HALF WAY HOUSE REFORM

Attorney General Eric Holder Announces New Rules for Federal 

Halfway Houses  

Being on the inside looking out, it seems that Attorney General Holder has been on a one man crusade the last year to reshape the policies and practices of the federal criminal justice system. For those of us buried in the belly of the beast this has been much welcomed news. Because for so long we have had nothing coming.  With the War on Drugs and Tough on Crime rhetoric and polices, we have been locked away in here and forgotten. Out of sight and out of mind. To those of us in prison the whole half-way house system seems to be designed for those who are self starters and go getters, but what about those with issues, disabilities or who lack motivation or direction?   I have heard stories about the half way house rules, always tthreatening  inmates  that  they better take whatever job they were offered,  or whoever missed a job interview or work because of transportation issues were basically confined to the halfway house or sent back to prison to finish up their last remaining months before being released. 

 But hold up, let h enlighten you about the irony of how halfway houses play a big part. By announcing new policies and programming for federal halfway houses, the Justice Department seems sincere in taking new steps to fight against recidivism. They seem to be putting a lot of emphasis on reentry and with thousands of people reentering society after serving their sentences it’s about time. The government should do everything they can to help us transition back to the world. With this in mind, the Attorney General has made it a requirement for federal halfway houses to boost treatment services for inmates prior to release. Including providing transportation assistance, cell phone access in order to help inmates seek employment opportunities and basically making the transition period at the halfway house less restrictive and more proactive. So ex-prisoners can obtain jobs, 

get transportation and spend their last months in home confinement.

Attorney General Eric Holder Announces New Rules for Federal Halfway Houses.

Here's the death grip; halfway houses are really all about getting 25 percent of your paycheck. That is the main thing they are interested in. They want you working whatever job is available so that they can get their cut. They want money for the bed that you occupy. The ability to gain more privileges is based on you getting a job and giving 25 percent of your paycheck to the halfway house. This is how it has been explained to me by returning prisoners who were at the Atlanta Transition Center and other halfway houses in general, during my incarceration.  My aim is to be freed, not enter into another segment of slavery involving this justice system.