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After Release from Prison, Turning a Life AroundProgram helps ex-prisoners readjust and contribute to societyRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - It wasn't easy for 48-year-old Bobbi Sierer to find full time work. "I'd never been a felon before, and so coming out it was a lot more difficult than I had anticipated,” said Sierer after her shift at Wendy’s on Wednesday, where she’s worked full time since July. "I didn't realize that a background check means you can't have been in trouble,” she said. In April, Sierer finished up her five-year sentence at Hiland Mountain Correction Center for manslaughter and DUI. "I got behind the wheel when I was too tired and fell asleep driving and hit someone in oncoming traffic, and I killed her; her name was Zoe Kreizenbeck, and she died at the scene of the accident,’ said Sierer, who was using methamphetamine and marijuana at the time. Now clean, Sierer said it was hard readjusting to the world after she was released. But she didn't have to do it alone. “The main thing about getting them back into community is to establish them a safe environment,” said Pat Staregowski, Sierer’s case manager with the Alaska Native Justice Center’s Re-Entry Program. “A lot of them will go right back into the same environment expecting different circumstances, and it doesn’t turn out that way -- that's why the recidivism rate gets so high, because they don’t have an alternative place to go,” said Staregowski, referring to the importance of finding a stable place to live. Luckily for Sierer, she has a lot of family support -- she’s preparing to spend Thanksgiving with them for the first time in 5 years. “My youngest granddaughter has been born while I was in there, so I’ve never had a Christmas or a Thanksgiving or a birthday with her, I'm really excited about that,” she said. The re-entry program helped Sierer look for work and provided weekly counseling. She’s now considered a graduate of the program, but continues to attend sessions regularly. “The group support, the staff support -- they're so willing to listen, I never felt put down there," said Sierer. The program also helped Sierer get a bus pass and work clothes. Sierer's case manager with the re-entry program said Sierer is mentor material. “She has expressed and exhibits those kind of qualities as long as she's been in the group she's helped others to find an incentive to find that job and reach out,” said Staregowski. After learning life lessons the hard way, Sierer is happy to be a productive part of society and one day hopes to open her own bed-and-breakfast business. |
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Jeni said on Tuesday, Nov 27 at 9:26 AM
Being convicted of a crime and serving a sentence isn't easy in itself, but the strong will and determination to make yourself a better life is always good. Being rehibilitated, knowing what you did was wrong and living with it is a lot harder then everyone thinks. I have served some time, I know have my life back together, and living it one day at a time. I have a great job and a place to live. I have my family back and I haven't look back at the life I used to live.
107745765don said on Thursday, Nov 22 at 9:37 AM
over 40 years ago i went to prison for 6 yrs,that was the time for me to reflex on my life and what i needed to do today i try to help others with my own funds to go out job hunting i have one person who just got out but due to her friends and family shes headed back because she hasnt changed her habits in order to make a new life you have to want it be willing to accept NO and move on every door wont bee locked you just have to keep on KNOCKING it worked for me im now retired and doing good havent looked back
107160245TedtheBear said on Wednesday, Nov 21 at 9:35 PM
Ability for any ex-convict to readjust and to reform once they are released from prison, will be that person's desire to change. To understand where he or she made that one fatal error and vowing never to repeat. It harder then one may think. As a retired Corrections Officer, I have seen many leave vowing never to return, only to see them returned...over and over again. But some have been successful. They did by breaking bad habits. Abandoning old friends, even family members who steered them wrong, using a new anchor instead of the old. There are many ex-convicts I see today, who are successful. Nothing is hopeless as you long as you got the desire to change.
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