ABSTRACT
Between 650,000 and 750,000 people are released from prison every year; more than half recidivate and return to prison because society excludes former prisoners from the community after they have done their time. However, neoliberalism economics has forced many living in marginalized communities to engage in crime, which is a direct result of poverty and oppression. These issues have led to decades of trauma, anger, poverty, and violence. As formerly incarcerated men enter the community, some were Original Gangsters (OGs) who protected their neighbors from police violence and racial/ethnic attacks, they know how to navigate street politics and understand the social relationships of the marginalized communities they return to. This experience gives former prisoners and gang members the ability to participate in mediation, healing, and restorative justice practices. Jason Davis and Dedric “Beloved” Hammond, both OGs, have transformed themselves from criminals to community activists; here, they chronicle their reentry experiences.
