Reentry Campaign Overview

More people are leaving prisons across the country to return to their families and communities than at any other time in our history. The potential “ripple effects” of the prisoner reentry process for returning prisoners, their families, and communities have sparked a growing level of activity among national, state, and local policymakers, researchers, and practitioners that is unprecedented. At the same time, some of the most important and innovative work in the reentry field is occurring at the community level.

The Reentry National Media Outreach Campaign seeks to highlight some of these efforts, as well as reentry issues, using the power of media to motivate and mobilize community action. The Campaign will expand public awareness and work in partnership with local organizations and initiatives to foster public safety and support healthy communities. Its media resources are designed to facilitate discussion and decision making about solution-based reentry programs.

A long-term effort, the Reentry National Media Outreach Campaign is unique in that it incorporates several public television documentaries that span a time period of at least two years. The stepped broadcast dates for the various productions support a comprehensive campaign that will effectively reach multiple audiences. All productions incorporate the theme of reentry into family and community by individuals who were formerly incarcerated, which provides the title “Reentry” for this enhanced umbrella initiative.

The campaign hopes to engage the following groups: faith and secular organizations, parole and probation departments, departments of correction, government agencies, community leaders, advocates and crime victims, policymakers working to improve public safety and strengthen families and communities, and formerly incarcerated men and women seeking to lead productive lives. Key campaign issues are education and employment, health, housing, family, public safety, and faith.