,
00:18:22.66\00:18:26.00
to get ready to be released?
00:18:26.03\00:18:27.54
For instance, when I
was in prison I went for,
00:18:27.57\00:18:30.77
went before the parole
board and in Texas at that time
00:18:30.81\00:18:34.04
I don't know
what they do right now
00:18:34.08\00:18:35.41
but they gave me
something called the FI-2
00:18:35.44\00:18:38.41
and the FI-2 meant that
I was going to be released
00:18:38.45\00:18:41.35
within about a
three month period.
00:18:41.38\00:18:43.28
So within that three months,
00:18:43.32\00:18:44.65
I was going to
get out at some point.
00:18:44.69\00:18:46.62
And so there
were different things
00:18:46.65\00:18:48.42
that I could get
involved in while I was,
00:18:48.46\00:18:50.56
while I was in prison
00:18:50.59\00:18:51.93
or before I went
before the parole board,
00:18:51.96\00:18:54.46
after I saw the parole board.
00:18:54.50\00:18:58.43
What can individuals
do to prepare for that?
00:18:58.47\00:19:01.67
So like me, I got the FI-2,
I know I'm about to get out.
00:19:01.70\00:19:05.67
What can I do to
really prepare myself,
00:19:05.71\00:19:08.41
okay because you
have an individual
00:19:08.44\00:19:09.78
who's been locked
up, 10, 15, 20 years,
00:19:09.81\00:19:12.75
now I'm about to go and get out,
00:19:12.78\00:19:14.62
I'm about to step
out into the society
00:19:14.65\00:19:16.69
that is totally
different, totally different,
00:19:16.72\00:19:19.19
20 years later so
many things have changed.
00:19:19.22\00:19:22.32
What can this
individual do while he is inside
00:19:22.36\00:19:25.23
he or she to
really prepare themselves
00:19:25.26\00:19:27.83
to step outside of those gates?
00:19:27.86\00:19:30.10
I think what's important again,
00:19:30.13\00:19:32.37
the social workers
role is so important,
00:19:32.40\00:19:35.07
identifying the client's needs,
00:19:35.10\00:19:39.07
making sure that
she's aware of those needs.
00:19:39.11\00:19:43.11
Once the client's needs are met,
00:19:43.14\00:19:46.01
I think that assist
them in going a long way
00:19:46.05\00:19:48.68
once they are
released from prison.
00:19:48.72\00:19:51.35
A lot of times
guys, and you know this,
00:19:51.39\00:19:54.06
they do different
programs to get a time cut...
00:19:54.09\00:19:56.46
Yeah, oh, yeah.
00:19:56.49\00:19:57.83
But is their mind really at
that stage of change to say,
00:19:57.86\00:20:01.16
"You know, I really
want to make a difference.
00:20:01.20\00:20:03.13
I really want my life to
change or am I just doing this
00:20:03.16\00:20:06.20
to appease the judicial system."
00:20:06.23\00:20:09.80
So I think it's
really important,
00:20:09.84\00:20:12.27
the social work
role is so important
00:20:12.31\00:20:14.68
in the criminal justice system
and see where the client is
00:20:14.71\00:20:18.08
in terms of
their stage of change.
00:20:18.11\00:20:19.58
Yeah, you know,
that's very important
00:20:19.61\00:20:21.55
and you said that
I would know this.
00:20:21.58\00:20:23.89
And, you know, one of the
times that I got locked up,
00:20:23.92\00:20:26.92
it was an older guy who told me,
00:20:26.96\00:20:28.29
he said, "Look, the
way to get out is...
00:20:28.32\00:20:31.19
When you get incarcerated,
sign up for every program
00:20:31.23\00:20:33.70
that they have so
that when you come
00:20:33.73\00:20:35.80
before the parole board,
they look at these things
00:20:35.83\00:20:38.47
and say, "Oh,
he's the individual
00:20:38.50\00:20:39.83
that's trying to do something."
00:20:39.87\00:20:41.20
And so for me I
didn't have the mindset
00:20:41.24\00:20:43.44
of I was going to change,
00:20:43.47\00:20:45.04
but I knew if I
sign up for Project Rio,
00:20:45.07\00:20:46.94
if I sign up for Home
Habitat, I already have my GED
00:20:46.98\00:20:49.64
but I signed up for
the GED program anyhow.
00:20:49.68\00:20:52.08
So if I signed up for all
of these things it will look,
00:20:52.11\00:20:54.82
it have that appearance
like I'm trying to do something.
