From Custody to Community: A Skills-Based Reentry Guide - Paperback

by Johnny Mahaffey (Author)

From Custody to Community is a structured, evidence-informed reentry curriculum designed to address one of the most critical gaps in the criminal justice system: the lack of practical, skill-based preparation for life after incarceration. Developed from lived experience and grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CBI) principles, this ten-week program focuses on the core competencies most strongly associated with successful reintegration:

• Cognitive restructuring and thinking skills
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• Emotional regulation and behavioral control
• Reentry planning and stability building
• Employment and financial readiness
• Communication and social functioning

Unlike traditional programming that emphasizes compliance, this curriculum is designed for application-providing tools that can be used immediately in real-world situations.

Each chapter includes:

• Structured instructional content
• Practical exercises and behavioral drills
• Group discussion frameworks
• Self-assessment tools to track progress

Written by someone who has navigated the system firsthand, this book bridges the gap between academic theory and lived reality-delivering material that is both credible and usable across institutional and independent settings.

It is suitable for:

• Correctional education programs
• Reentry organizations
• Probation and parole support services
• Individuals committed to meaningful behavioral change

Reentry is not an abstract concept. It is a series of decisions made under real conditions.

This book is designed to help prepare for them.