Alaska News

Photos: Hiland prisoners prepare for re-entry

Sue Hogan looked out over her audience, a sea of women dressed in yellow jumpsuits with the word "prisoner" on the back.

A year ago, Hogan was sitting in that audience at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center, jailed for violating probation on a felony theft conviction. She wore the yellow jumpsuit and listened as a panel of former Hiland inmates talked about staying sober and finding jobs since serving time.

The situation was different on Saturday. Hogan was one of those panelists, and one of the more recent success stories to emerge from an annual conference aimed at helping women just like her.

"Ten months ago, I never thought I would be sitting on this panel," Hogan, 49, told the audience, drawing cheers.

Hogan's words jibed with the inspirational tone of the "Success Inside and Out" conference, which was founded in 2006 to help inmates nearing the end of their sentences make the transition back to society. The one-day conference is jam-packed with classes and mentoring sessions, touching on topics ranging from clothing to housing needs to mental health services to finding a job.

"This is not the beat-all-end-all," said Judge Stephanie Rhoades, who presides over the Anchorage Mental Health Court and was serving at the conference as a mentor. "This is the beginning of pumping up the volume to make sure that by the time you walk out the door, you've got a plan."

Read more: Conference aims to provide 'passport to success' for prisoners nearing release

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