TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - This week is National Reentry Week and it's all aimed at giving federal inmates resources to help them upon release.
According to the Bureau of Prisons, about 41,000 inmates in federal prisons return back to neighborhoods and communities in each year.
On Thursday, the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee held a panel of individuals who have been through the prison system and made it out the other side. The talked about their own experiences with prisoners nearing release.
The FCI also held a resource fair where the inmates had the opportunity to learn about programs being offered before they get out and after. Close to half of the prison population attended Thursday's events.
Officials say initiatives like these reduce crime and keep prisoners out of the system.
"Giving them these skills, they will apply them to their life," said Assistant Warden Betty Coleman. "Once they re-integrate back into today's society... hopefully they can get some type of ideas of when they go back into the community, how to get started. Their success stories will also inspire the ladies that we have here that are coming up on release."
Authorities at FCI say that reentry begins on the first day that an inmate is incarcerated, and that events like these help towards that effort.
