Casey Anthony, one of the most reviled women in the world, according to the media, will be released from prison in a matter of days. After a jury acquitted her of murdering her two year-old daughter Caylee, Anthony, who was held for three years behind bars awaiting trial, was able to use her time-served credit to reduce a four-year sentence for lying to authorities to mere days.
Like 85 -90% of the inmate population, in America, Casey Anthony will be released back into the community. That certainty is overshadowed by another inevitability: Howling hoards of hysterical citizens will be sure to follow her anywhere she goes. She will continue to be castigated by the media. Her reentry will not go unnoticed.
Successful reentry (meaning a formerly incarcerated person becomes a productive, tax-paying citizen, who does not get rearrested and sent back to prison) is usually contingent on an ex-inmate finding safe and affordable housing, obtaining employment, and having family and community support. What are the odds for Anthony?
Having (apparently) burned her bridges with her family, it is highly doubtful that Anthony will be welcome to live in her parents’ home again, which leads to the question: “Where will she live?” When another mother, Nadya Suliman (aka “Octomom”) came home from the hospital, and not a prison, her neighborhood was trampled with curiosity seekers and the media. The chaos that will follow Anthony when she shows up in a neighborhood will certainly be magnified a hundred-fold. It is doubtful that a landlord, bowing to public pressure, and the fear that his or house might be fire-bombed, will rent to her. Anthony’s lawyers are sure to be looking for a safe place for her to live. Good luck with that.
As for employment, Anthony will certainly be offered millions to tell her story. While not considered to be typical employment, the money that she receives from these offers will pay the bills, and perhaps allow her to purchase her own residence and pay for security to guard it, and her. Unless, of course, she is held to the “Son of Sam” law that does not allow a criminal to profit from his or her crime. Whether this statute applies to lying to law enforcement officers remains to be seen. Even without the high employment rate, it is doubtful that an employer would be willing to hire Casey Anthony no matter how qualified she might be for a particular job.
Casey Anthony was found innocent of murder. The evidence to convict her simply was not there. It will be interesting to see what reentry organizations will do to help her transition. Does everyone deserve a second chance, or in her case, a first chance? Does being suspected of committing a heinous crime preclude an individual from receiving help from organizations? The question is not if Casey Anthony really killed her child. The jury said no. The question is, can she successfully reenter society? Will non-profit agencies who rely on private funding step up and offer an obviously troubled woman help? Will she accept that help, if offered?
Casey Anthony represents another segment of formerly incarcerated persons reentering the community. Sex offenders and convicted murders are released from prison every day. Law enforcement agencies and community organizations partner together to try to make reentry successful for these individuals. They do it quietly and, usually, diligently. Reentry organizations are compelled not to discriminate against a client based on the offense committed. Casey Anthony can be the client that defines their goals.
There are millions who want to see Casey Anthony fail, and to get the punishment “she deserves.” There are a few people who want to see her succeed. Ultimately, the decision to succeed or fail rests with her. Casey Anthony will be wise to accept the expert advice, based on years of experience, qualified reentry organizations can offer. Reentry will not be easy for Anthony, based on several factors that have to do with her notoriety. Guilty or innocent, Casey Anthony is about to walk “free.”
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