When I arrived at court and heard fifteen years.  My heart cracked in a million pieces and it felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. As tears flowed down my face I felt numb. All I could think of was all the horrible things I've heard and seen about prison. I was distraught!

 

The judge was nice enough to let me, my granddaughter and her mother spend time with my son before he was escorted back to prison. They brought us to a small room with a window and bars.  Looking at him behind bars with his hands shackled was one of the most difficult things I had to experience. The look in his eyes told me he needed me to hug him, but instead, he held on to our every word.  That connection was giving him the strength he needed to accept his new reality.  When it was time for him to to be loaded in the van we knew our lives would forever change and we both lost a piece of ourselves.

 

Serving time is not easy for your loved one incarcerated or their families and friends.  The fact of the matter is, we all serve the sentence together.  Over time family and friends learn to live with their new reality and cope with their loved one being so far away.  Some families develop a system, they plan visits, write letters and pay for phone calls.  However, many families struggle to financially stay afloat and keeping in touch with their loved one is not so easy for them. 

 

Members of Life Beyond Bars understand the importance of staying connected with your loved one. Some studies show that family support and contact play a role in rehabilitation and reform. Strong family ties can also reduce misconduct in prison and reduce recidivism.

 

LBB would like to help connect with your loved one. Every month we host a lottery to provide families with a one-time award.  Please note awards are limited to four families a month and will be issued at the end of each month. Please Apply Here to complete the application for a one time award to speak with your loved one.