Graduate Credit

Scott Harrell
Beyond Bars

Beyond Bars: Rejoining Society After Prison, written by Jeffrey Ian Ross, PhD, and
Stephen C. Richards, PhD, published by the Penguin Group is written primarily to provide
specific information that will prepare men and women who have already been released or are
close to their release date. Dr. Ross and Richards take the reader on a travel in time with Joe
and Jill Convict as they make their transition from prison to society. It is especially well written
because both authors come with a unique perspective, one from the perspective of an ex-felon
and the other from working in a correctional institution. The most important objective of this
book is to assist the ex-felon with the tools and knowledge to prepare them for what they can
expect upon release. The central conclusions made in Beyond Bars are found in the epilogue
where we find that Joe Convict has adjusted well to his plight by following the rules and making
the most of his situation. He successfully held a job and has even been promoted. On the other
hand Jill Convict has not been so lucky, or else or attitude and personal experiences led her
back down the path to prison.
Beyond Bars is very practical and upfront about every situation that an ex-felon may
encounter as he rejoins society. The authors were upfront and left no stone unturned as what
to expect. One of the first points that stand out in this book is describing an array of different
probation officers. There will always be a P.O. is difficult to get along with. What an ex-felon
must realize is no matter how difficult your situation might be, respect for those in authority
will make your officers job that much less stressful. They deal with enormous caseloads, many
of which are non-compliant maybe even attempting to violate probation and parole just to get
back to three hots and a cot.

Graduate Credit
Scott Harrell
Beyond Bars

Finding work and maintaining that job is one of the most important responsibilities of an
ex-felon. Being honest and upfront with the employer is most valuable. The bottom line is,
whether you submit employment applications, rsums, or both, you will have to inform the
employer that you are a convicted felon before you accept the job or position.1 In my case, I
was blessed to have made a positive impression on my employer before I was sentenced. As a
result, he asked me to come back to work there as an assistant manager. After working there
for eight months, I decided that the environment was not appropriate considering the
conviction I had. I discussed this with my probation officer and employer and mutually agreed
that this was a good decision. With no job lined up, I was out every day for 45 days looking for
work. At each interview, which I was able to establish over 20 interviews out of 80 applications.
Upon each interview, I made a point to mention the felony conviction. Unfortunately, nothing
positive came from any of the 20 interviews expect experiencing the interview process as a
convicted felon. I was blessed to find a job through a contact doing temporary work. It was in
the heating and air conditioning field, which I had no experience, but my boss was willing to
give me a chance when no one else would. I have no regrets about being honest in all of the
interviews. I knew that when the time was right God would provide just the right job for me.
The final point I would like to make from the Finding Work section is an ex-felon does
not have the option of quitting a job on a whim. You have to count your blessings because you
could be either back in prison or on the streets. Having stable employment and securing it for a
length of time, allows time for the employer to build trust with you and even offer you
promotions as they come available. You want to be a reliable, trustworthy, and dependable
employee; one that any employer would be proud to have. In addition, it also allows the boss to
see ex-felons from a totally new perspective. He may be more apt to hire someone the next
time given the positive impression and experience he had with you. .Employers know that

Graduate Credit
Scott Harrell
Beyond Bars

ex-convicts, if given a chance, may become loyal employees because they have fewer options in
the marketplace and may appreciate the opportunity to be trusted.Even a small retail
business can offer a person the chance to convert menial labor into something a little better.
One of the important themes mentioned in the chapter on Going Back to School is for
the ex-convict to have realistic expectations about their eligibility for certain degrees. A person
with a history of drug use would not be a good candidate for a pharmacist or anything in the
medical profession. Same as a sex offender dare not apply for a degree in child-care or
elementary education. These boundaries are established to not only protect the community,
but also yourself. I have a bachelors degree in elementary education, but my charges will not
allow me to be employed with a school, day-care, or other related jobs which involve children.
You have to be realistic of what you can and cant do. Still there are a wide range of
opportunities to better yourself and become an asset to your community, not a burden.
In conclusion or summary, in my ministry, I would like to see this book made available to
all who are interested from inmate to ex-convict. Although it would be most beneficial to a
person with one year or less left on his sentence, this book will be helpful to anyone who has
recently been released. This is an average read for those interested in prison ministry or
impacted by crime. It is a very valuable resource that will aid in reducing the rate of recidivism.
Knowledge is power when placed in the hands of the right individual.

N: 1. Jeffrey Ian Ross, PH.D and Stephen C. Richards, PH.D, Beyond Bars: Rejoining Society After
Prison, (New York, New York: Penguin Group: (USA), Inc., 2009), 80.
N. 2. Jeffrey Ian Ross, PH.D and Stephen C. Richards, PH.D, Beyond Bars: Rejoining Society After
Prison, (New York, New York: Penguin Group: (USA), Inc., 2009), 90.