Embracing second chances: Three stories of former inmates

 

'Actions cause a ripple effect'

Charlotta Coleman had tears in her eyes but was smiling as she talked about feeling safe and learning to trust again, which she said may be the first time in her life.

She looked down as she admitted to being scared when she was released from prison last September. But she slowly made eye contact again when she talked about moving forward.

'My past doesn't define me. It's hard to forgive myself, learn to love myself. I had to forgive others so I can move on. I didn't like how ...

I felt sick every day.

'I like how I feel today.'

Coleman, 40, was addicted to crack cocaine for many years and has a lengthy criminal history of burglaries and thefts. They all stemmed from drug abuse.

Her last theft landed her in prison.

She first was interviewed by The Gazette at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in 2013. She was participating in a Life Skills program to help her make the transition back into society because she was determined to change her life.

Coleman, formerly of Burlington, served 18 months in prison and is now on parole and living in Cedar Rapids.

'I've learned my actions cause a ripple effect to my family and society. I'm tired of hurting others. I'm not just telling my kids that I've changed but I want to show them by what I do,' Coleman said earlier this month.

She is slowly mending her relationships with her three adult children but she is focusing on her therapy and treatment for now. Coleman did spend a holiday with her brother in Illinois — her first 'outing' on parole.

Coleman did research online about transitional housing while in prison and took the initiative to contact the Catherine McAuley Center, which accepted her. She didn't have a job during the second interview in December, but worked as a center volunteer in the food pantry.

Later that month, she got a full-time job with another not-for-profit agency.

'She's amazing,' said Jennifer Tibbetts, program manager with Catherine McAuley Center. 'She's motivated and is a hard worker.'

Shelly Morelock, Coleman's parole officer, said Coleman has a great attitude, she's well-grounded and hasn't had any violations or issues.

'This is the transition we hope for with women (parolees),' Morelock said. 'The biggest obstacle they face is finding a safe and sober residence and employment.'

Morelock said she believes Coleman could be a mentor someday to other women on parole.

 

'I can't live like that anymore'

Jeffrey Dighton, 47, once a machinist, has been in and out of prison since 2007 for theft and drug charges.

'I've wasted almost a quarter of century on drugs,' Dighton of Cedar Rapids, said last month, shaking his head.

He turned to drugs, mostly cocaine, when his three-month-old son died 22 years ago. The grief put a wedge in his marriage, and his drug abuse 'ruined them.'

'Until you're ready for it, you're never going to stop,' Dighton said. 'I don't want to use drugs anymore. I have more to offer.

'Looking back on my mistakes ...

I can't live like that anymore.' 

His latest theft to obtain drugs would have put him back in prison. But he received parole and got into Linn County Drug Court in November.

'I've never had that kind of support before, but you have to be committed and there's lots of accountability. I've had one relapse, but I was honest about it (with drug court team) and I regretted it right when I did it.'

Dighton said staying sober is hard, but drug court has given him the tools to deal with it, and now his biggest hurdle is getting a job. He has four felonies on his record.

'Of course, they (employers) don't say, but I know when they see those, mine (application) goes in the trash,' Dighton said.

Dighton is receiving job training as the result of a partnership between the drug court and Goodwill of the Heartland, which is funded through federal grants and state appropriated money. Goodwill provides job coaches to help offenders with resumes and teach interview and other skills to help them succeed.

Paul Swanson, job placement specialist with Goodwill in Cedar Rapids, said Dighton is a paid employee during the training for Goodwill, which does contract work for companies such as Whirlpool and Rockwell Collins. The training program aims to rebuild job skills that offenders can put on a resume for experience.

Swanson said he can't get the job for those in the program, but he can help them with individual development skills, interview prep and resume and cover-letter writing.

The job coaches also work on building relationships with employers who are open to hiring people with criminal records.

Dighton is confident he can get a good job. He has skills as a machinist, carpenter and journeyman roofer.

'I'm willing to learn anything,' Dighton said.

 

'What do you want?'

Nathaniel Matiyabo, 29, of North Liberty, faced the same challenge as Dighton because of his criminal record. Last year, one of his friends found a neighbor's checkbook and talked him into using them to buy drugs.

Matiyabo was addicted to crack cocaine. He had lost his job at Whirlpool and was broke, so he forged checks until he was arrested.

He faced 13 years in prison, but during his four months in jail pending trial, he got some advice.

'Another guy in with me asked, 'What do you want?' That was a big question for me. I wanted to stop. It's been 10 years and I have nothing. I have a kid now and I didn't want to lose my wife,' Matiyabo said.

Matiyabo at age 13 moved to the United States from Congo with his family. He had many advantages, but he was raised in a strict home environment with the pressure of having a mother who is a pastor and siblings who all excelled.

He said there's no deep-seeded issue behind his drug abuse, except that he got involved with the wrong friends who introduced him to alcohol and crack cocaine. He was quickly hooked on crack, and he would stop at different times but always went back to it.

He had to hide it from his wife.

But Matiyabo got a break with probation and was accepted into the Johnson County Drug Court last October.

'I know there's a better life out there for me. It's helped knowing that you're not alone, but you have to open up, be honest and listen.'

Matiyabo said he sent out many applications and finally got a job cooking at Red Lobster, with the help of a Goodwill drug coach. He always liked to cook with his mom and was in the culinary arts program at Kirkwood in 2009 before dropping out.

Anna Roth, job placement specialist with Goodwill in Iowa City, said she worked with Matiyabo, doing mock interviews and helped him with his resume for his job.

'Employment is a huge part of staying sober,' Roth said. 'We work on a lot of skills and even help them address their criminal history in the interview.'

Matiyabo said he's already advanced at work and hopes to go back to school. He even has a goal to attend the Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago someday.

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