00:20:54.85\00:20:57.42
And so I'm sure people
play the system so often.
00:20:57.45\00:21:01.02
But I think one
of the key things
00:21:01.06\00:21:02.72
is that a person has
to be determined that,
00:21:02.76\00:21:05.99
"Look, aside from all of this,
00:21:06.03\00:21:08.10
aside from me
trying to play the system,
00:21:08.13\00:21:10.23
I have to be determined
enough to want to do right."
00:21:10.27\00:21:13.30
And I think that's
where a lot of it starts up,
00:21:13.34\00:21:15.20
starts at is your
desire to want to change.
00:21:15.24\00:21:19.31
I know for me, I had
to get back in school,
00:21:19.34\00:21:22.41
like I said, I only finished
the tenth grade, got my GED.
00:21:22.44\00:21:26.48
While I was incarcerated,
I was 17 years old.
00:21:26.51\00:21:29.38
You touched on how
important education
00:21:29.42\00:21:31.92
was earlier in the program.
00:21:31.95\00:21:34.06
Speak a little bit
more about how impactful,
00:21:34.09\00:21:36.89
how important it
is to get an education
00:21:36.93\00:21:39.93
and to be able to
get further in society.
00:21:39.96\00:21:42.10
And the reason I'm asking
that is because in most prisons
00:21:42.13\00:21:45.87
people can get a trade,
00:21:45.90\00:21:47.70
you can come up
with some kind of trade.
00:21:47.74\00:21:49.30
But even sometimes
it's hard to get employed
00:21:49.34\00:21:51.87
even with that trade. Yes.
00:21:51.91\00:21:54.11
But with education
00:21:54.14\00:21:56.21
it opens up a
career and not just a job.
00:21:56.24\00:21:59.15
So talk about how
much important it is
00:21:59.18\00:22:01.62
to actually get an
education, a college degree
00:22:01.65\00:22:04.92
and even go on to
pass the bachelor's,
00:22:04.95\00:22:06.32
even a master's degree.
00:22:06.35\00:22:08.16
I had a gentleman that
00:22:08.19\00:22:10.43
when I was at Washtenaw
County was assigned to me.
00:22:10.46\00:22:13.76
And this young man,
00:22:13.80\00:22:15.13
he will get write
up every single day
00:22:15.16\00:22:18.63
for whatever reason.
00:22:18.67\00:22:20.00
So I brought him in
00:22:20.04\00:22:21.54
and I just
listened to his story.
00:22:21.57\00:22:23.84
And once I
listened to his story,
00:22:23.87\00:22:26.44
I tried to assist him
with getting involved with
00:22:26.47\00:22:29.14
because he would
use a lot of profanity
00:22:29.18\00:22:31.55
and I said,
"Well, how would you like
00:22:31.58\00:22:33.01
to change those words
00:22:33.05\00:22:34.98
and make them
something more positive?"
00:22:35.02\00:22:37.52
And so what I did was,
I got him connected with
00:22:37.55\00:22:40.99
someone to teach him reading
00:22:41.02\00:22:44.06
and once he started
to improve in that area,
00:22:44.09\00:22:47.33
he wanted more
and more for himself.
00:22:47.36\00:22:49.20
He was able to see
that, "I do this," you know.
00:22:49.23\00:22:52.73
And so, but that's not
how I started with him.
00:22:52.77\00:22:55.70
Like I said I
listened to his story
00:22:55.74\00:22:57.77
but I found, I said,
00:22:57.81\00:22:59.44
"Why are you getting
all these write ups?"
00:22:59.47\00:23:01.04
I asked the
question and he said,
00:23:01.08\00:23:03.58
"You know, I get so angry
00:23:03.61\00:23:05.35
and this is how
I express myself."
00:23:05.38\00:23:07.62
So I said, "Why don't you
write about how you feel."
00:23:07.65\00:23:10.99
So I got him a
journal and he started writing
00:23:11.02\00:23:13.52
because when I
first met with him,
00:23:13.56\00:23:15.02
you know, he used
a lot of choice words
00:23:15.06\00:23:17.73
and he realized that
this is not something
00:23:17.76\00:23:20.70
that he should
do when around me.
00:23:20.73\00:23:23.37
And so when he came to
share his journal with me,
00:23:23.40\00:23:27.17
he said, "Well, Miss Fletcher,
I can't use those words
00:23:27.20\00:23:30.04
because I know these are
words that you don't like."
