This book should be in the hands of everyone in a prison cell. It reveals a challenging but clear course for overcoming the obstacles that stand between prisoners and their freedom. For those behind bars, one goal outshines all others: GETTING OUT! After being released, that goal then shifts to STAYING OUT! This book will help prisoners do both. It has been masterfully constructed into five parts that will help prisoners maximize focus while they strive to accomplish whichever goal is at hand. Part One: Get Out! Preparing For Board Hearings breaks down the process step by step and provides prisoners with much-needed tips and information that will increase their odds of being granted parole. Part Two: Understanding Recidivism explains the forces that make recidivist prisoners repeat the same cycle over and over - they themselves are often baffled at their situation. This part provides information, understanding, and insights that they need to uproot their compulsive-criminal mentality, and break the recidivist cycle. Part Three: The Change Process provides prisoners with proven strategies to a positive life change. These strategies cover multiple topics that may have affected their lives, such as anger, substance abuse, illegal activity, and gang involvement. Part Four: Stay Out! Preparing for Release covers obvious survival issues like money, employment, housing, and transportation, as well as not so obvious issues, like how to deal with the mental, emotional, and social changes that prisoners face upon release. Part Five: Social Security and Other Benefits covers benefits that are available.