Community discussion on incarceration back into reality

The Idaho Department of Correction is trying to identify issues to better bring released prisoners back into communities. They are teaming up with “The Voice Advocacy’ to host a community conversation to help bridge the gap for when individuals are leaving prison.

When people leaving leave prison and reenter back into communities, They are can be presented with problems.

“They need jobs, they need housing, they need transportation,” said Andra Smith Hansen, the Voice Advocacy Director. “They’re reentering a world they’ve been removed from and that can be challenging and overwhelming.”

However, it is definitely something they can overcome. Just ask Stephanie Taylor-Silva.

“I was in prison, in 2010 and 2011,” said Taylor-Silva. “[I] was on supervision with the Idaho with Department of Corrections until 2014.”

Since being released, she has become a mentor with the IDOC’s Free2Succeed program and even the coordinator for district 7 corrections.

“The transition has been very smooth and I have learned so much they have been such an asset to my recovery,” said Taylor-Silva. “I’d like to say that everything I know, I’ve learned from the probation and parole office and the leadership that I work with.”

Besides working with IDOC, Taylor-Silva is completing her education at Idaho State University in Sociology and criminology. That way she can continue helping people.

“I love to see people recover, and I love to see people have the same opportunities [that] I have been blessed with.”

So she can help other get that second chance too.

“The Community Conversation on Re-entry and Recidivism” is April 4, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Bennion Student Center at the Idaho State University Idaho Falls campus.

They are going to have guest speakers sharing their stories of incarceration back into societies. As well, there will be tables with facilitators discussing topics like moving forward after prison, overcoming obstacles, and reaching out to mentors and parole officers. It allows important discussions not just on the those topics, but also side conversations from those who attend to figure out better ways to solve the problem of incarceration back into society.