The Release Plan
I offer a tool: The Release Plan
I am the author, my editor is Jane White, the former chair of the English Department at Linn-Benton Community College. Photographs and design are by graphic artist M’Liss Runyon, also formerly at LBCC.
While incarcerated, I realized the lack of funding for release preparation combined with the level of education of the parolee were problems without simple answers.
I began writing this plan as an inmate, living firsthand with heartbreaking recidivism. Fundamentals such as saving money, delayed gratification, and long-term planning did not exist in the conversations on the units. It was my impression that the skills of daily living needed to become an adult, a woman able to contribute to her own future, were missing.
The Release Plan is simple and straight forward, providing access to everyone at all levels of education. I offer it freely.
My memoir Falling inspired Colette Peters to order it placed in every prison library in Oregon. The common overwhelming response of my readers is: What can be done to stop the flow in and out of prison? The Release Plan provides another layer of help.
Please contact me with questions and impressions.
Photo by Ye Jinghan on Unsplash