00:23:30.07\00:23:32.87
And so as he started writing,
00:23:32.91\00:23:35.74
he started wanting to learn more
00:23:35.78\00:23:38.21
and it eventually
decrease the amount of write ups
00:23:38.25\00:23:42.98
that he was
getting. Oh, wow. Okay.
00:23:43.02\00:23:44.79
He went from write ups every day
00:23:44.82\00:23:47.16
till we got to the
point where one month,
00:23:47.19\00:23:49.26
no write ups at all. Okay, okay.
00:23:49.29\00:23:51.23
And so I think
it's important to,
00:23:51.26\00:23:53.63
I know you ask
about education piece
00:23:53.66\00:23:55.70
but to fine a
person's learning style
00:23:55.73\00:23:59.83
and for him he
liked to rap, you know,
00:23:59.87\00:24:03.10
and so he started
rapping in his journal.
00:24:03.14\00:24:05.57
He will rap
something in his head
00:24:05.61\00:24:07.28
and write it on his journal
to the best of his ability.
00:24:07.31\00:24:10.95
But that opened up more doors,
00:24:10.98\00:24:12.91
you know, and he
was able to learn more
00:24:12.95\00:24:16.62
and started working on a GED,
00:24:16.65\00:24:18.55
you know, so
that was this one step
00:24:18.59\00:24:20.39
and then the next step.
00:24:20.42\00:24:21.76
And so I think it's important
to learn people's writing...
00:24:21.79\00:24:23.93
I mean, not writing
styles, learning styles,
00:24:23.96\00:24:26.90
learn what can help
them, listen to their story
00:24:26.93\00:24:30.97
because if we
listen to people's story,
00:24:31.00\00:24:32.47
we can learn a lot
about them and then we can,
00:24:32.50\00:24:35.44
if we can make
provision for change.
00:24:35.47\00:24:37.17
Definitely.
00:24:37.21\00:24:39.34
A person, he or she
lives in this bad area,
00:24:39.37\00:24:42.98
whatever state it is,
lives in this bad area,
00:24:43.01\00:24:45.81
gets
incarcerated, comes from a area
00:24:45.85\00:24:47.28
which drug
infested, crime all over,
00:24:47.32\00:24:49.85
gets incarcerated,
does a number of years,
00:24:49.88\00:24:51.55
comes out, goes right
back to that situation.
00:24:51.59\00:24:55.42
What can that person do
in that type of situation
00:24:55.46\00:24:58.53
to really break that whole cycle
00:24:58.56\00:25:00.50
because he's got a record,
he or she has that record,
00:25:00.53\00:25:03.06
everything
around him is negative
00:25:03.10\00:25:05.40
that's where the person lives.
00:25:05.43\00:25:07.00
What can this individual,
what is something simple
00:25:07.04\00:25:09.20
that this individual
can do to break that cycle
00:25:09.24\00:25:11.51
because it's very hard
to just, "You know what,
00:25:11.54\00:25:13.64
I'm gonna sit in
my house all day,
00:25:13.68\00:25:15.01
I'm not going to
talk to anybody,"
00:25:15.04\00:25:16.38
eventually you're
gonna get tired of that
00:25:16.41\00:25:17.85
and be right back into I think.
00:25:17.88\00:25:19.48
So what can a person do
that is in that situation?
00:25:19.51\00:25:22.42
I think it's
important to go to meetings.
00:25:22.45\00:25:24.92
Especially most
of, I'm gonna say
00:25:24.95\00:25:26.65
a large percentage of
people that are incarcerated
00:25:26.69\00:25:29.86
has some type of
substance abuse issue.
00:25:29.89\00:25:32.43
And if you can get
involved in meetings,
00:25:32.46\00:25:35.00
you know, have a sponsor,
00:25:35.03\00:25:37.03
someone that you
can kind of escape
00:25:37.07\00:25:40.24
from your circumstance.
00:25:40.27\00:25:41.60
Someone that you can talk
to that can relate to you,
00:25:41.64\00:25:44.67
I think that's very crucial.
00:25:44.71\00:25:47.28
Of course, a lot of
times they surround it with,
00:25:47.31\00:25:49.18
you know, bad
areas where they live
00:25:49.21\00:25:51.55
but if you go to meetings,
00:25:51.58\00:25:52.91
I try to tap into if
my guys are spiritual,
00:25:52.95\00:25:56.38
get them involved in church.
00:25:56.42\00:25:58.49
Okay. Be a mentor.
