Our Services | Pidyon Shvuyai Yisroel

Our Services

Our Services

LEGAL AND BAIL ASSISTANCE

Legal Referrals

After initial contact with law enforcement, or an individual’s knowledge that conduct they engaged in may give rise to law enforcement involvement, the first emergent need is usually legal assistance. Often individuals do not know where to turn to obtain the proper legal assistance or lack the financial resources to retain competent counsel. PSY will refer individuals to competent and experienced professionals to obtain legal advice and counsel.

Legal Defense Financial Assistance

PSY will financially assist individuals who lack sufficient resources to pay for their attorneys. PSY will also assist and direct individuals in contacting family, friends, community members and organizations to help them shoulder the financial burden of the legal defense. When necessary and appropriate, PSY will organize legal defense fund campaigns to rally family, friends and the community to help shoulder the financial burden of the legal defense.

Bail Posting

PSY will financially assist individuals who lack sufficient resources to pay for their attorneys. PSY will also assist and direct individuals in contacting family, friends, community members and organizations to help them shoulder the financial burden of the legal defense. When necessary and appropriate, PSY will organize legal defense fund campaigns to rally family, friends and the community to help shoulder the financial burden of the legal defense.

PRE-INCARCERATION COUNSELING OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Emotional and Practical Counseling Prior to Incarceration

Individuals who are facing the prospect of prison for the first time are often filled with fear, dread and anxiety. They are deeply concerned about their physical safety, as well as their emotional and spiritual well being. Perhaps the greatest fear of all is the fear of the unknown; what will be facing them behind prison walls. PSY and it’s team of experienced professionals, will offer emotional counseling to address those issues. It will also offer practical guidance in terms of what to expect in the particular prison environment they will Likely be going to. It will also advise them how to conduct themselves, in a manner which will maximize their success within the prison environment.

Financial Assistance and Counseling to Families

One of the great concerns of individuals facing incarceration, as well as their families, is how will the family survive financially and emotionally. PSY will offer financial assistance as well as emotional counseling to such families. PSY will also educate and encourage families with regard to the importance of supporting the incarcerated individual in every possible way. This will greatly enhance the incarcerated individual’s ability to succeed within the prison environment.

Specialized Counseling for First Time Offenders

First-time offenders, face a unique set of challenges by virtue of their unfamiliarity with the prison system. They must quickly learn a new set of written and unwritten rules and mores, and adapt to an environment radically different from the outside world. PSY together with its team of experienced professionals will offer specialized counseling to such individuals to assist them with those issues.

PSY Support Throughout Incarceration

PSY will be available as a resource, emotionally, financially and spiritually to individuals and their families throughout the period of incarceration and beyond. The individual and family will know that they will not be alone, but will be supported throughout their time of travail by the entire PSY family and community.

SUPPORT DURING INCARCERATION OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Visitation

Visitation of the incarcerated individual by family and friends is extremely important for the emotional well being of the incarcerated individual. PSY will help encourage and facilitate family visits as well as friends and volunteers. For individuals who don’t have family or friends PSY will arrange for volunteers to visit on a regular basis. PSY will also educate prospective visitors as to the rules and regulations governing various correctional facilities in order to ease their experience.

Financial Support

Financial support of incarcerated individuals. Most correctional facilities have commissary accounts which allow individuals to purchase food, clothing and other articles depending on the facility. Some facilities also allow food and clothing packages to be sent in from the outside, which have to be prepared carefully based on the rules and regulations of each facility. PSY will assist individuals and families financially in the funding of commissary accounts and packages. It will also assist in the logistical challenges of putting together appropriate packages which will pass muster with corrections staff, as well as the delivery of same.

Counseling as to Prison Programs

Every correctional facility offers various jobs and programs to prisoners. Participation in such programs and jobs, which are very often mandatory, may be beneficial to the emotional and mental health of the incarcerated individual. Additionally, such participation is often necessary to earn eligibility for favorable consideration for early release, work release, merit release or parole. In particular, PSY will offer counseling on the parole process and how to increase the chances of making parole at the earliest period. Our professionals will offer guidance on these issues.

Counseling as to Daily Life in the Prison Environment.

Situations constantly arise in prison with respect to a variety of issues including communications with prison staff and other inmates as well as special religious or medical needs. PSY’s professionals will be available as a guide to incarcerated individuals in that regard.

POST-RELEASE SUPPORT OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Immediate Financial and Physical Needs of Released Individual

Upon release from incarceration individuals often lack basic sustenance such as room and board. Immediate assistance for released individuals in securing a place of residence as well as financial assistance for food, clothing and other basic necessities will be arranged by PSY.

Continued Financial Support of Released Individuals

Released individuals often lack basic necessities such as food, clothing and utilities due to lack of income or resources. PSY will arrange for financial stipends to such individuals and families on a regular basis throughout the reentry period, until they are able to regain their financial independence.

Employment

PSY will assist individuals in obtaining employment and will use their network and resources to place released individuals in appropriate employment based on their existing skill set, or assist them in obtaining appropriate retraining to create new employment opportunities.

Reentry Counseling

PSY will have their team of counselors and professionals available to provide resources for both emotional and professional counseling with respect to employment reentry as well as reintegration into the community. PSY will also provide general counseling to individuals and families in order to facilitate reentry and reintegration.

Providing Assurances to Correctional Authorities

Before releasing individuals back into the community, correctional authorities often require assurances as to place of residence, and often look for financial assistance and employment assurances, in order to ensure a smooth transition of the individual back into the community. This is especially so when the individual in question is being released under continued supervision such as parole or probation. PSY will work with individuals while still incarcerated to reassure correctional authorities in that regard, in order to facilitate their orderly release to the community.

FAMILY RETREATS AND EVENTS

Retreats and Events for Family’s of Incarcerated Individuals

PSY will sponsor events such as family getaways and retreats for families of incarcerated individuals, to offer much needed relief from coping with the stress and anxiety of an incarcerated family member. Such retreats will include sponsored hotel stays with musical entertainment and inspirational speakers, as well as group support therapy under the guidance of experienced professionals

Local Events and Meetings

PSY will also sponsor smaller meetings and events in more personalized local venues for individuals and families to offer support and encouragement.

Post Release Retreats for Individuals and Families

PSY will also sponsor similar events for post-release individuals and families, in order to allow individuals to recuperate from their incarceration ordeal in a stress free environment. It will also be designed to further reconnection with family and friends in a relaxed and supportive group environment.