a reflective journal about social action from JustDane “Mass incarceration has changed the social life of the city. It has filtered into the most intimate relationships and deformed the contours of American democracy, one poor (and most often) Black family at a time.” –Reuben Jonathan Miller, author of Halfway Home
HOLD FAST TO DREAMS BY LINDA KETCHAM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR In 1999 JustDane held our first “Returning Prisoner Simulation” to offer participants a glimpse into the journey home faced by individuals being released from prison. We have learned so much since that first simulation: Lessons learned through the experiences of our staff who made that journey; lessons learned through stories of the newly released who walk through our doors with a dream for their future after incarceration. In the words of Langston Hughes, "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." Reentry holds nearly universal challenges for most returnees. The journey is also a very personal one that requires individualized support. That’s why, over the past 22 years, JustDane has woven together an array of services to support both people released from prison and jail, and their families. We work to keep dreams alive.
JUST THE FACTS
Wisconsin has just shy of 20,000 people incarcerated in state prisons Wisconsin has over 64,000 people on community supervision Almost 95% of people in prison will get out at some point Without supports, 60-65% of formerly incarcerated people go back to prison Formerly incarcerated people are your neighbors JustDane's Reentry Programs have maintained an average reincarceration rate of less than 10%.
Fall 2021