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    Back to Greater LA

    Greater LA

    Ritual ceremonies welcome home newly released inmates

    At a monthly ceremony, people who used to serve life sentences welcome the newly released back into the community. We learn what the ceremony is like, and what freedom means to former lifers.

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    Person smiling broadly wearing glasses and plaid shirt against ivy-covered wall background.By Steve Chiotakis • Oct 21, 2019 • 25m Listen

    At a monthly ceremony, people who used to serve life sentences welcome the newly released back into the community. We learn what the ceremony is like, and what freedom means to former lifers.

    In this episode

    3 stories
    1. 0:00

      Ritualizing the return: Former lifers welcome home the newly released

      When a lifer steps out of prison after so many years, often decades, they are smacked with an onslaught of smells, sights, and unfamiliar sensations.

      Read the story
      11 min
    2. 10:53

      The transformation of the California prison system

      At its peak, California had 173,000 prisoners in a system built to house half that many people. Prisoners were sleeping on top of each other in hallways and gyms. Riots and attacks on guards happened routinely.

      Read the story
      9 min
    3. 19:51

      OC makes a big push to refocus mental health treatment

      Officials recently broke ground on what will be Orange County’s first ever mental health treatment campus. Be Well OC is slated to open in January 2021, and it will serve about 15,000 people per year.

      Read the story
      5 min
    • Person smiling broadly wearing glasses and plaid shirt against ivy-covered wall background.

      Steve Chiotakis

      Afternoon News Anchor

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jenna Kagel

      Radio producer

      CultureLos AngelesHealth & WellnessOrange County

    In this episode

    3 stories
    1. 0:0011 min

      Ritualizing the return: Former lifers welcome home the newly released

    2. 10:539 min

      The transformation of the California prison system

    3. 19:515 min

      OC makes a big push to refocus mental health treatment

    Back to Greater LA