Reentry Experiences: A Journey Home After Prison

I've never been to prison in my life. Yes, never even been arrested. But once I was out, the journey back to my old life was quite a challenge. It all began with the first place I returned to, which was my home.

Homecoming: A Sensory Revelation

Walking into a house after being away for 29 years was strange, and it's difficult to describe exactly how it felt. The first thing I wanted to do was take a leisurely bath, something I hadn't experienced before. For so long, I had only taken showers, and finally getting to take a bath was both a relief and a luxury. It was a moment of freedom and comfort that made the reentry process a little easier.

Exploring a New Springfield

The next day, parole officials took me around Springfield, a place I had never been before. One of the first places they showed me was Bass Pro, a sporting goods store. My initial reaction was not very enthusiastic since I remembered it as a smaller store. The word "Just wait!" from the parole officer hinted that there was more to see, and indeed, it was a revelation. The sheer size of the store was awe-inspiring, and it's still expanding. We spent part of the day there and then moved on to other places.

Home at Last

Thankfully, I had a plan. My father allowed me to stay at his house, which turned out to be my only 'home plan' that the parole board would accept. Without his help, I would have had to rely on a halfway house or max out my resources. He gave up a lot for me, including his own lifestyle restrictions, such as not being able to have alcohol or firearms in his home. My parole and probation officer, a former Air Force and part-time police officer, must have earned our trust since surprise visits from them were common. I’m grateful for my father’s support; we maintain a good relationship, provided we don't live together.

The Long Road to Freedom

I served 36 years in prison, and when my lawyers came to pick me up, I was taken to a reentry ministry for 6 months.

Parole officials took me from Denver’s DRDC airport to the terminal for my flight home. I had a 12-hour wait, and the parole agent warned me that any trouble while I was waiting would get back to him. I settled in to read, enjoying a Caesar salad with blackened salmon and a book. When I arrived at security, I was given a hard time due to my Colorado prison ID. The process was grueling, including further searches and being asked to strip, which I refused to do. After a brief wait, security approved me and allowed me to proceed to the plane. On the way home, my dad picked me up from Ontario Airport in California and took me to my new home. That was in 2018, and things have been improving ever since.

When I was paroled from California in 2008, things were very different. My friend picked me up at the airport, and we ended up getting drunk on the way to her house, with no real plans to stay out. This time around, I have a wife, and I am off paper and doing much better.

Keywords: reentry, prison life, parole