In April of 2024, Amlak-I Foley, a former Post-Release Case Manager at The GEO Group, participated in a Second Chance Month Panel entitled “Struggles and Triumphs.” The event was hosted by the Florida Atlantic University School of Criminology and Criminal Justice within the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice. It was moderated by Dr. Cassandra Atkin-Plunk, PhD, and Samantha White, a Criminal Justice Major and Vice President of the Criminal Justice Student Club.
Amlak-I was joined by Victoria Amoroso, Founder of the Victory Program; Jonathan Bleiwiess, Executive Director of the Florida Justice Center; and Talmedge Hayes, a Printer and Graphics Specialist with Palm Beach County. All four panel members had been previously incarcerated and shared their stories with the audience. People who have been incarcerated face numerous barriers upon returning to the community, many of which continue to follow them years and even decades after being released. The panel brough together four returned citizens – who spent a collective 50+ years incarcerated – to discuss the obstacles they faced when returning home to the community and how they overcame, and continue to overcome, these obstacles to lead successful lives.
