The United States is the undisputed leader in mass incarceration of any country in the world. The U.S. locks up more people per capita than any other nation, at the staggering rate of 565 per 100,000 residents. There are ~2 million people behind bars at any given time which represents nearly 1% of the adult US population. Mathematically, these statistics show us that more than likely, each of us are currently incarcerated, have been incarcerated, or know someone that is currently incarcerated or has been incarcerated. Surprisingly, we could know someone that has been involved with the criminal justice system and not even know it.

So, why don’t we communicate about involvement with the criminal justice system? The simple answer, it’s complicated. Communicating about issues or life experiences can be difficult to do in general however when there may be feelings of shame or guilt connected to a time in life, it can seem impossible. However, communicating about the experience is necessary if we are to lift the shame and be confident that a season in life does not have to define the life.

A criminal past is personal and private information and should be shared in a safe space among people that are trusted. Keep reading if you want to learn three (3) strategies on how to create a safe space and extend grace to someone that is trying to just “be normal” while balancing a criminal past:

Creating a safe space for communication requires us to:

• Identify judgements and assumptions we have and put them on pause. Whatever we think we know may not be the whole story.
• Be open and receptive to listening to whatever the person wants to share about their experience and when they want to share. We are listening, not interrogating.
• Be empathetic. Everyone simply wants to be heard, seen, and understood.

Let’s lift the cloud of shame that seems to be placed by society, culture, friends, and even family members on those that have a criminal past. Be open, receptive, and intentionally create a safe space for those that have a criminal past.