ULGP
NEWS

In a month built around freedom, the Office of Reentry Programs & Services wants to talk about the people for whom freedom is most fragile, and most hard-won: returning citizens. Men and women who have served their time, paid their debt, and are now doing the hardest work of all, coming home and building a life. This summer, as a new class of eager college interns and graduates enters the workforce, we want to make a case for a group of job-seekers who deserve the same consid

Returning home after incarceration often comes with overwhelming barriers connected to employment, housing, healthcare access, social stigma, emotional wellness, and financial stability. Successful reentry requires more than survival.

The initiative, led by formerly incarcerated leaders, represents a departure from traditional reentry models. Rather than relying on fragmented referrals to services after release, this approach centers on building a coordinated system of support designed to meet individuals’ needs in a more holistic and sustained way.

Over the past several decades, the number of incarcerated women in the United States has grown at a staggering pace. Nationwide, the incarceration rate for women increased by more than 560% between 1978 and 2007, far outpacing the growth of men’s incarceration. In Pennsylvania, the number of women in jails has risen by more than 1,000% since 1980, making women one of the fastest-growing segments of the incarcerated population in the Commonwealth.

As we begin January, we want to help you start the year strong. One of the most important steps in a successful reentry journey is having the right identification and personal documents. These documents are often required for employment, housing, healthcare, benefits, and education.