What happens after an inmate is released from prison after many many years?

Question

What if they have no where to go? No money? Are they allowed to release them into a homless status?

Answer 1

Yes, an offender can be released from prison into a homeless status. Though halfway houses are available, they have their own rules for admission. Offenders most likely to end up in homeless status upon release are those who discharge their sentence (meaning they have no parole officer to report to on the outside). If someone has discharged their sentence, they cannot go to work release because work release is still considered incarceration. So if they've served their maximum time, the prison has to release them whether they have a place to go or not. I've seen individuals whose release address was a homeless shelter.

Answer 2

After working in the Illinois prison system for almost 18 years I witnessed many many inmates released from prison back into society. I guess different states may have different rules but in Illinois when an inmate is paroled or they serve out their sentence, they are sometimes released into what is called a "halfway house." This is usually for inmates who make parole. They go to this halfway house for a certain period of time. That way, someone who has been in prison for many years is not just thrust back out into society to fend for him or herself. They are also assisted in finding employment while they are at the halfway house so they do have finances. At other times, inmates are given a sum of money by the state (it used to be $100) and they are then transported to the bus station or train station where they purchase a ticket to their destination.
I knew an inmate who had spent over thirty five years in prison and had a very difficult time adjusting to society. He finally committed another crime so he could get back in prison. After all that time in prison, that was the only life he knew.
I got out of the prison system in 1991 so I haven't worked there in some time but what I have told you is how it was at the time. Rules have probably changed by now so a few things may be different. I hope this answers your question.

Answer 3

Inmates are usually released into a parole status and required to have a post-release plan, which includes such issues as where they'll live, work, etc. They're given the remaining balance in their commissary account. Some states also require inmates to be given a nominal amount of money upon release. If the inmate was not eligible for parole (i.e., early release) and served his or her entire sentence, they're often released with no plan and no follow-up. Yes, often they do become homeless, and fall back into substance abuse and crime, with or without parole. Punishment is a part of prison, yes, but rehabilitation and education should also be a part of it. Former inmates with education and marketable job skills do far better upon release than their counterparts without those assets.

Answer 4

They give them a small amount of money and usually they go through a work release program that trains them for some kind of job on the outside, they even hire them through the program. They also have halfway houses to get them used to being in the free world. They have to have someone to parole out to if they get out before they flatten their time, I don't think they turn them out homeless, at least I ain't ever heard of that. They may become that way sometime in the future if they cant make it , some become institutionalized and want to go back cause its all they know, It is a sad situation.Hope you don't have anyone that has been in for awhile but if you do help them out as best you can, they can use it. The guy above me dont know sh** and he obviously doesnt have any loved ones that have ever been there, everyone makes mistakes, have a heart, and yes we do have an obligatioon to help anyone who needs it!

Answer 5

Some of this information is outdated. Although there has been an increase in funding for prisons it does not usually assist the inmate in programs to better themselves. Many of the those programs have been cut. But the money keeps rolling in....Where is that money going?

Answer 6

They aren't released into homeless status. Most are able to go to a halfway house to get them on their feet again.

Answer 7

Prison is meant to punish, and remove from society those who cannot function within the rules society has set down. Recently rehabilitation has been added. It is up to the individual to accomplish that themselves. Society can and should only do so much.