City Club Missoula Forum – Missoula looks to better integrate felons after prison

The city’s lack of housing and the shadow that comes with a criminal past have made it difficult for felons to reintegrate into the community after release from prison – something community leaders and the Montana Department of Corrections are looking to resolve.

Statewide, roughly 9,300 people are on parole, including 1,300 in Missoula. The availability of community housing and employment are significant factors in whether a former inmate reoffends or successfully reintegrates into society, experts told City Club Missoula http://www.cityclubmissoula.com/ on Monday.

By Martin Kidston

Full Story: http://www.missoulacurrent.com/uncategorized/2016/10/missoula-integration-felons/

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Missoula-area program working to help convicted felons reintegrate after prison

City Club Missoula discussed in October the struggles that convicted felons go through when they try and transition from incarceration to normal society.

The forum featured four speakers including Robert Howe who had his own issues after being released from prison.

"I had a real hard time getting into housing, and before that I had a very strong employment record and was very successful," Howe said. "I was a sergeant in the army, was an iron worker and a foreman. But I couldn’t find anything because there was this new barrier."

By Don Fisher

Full Story and Video: http://www.kpax.com/story/33359299/missoula-area-program-working-to-help-convicted-felons-reintegrate-after-prison

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