Learning Academy Session: Peer Mentoring and Peer Support

With over 600,000 individuals released from incarceration annually in the United States, the persistent high recidivism rates highlight the need for more effective reentry strategies. This presentation draws on research from a Second Chance Act grant awarded to HOPE for Prisoners, examining the role of experiential knowledge—insights gained through lived experience—in shaping reentry programs. Focusing on peer mentoring as a rehabilitation tool, the study analyzes interviews with formerly incarcerated individuals to explore key themes, including the influence of reentry programming staff and mentors, the impact of peer-led initiatives, and strategies for transforming lived experience into actionable knowledge. Findings demonstrate how peer-led programs foster trust, provide relevant guidance, and improve long-term reintegration outcomes, offering a cost-effective and sustainable model for reentry support. This research also explores broader policy and pedagogical implications, emphasizing the importance of including individuals with lived experience in the design, implementation, and evaluation of reentry initiatives. Prioritizing experiential knowledge makes these programs more responsive, equitable, and effective in meeting the needs of system-impacted individuals. The study also highlights innovative policy approaches that incorporate lived experience, cautioning against the risk of objectifying those with firsthand knowledge of the criminal justice system.

 

We advocate for a stronger commitment to integrating lived experience perspectives within criminology and criminal justice curricula. Incorporating these perspectives enriches criminological scholarship and strengthens the training of future professionals. This discussion emphasizes the significance of context, locality, and specialization in lived experience contributions, alongside ethical considerations in these pedagogical approaches. We conclude by calling for sustained commitments from academia, practitioners, and institutions to amplify the voices of those directly impacted by the criminal justice system. By meaningfully integrating experiential knowledge into policy, research, and education, this presentation asserts that significant progress in rehabilitation, reintegration, and criminal justice reform is possible. Ultimately, the goal is to contribute to the broader discourse on justice system transformation, advocating for a model that not only acknowledges but actively values and centers lived experience in efforts toward sustainable and humane reintegration strategies.

 

 

WayBack is an organization founded by former prisoners. In the late 90s, recidivism rates in Norway were high. The Norwegian Correctional Service's mentor, Are Høidal, gave prisoners in Oslo prison the opportunity to form an organization of former inmates. Prisoners from Oslo prison were the first employees of WayBack. From then on, everyone in WayBack has to have experience from own incarceration. With their experience of integration into society, they can, as mentors, show others the path to integration in society. Most people who are released struggle with social anxiety and lack of belonging. With the support of the foundation's sponsors, everyone who is released gets the opportunity to be supported by a sponsor. Meeting others who have managed the transition to freedom gives hope to those who want to follow the same path. Having a sponsor on your side eases socializing and integration in society. Most of us have experienced the gap between prison and society. In addition to one-on-one follow-up, everyone becomes part of a larger community. Meaningful free time with activities gives hope for a future without prison and crime. In my presentation, I will share how WayBack works and why using people with lived experience is important for successful reintegration.

 

I went to prison at 15, spent 19 years inside, and walked out at 34 with no real plan - just a burning question: How do I help the people I left behind? That’s how the Louisiana Parole Project (LPP) was born. Since 2016, we’ve helped 608 people rebuild their lives after long-term incarceration, providing transitional housing, job placement, mentorship, and legal support. We own and operate 39 properties for transitional and post-transitional housing, making sure people have a stable start. But what makes LPP truly different? Lived experience. We don’t just “help” people coming home - we are them. More than half of our 25 full-time employees have served time, including many I was incarcerated with. We know what it’s like to start over with nothing, and that makes all the difference. We guide people through the first days, months, and years of freedom - not just with services, but with real understanding. Our work doesn’t stop at re-entry. Programs like our Restoration Project help our clients build long-term independence. And here’s the thing: when you support people coming home, you make communities safer. We’ve built a network of success, proving that second chances aren’t just possible - they’re necessary.

 

7^th Step Society was introduced to Canada in 1967 and has biweekly self-help groups established across the country from Newfoundland to British Columbia as well as online. The cornerstone of our organization since its inception is our ‘Core Groups.’ Though there are many types of self-help and support groups in the community, the 7^th Step focuses exclusively on conflict with the law. It has been described as a “Peer-led support and accountability community for chronic offenders”. These regular meetings allow people who are changing their lives a safe place to come and speak openly about their successes and struggles with others in the room who understand these life changes to give support, and feedback, and suggest solutions on how to best move forward. The people who attend these support groups are trusted throughout the carceral community and promote a space of accountability to their peers. Above all, our “7 Steps to FREEDOM,” combined with the group's support creates a sense of hope.