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- Take It Slow
- Release from prison and the hours and days that follow are the most important and the easiest time to make a mistake. Take it one day, one hour, one minute at a time.
- Stay Positive
- The majority of offenders who are released onto parole for the first time DO successfully complete parole.
- Do productive things like school, work, or even taking up a hobby to keep you away from old bad habits that may get you back in prison.
- Know the Conditions of Parole
- Failure on parole is more likely to occur as a result of a violation than a return for a new crime.
- Communication with your parole officer is key to succeeding on parole.
- Find out about resources for parolees or ex-offenders in your area. For example, there are different educational opportunities, as well as other helpful resources, specifically geared for ex-offenders.
- Stay Clean
- More than half of all state prisoners report that they were using drugs or alcohol when they committed the offense that led to their arrest. Figure out a plan to stay clean, whether it be a formal drug treatment program, community support groups (such as NA, AA, etc.), or changing patterns and partners.
- Know Who Your Real Friends Are
- You are not alone in your parole. Reach out for support from positive friends and family members who want you to succeed.
- If possible, change your environment, and keep away from old friends or comrades who are not doing positive things and may lead you back to your old life, or worse, back in prison.
- Build a reliable support system - consisting of people that you can count on for emotional support.
- Review Past Mistakes
- What are your triggers when you slip? Be aware of your triggers. Develop a plan to deal with these triggers.
- Get Involved
- Participate in social groups, the workforce, families, communities, schools and religious institutions.
- Get more education: get your GED, complete or expand your education, or simply go to school to learn something new. Talk to your local community college or adult school counselor and find out how they can help you with your educational goals.
- Volunteer! This is a great way to gain job experience or skills, stay productive, give back to the community, and is the best way to build the community's trust in you.
- Keep yourself busy!
- Find A Job
- ...and keep it. Studies show that having a job is associated with lower rates of re-offending.
- Be realistic about your abilities.
- Be Honest with Yourself
- Released offenders succeed when they change how they coped with everyday problems, but that takes being honest and realistic with everyone in your life, most importantly - yourself.
- Make A Good Impression
- Surveys of neighborhoods show that public safety is the main concern to areas where ex-offenders are being paroled. Prove to your community that you too can be a good neighbor. Be respectful to neighbors, help out an elderly citizen, get involved in a community service project, etc. As an ex-offender, you need to teach and show your neighbors that you can be a positive citizen in the community.
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