Returning Citizens
"Returning citizens" refers to groups of people who have been incarcerated and are regaining their lives as free citizens. Returning citizens may require aid including, but not limited to, supplies for basic needs, housing, legal counseling, and job training for employment. The Free Library of Philadelphia's Prison and Reentry Services Program offers a variety of programs and information resources such as Bridges: A Guide to Your Community. Prison and Reentry Services also assists persons who are currently incarcerated with our Reference-By-Mail service. For more information, please visit our Prison and Reentry Services program page.
Links
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Bridges: A Guide to Your Community
This guide assists Philadelphia reentrants with accessing housing, employment, healthcare, and more through local organizations and Free Library of Philadelphia resources. -
City of Philadelphia Office of Reentry Partnerships
Elevating the City's reentry efforts by supporting justice-involved individuals with resources, training, and referrals. -
F.R.E.E
I’mFREE is a 501c3, nonprofit serving incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women from the Greater Philadelphia area. -
Impact Service Corporation
Jobs are the foundation of personal and family self-sufficiency and the core of Impact’s work. Since 1974, their neighborhood-based programs have helped over 25,000 people enter or re-enter the workforce. -
Institute for Community Justice
Philadelphia-based initiative of community-inspired, community-led solutions for healing in a time of mass imprisonment. -
Philadelphia Area Prisoner Reentry Network
This comprehensive directory assists in finding services related to adult and juvenile probation services, criminal justice and courts, victim and witness assistance, and more. -
Reconstruction, Inc.
Support and advocacy for returning citizens and currently-incarcerated individuals. Runs the Fight for Lifers program which advocates for those sentenced to life sentences. -
The Center for Returning Citizens Community Healing Center
TCRC - CHC has a threefold mission to help aid in the betterment of Philadelphia's formerly incarcerated men and women by providing reentry support, distribution of food and resources, and conflict resolution resources.
Returning Citizens - Resources by explore
Resources for Returning Citizens.
Returning Citizens - Prison Memoirs by explore
Books written by and about former prisoners, both famous and infamous.
Blog Posts
Join Us for the Premiere Screening of “The Command Center to Bring Women Home”
Join your neighbors at the Parkway Central Library on Wednesday, November 30 at 6 p.m. for the FREE Philadelphia premiere screening of the new short hybrid documentary film, “ The Command Center to Bring Women Home…
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Incarcerated & Returning Citizens: Sharing Stories and Building Supports
The Free Library is committed to connecting with all the residents of Philadelphia. With our Prison & Reentry Services program, we are reaching out to men and women experiencing incarceration and those returning to their communities…
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Free Library Prison Services Success
We are thrilled that Stories Alive , a partnership between the Free Library Prison Services program and the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, has been successfully up and running for more than a year. The program helps…
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One Year of Stories Alive: Looking Back and Planning Ahead
Incarcerated mothers and fathers face many challenges to maintain bonds with their children in the face of difficult circumstances. Limited time in prison visiting rooms is not always enough. Using videoconferencing technology, the Free…
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Stories Alive: Family Story Hour for Incarcerated Parents and Their Children
As the Free Library’s Prison Services program enters the second half of its first year running the Stories Alive program, we are very happy to report the program’s continued success! In partnership with the Philadelphia…
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Stories Alive Connects Incarcerated Parents and Their Families Through Reading
In December, the Free Library announced an impactful pilot program and partnership with the Philadelphia Prison System (PPS). We are pleased to report that our focused effort to reach out to inmates, returning citizens, and their…