00:25:58.52\00:26:01.12
Talk to other young people.
00:26:01.16\00:26:02.49
I strongly encourage
that, talk to other young people
00:26:02.52\00:26:05.69
about your life so that they can
00:26:05.73\00:26:07.66
possibly take a different path.
00:26:07.70\00:26:09.53
Okay, okay, great.
00:26:09.56\00:26:11.20
Let me ask you
this last question.
00:26:11.23\00:26:12.97
What led you to decide to
be a parole liaison versus
00:26:13.00\00:26:16.71
actually working
directly in the prison system?
00:26:16.74\00:26:19.87
Well, again, I
believe it was chosen for me.
00:26:19.91\00:26:24.35
Okay.
00:26:24.38\00:26:26.18
I pray about everything
00:26:26.21\00:26:27.55
and I ask God
to lead in my life,
00:26:27.58\00:26:30.09
"Lord, what do you want me..."
00:26:30.12\00:26:31.72
Prior to this
job, I had resigned
00:26:31.75\00:26:34.02
from another position
00:26:34.06\00:26:35.42
and before I had
anything lined up
00:26:35.46\00:26:38.76
because I knew that
that door was closing for me.
00:26:38.79\00:26:41.76
But when God
opened this door for me,
00:26:41.80\00:26:44.17
He let me see that
00:26:44.20\00:26:45.73
when I share with you
guys about my testimony,
00:26:45.77\00:26:48.80
when I was down
for almost a year
00:26:48.84\00:26:50.51
because of my knee injury.
00:26:50.54\00:26:52.41
During that time it
was, it was very instrumental
00:26:52.44\00:26:55.01
in learning the
path that God has for me.
00:26:55.04\00:26:58.05
And I needed help,
00:26:58.08\00:26:59.98
I needed assistance from people.
00:27:00.02\00:27:02.25
It was a very
dark time in my life
00:27:02.28\00:27:05.49
and I believe it
was just to prepare me
00:27:05.52\00:27:08.26
for people like those
that have been incarcerated,
00:27:08.29\00:27:11.59
those that are in the
criminal justice system
00:27:11.63\00:27:13.96
to say, "Hey,
I've been through this,
00:27:14.00\00:27:16.00
God brought me through this.
00:27:16.03\00:27:17.37
He can bring you
through it as well."
00:27:17.40\00:27:19.47
And the reason why I
chose to be outside the system
00:27:19.50\00:27:22.70
as opposed to trying to pursue
something inside the system
00:27:22.74\00:27:26.91
was because I want
to be that advocate,
00:27:26.94\00:27:28.61
I want to be that voice
to go out to the community
00:27:28.64\00:27:30.81
to be able to help
people to bridge the gap.
00:27:30.85\00:27:33.15
Definitely, definitely.
00:27:33.18\00:27:34.52
Well, you know,
it's a great work
00:27:34.55\00:27:35.88
that you're doing, like
I said I had never heard
00:27:35.92\00:27:37.39
of a parole liaison individual
while I was incarcerated.
00:27:37.42\00:27:41.22
I know of a probation officer,
I know of a parole officer
00:27:41.26\00:27:44.13
but never a parole liaison.
00:27:44.16\00:27:46.43
And I'm just thankful
for the work that you do
00:27:46.46\00:27:48.43
because it almost seems like
00:27:48.46\00:27:49.90
you're a motherly figure
to a lot of these individuals.
00:27:49.93\00:27:53.40
But honestly that's
what a lot of them need.
00:27:53.44\00:27:55.40
A lot of people
need that motherly figure
00:27:55.44\00:27:58.11
to steer them in
the right direction.
00:27:58.14\00:28:00.41
So we definitely want
to thank you for the work
00:28:00.44\00:28:02.74
that you're doing, the work
that you will continue to do
00:28:02.78\00:28:05.91
in working with these
inmates and as you say clients
00:28:05.95\00:28:09.52
and guiding them in
the right direction.
00:28:09.55\00:28:10.89
So thank you, Miss Fletcher,
for being on the program.
00:28:10.92\00:28:12.49
Thank you.
00:28:12.52\00:28:13.86
Thank you for tuning
into the New Journey.
00:28:13.89\00:28:15.99
Look for you to
come back once again
00:28:16.02\00:28:17.73
on another exciting
program of the New Journey.
00:28:17.76\00:28:20.66
Take care and God bless.
00:28:20.70\00:28:22.76