The mission of St. Peter's Reentry Ministry is to provide initial support a released woman needs to successfully reenter society. We insure that when a woman is released from prison she is welcomed back with open arms.

We provide each woman a gift packet that includes the basics needed to feel whole and open our thrift store doors so she can choose appropriate ensembles. Since most must report to their Parole Officer, and approved place of residence within a very few hours, we transport her to those places.

• Arrive at Perryville by 09:00-09:15 AM. Releases take place between 09:00 and 11:00 AM and there is no set time on any given day.
• Exit at I 10 @ Sarival/Cotton Lane.
• Turn right, go to the stop light (McDowell) and turn left.
• Follow Citrus Lane: turn right at 1st entrance into the complex and go to building directly ahead (administration).
• You may go inside (or an officer might meet you outside); Tell the officer who you are there to pick up then
• Return to your vehicle and proceed back toward the entrance.
• Park in one of the "For Inmate Release" spaces. Wait in your car until the released woman is transported to you in a van.

Basic necessities. We provide a gift bag that includes new panties, socks, sneakers/flipflops, hygiene items, a wallet with a weekly bus pass inside, and a new bath towel. Released inmates typically have nothing but the clothes they are wearing and a very little money so we open St. Peter's Thrift Shop where she can choose appropriate ensembles.

If she is on parole, a visit to her parole office is a must! Wait in your car while she is inside: This can take two hours or more. The sooner you get there the better the chance of her getting in before lunch breaks.

• Mesa Regional Parole Office 460 North Mesa Drive #211 Mesa, AZ 85210
• Western Regional Parole Offices 801 S. 16th Street, Suite 1 Phoenix
• Legacy Program 4635 S. Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85040

Money owed her: She will have a debit card for whatever funds she earned while in prison. She must keep at least $1 on that card at all times; if the Department of Corrections owes her money those funds will be deposited into her debit account. If there is a zero balance the Department of Corrections cannot make the deposit and she will lose the money owed her. If she needs cash take her to Bank of America so she will not be charged additional fees.

Lunch where ever you want to go.

Place of residence. Next stop is to her halfway house/release address. Women must be out of the halfway house for the entire day either looking for work or working. This allows them time to obtain their state ID, Social Security Card, apply for food stamps and obtain an Obama phone.

Emergency food. St. Mary's Food Bank, 3131 West Thomas Road, Phoenix is a good option for emergency food. She will need her state ID (DOC or other), plus the documents issues showing her release address, to apply. St. Mary's will provide a listing of which food banks are available.

Our goal is to help each woman successfully transition to free society. Failure to follow the technical rules of release is why almost 30% of all released inmates are returned to prison.

Prison Ministry deacons and assistants provide pastoral services to incarcerated women. Women near release are offered an opportunity to apply for reentry assistance. In general it is illegal for released inmates to continue relationships nurtured in prison. A seamless, legal handoff is essential.

Reentry Ministry volunteers…

• Greet released inmates as they exit prison.
• Provide each woman with basic necessities like food, hygiene products and St. Peter's Episcopal Church opens its thrift store doors so each woman can choose appropriate ensembles.
• Transport each woman to her Parole Office and Approved Residence.
• May help women who need additional help to obtain State of Arizona Identification and connect with mentors as needed to obtain employment and establish a healthy lifestyle.

• Do not give a released inmate your home address or phone number.
• Do not give released inmates money. We gift whatever is needed within reason but "when money is the only thing that will solve a problem money may not be the problem". (Rev. Gene Lefebvre)
• Do not drop off a released inmate anywhere except her Department of Corrections authorized residence.
• Do not provide a released inmate with personal information such as your place of employment, home address, family situation or financial information.

This ministry can be a very positive experience for both volunteers and the released woman.
Make release a fun day and keep assuring her a new life awaits.

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