Discover firsthand insights from a Missouri inmate about the Re-Entry Transition Unit and Resource Center, a collaborative effort helping incarcerated individuals prepare for successful reintegration into society.
The Re-Entry Transition Unit and Resource Center
By: Qadir Bilal Walid/Fellow inmate in Missouri/Edited by The Newsletter 05
The Re-Entry Transition Unit and Resource Center is a collaborative initiative composed of both staff members and incarcerated residents preparing for release back into society. Together, they answer the call to rehabilitation, where the efforts of residents are respected and supported by staff through oversight, guidance, and active engagement. As highlighted in the Missouri statewide radio broadcast for employee recruitment, 95% of those incarcerated will eventually return to society (link placeholder: http:\\place link here\\).
With a population fluctuating between 25,000 and 30,000 incarcerated residents within the Department of Corrections, Re-Entry programs are vital. They provide individuals with employable trades, economic skills, and structured plans to ensure a successful transition. By prisoners helping prisoners, there is a shared understanding of challenges, needs, and pitfalls—creating a community where everyone works together to face obstacles head-on.
Remarkably, Re-Entry Training has achieved a 98% success rate, with none of its graduates returning to prison. Rehabilitation programs focus on personal development, reshaping character, and preparing individuals for a new chapter in life.
Preparing for Release
The Re-Entry Transition Unit equips residents with the tools and final touches needed to succeed upon re-entering society. Recognizing the hidden fears and anxieties that accompany release, the program asks critical questions:
- What employable skill do you need to learn?
- What educational resources should be provided?
- What essentials do you need upon leaving prison to thrive in society?
By addressing these questions, the program reduces frustration, fear, and panic—key factors that often lead to failure after release.
Real-Life Skills and Training
The journey begins with an individualized evaluation interview, designed to identify redeemable character traits. Residents are then introduced to a real-time, economics-based points system, which teaches budgeting, financial discipline, and the connection between behavior and economic impact.
Skill Sets Offered:
- Financial Literacy
- Barbering (cuts and linings)
- Certified Welding
- Home & Business Finance
- Computer Literacy (up to coding)
- CDL Licensing
- Trailer Flipping & House Flipping
- Graphic Arts & Design
- Banking, Savings, and Loans
- LLC Formation (small and large entities)
- GED/HiSET tutoring
- Family Behavioral Impact training
- Personal development programs (Manhood, character building)
These rehabilitative programs focus on strengthening character and fostering mutual support among residents. Where outsiders may see hardened criminals, the Re-Entry program sees misunderstood pain, loneliness, and defensive responses born of confusion and hopelessness. By addressing these root causes, residents are empowered to envision a future worth protecting.
Building Family and Community
Life coaches within the Re-Entry Unit emphasize the importance of family. The love of family is one of the most powerful motivators for personal growth and self-worth. Many losses experienced in prison stem from broken family ties and diminished belonging. Restoring these connections helps residents value life, protect their families’ happiness, and engage positively with their communities.
Long-Term Success
The program’s confidence lies in its long-term vision: if a resident can remain crime-free for five years after release, they are overwhelmingly likely to succeed as socially functional, productive, and responsible members of society. Research shows that after five years without re-offending, the chance of relapse drops to less than 1%.
The Re-Entry Transition Unit and Resource Center is not just about release—it is about transformation, empowerment, and building futures that last.
At Argus St. Louis Newspaper, we believe every inmate has the right to share their voice through media. We encourage and welcome most submissions, provided they are respectful, appropriate, and free of derogatory content.
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