Advice on Best Supporting and Serving Former Prisoners

Tayba Foundation’s team includes formerly incarcerated Muslims and has served thousands of prisoners across hundreds of prisons in most U.S. states. Based on this experience, we offer the following guidance for masjids and community organizations seeking to support individuals recently released from prison.

Masjids play a critical role in welcoming and supporting returning community members. Every masjid should aim to have either a dedicated group or a clear point of contact for people who have recently been released.

Key Recommendations

• Designate a point of contact

  • Identify one person or a small team responsible for supporting formerly incarcerated individuals.

  • This role helps ensure consistency, trust, and accountability.

• Engage people with lived or professional experience

  • The most effective approach is to involve someone who was previously incarcerated or who has experience working with incarcerated populations.

  • This helps build trust and ensures support is grounded in real understanding.

• Establish a clear support protocol

  • Create a simple process to assess the needs and concerns of individuals returning from prison.

  • This may include housing, employment, mental health support, religious education, or community connection.

• Build foundational understanding

  • Learn the basics of incarceration in the United States, including:

    • The difference between jail and prison

    • Variations in sentence length and conditions

    • Differences between types of offenses

    • Common rehabilitation and supervision requirements

Tayba Foundation is available to support masjids and organizations in developing a practical plan to implement these recommendations and tailor them to their local community.

Please feel free to reach out if you would like guidance, training, or ongoing support.