The Front Line: Building Programs that Recognize Families’ Role in Reentry.

In making the transition back to the community, many will turn to their families—spouses, parents, siblings, grandparents, and others—for some kind of assistance. These family members become the “front line” of reentry, providing former inmates with critical material and emotional support including shelter, food, clothing, leads for jobs, and guidance in staying sober or avoiding criminal behavior.

This paper, part of Vera’s Issues in Brief series, looks at Project Greenlight and other innovations across the nation to explore how family involvement in reentry may lead to more successful transitions from prison and better recidivism results.