October 2026
How families can prepare when a relative is coming home
A relative's release raises hope, fear, and practical questions. Families can prepare for a safer return without pretending the offence did not happen.
Families are often the first people a man meets after prison, and the first people asked to house him, feed him, or explain him to neighbours. That is a heavy role. Preparation is about safety and honesty, not about erasing the offence.
What should a family decide before the day of release?
Decide who will meet him, where he will sleep, and what the house rules are. If the offence was against someone in the family, or against a child, do not assume contact is safe. Professional help and the probation officer should be part of that decision. Reconnection that ignores risk is not kindness.
How do you deal with stigma and with hope?
Neighbours may know. Work may be hard to find. Children in the home need a clear account of who is allowed to be with them and when. At the same time, a man who completed a treatment programme has practised responsibility, empathy, and a plan to avoid further harm. Families can ask what that plan is, and what support he still needs, instead of treating a certificate as the end of the story.
Ustawi's re-entry pilot includes family dialogue where it is appropriate and safe, and referral onward when a conversation needs a professional. The aim is a lawful, stable life, not a silent return.