Watch | FIRSTHAND: Life After Prison

After serving 24 years, Nicholas Crayton is only days away from being released from an innovative prison known as a Life Skills Re-Entry Center in Kewanee, Illinois. We follow Nicholas as he walks through the prison gates, and begins the next chapter of his life. While he’s set his sights on starting his own tech company, the challenges of adapting to life outside prove harder than he’s imagined.

Kyle Hilbert, a recovering heroin and crack cocaine addict, has been locked up more than 20 times and experienced homelessness. This time, with the assistance of an addiction recovery center, Kyle is determined to stay clean, so he can repair his relationship with his family, and pursue a new love interest.

Paul S. served 15-and-a-half years in prison for aggravated child molestation. His challenges include the prohibitions placed on sex offenders, and the stigma that "once a sex offender, always a sex offender." Determined to move forward with his life, Paul has found religion and true love.

Tawana Pope had committed crimes to support her lifelong struggles with drug and alcohol addition. After her last stint in jail, she made a decision to change her life. Now an ordained minister and author, she is giving hope to many former and currently incarcerated people.

A man on a mission, Marcelo de Jesus Velazquez is making up for lost time after spending 20 years behind bars. He’s building a career, reuniting with his mother and son, and even lobbying state legislators for prison reform. But he realizes he can’t do it alone: Marcelo is seeking out supportive housing and additional services.