The first 72 hours following a person’s release from prison are critical to a successful return to society. The First 72+ works to make this transition a success. 
Tyrone Smith, alongside his brother and a few others, founded the First 72+ with a mission in mind.

“A little bit about our organization, it was started by 6 formerly incarcerated persons,” Smith said. “We started the program because we believe in the motto…our motto is ‘Us helping us.’”

The men who started the program are aware of how difficult the transition can be once a person is released from prison. When Smith’s brother was released, he began to help him return to society. This was when Smith decided that something needed to be done in order to help others like them.

“Like when I got out of prison, I had family and I had a good friend of mine who helped me,” Smith said. “After I made the transition, I’ve been out almost 30 years, and haven’t even seen a police car because of the transition and the people that was there that was placed in my life.”

When the program began, the organization found that many did not have a place to go following their release. The First 72+ received two houses as part of a donation. One is used to house recently released men for three to six months following their release. The other house became office space for the organization. 

“Before we had these houses donated to us, they used to come home and we used to put them up in a hotel for a day or two till we find out some of them didn’t have a place to stay,” Smith explained. 

In the three years since its founding, nearly 100 men have gone through the program and lived in the house. Far more than that worked through the program without living in the house, and not a single one has returned to prison. 

The First 72+ currently houses six men fresh out of prison, three of whom did 40+ years. The other three inhabitants of the house were imprisoned for 27, 18 and 13 years, respectively.

Jerome Norman is one of the men currently living in the house. He explained that when he first got out of prison, he found that he no longer had any living relatives and had nowhere to stay. Then, one of his friends told him to go to the First 72+.

“And I’ve been here ever since. Been successful,” Norman said. “They help me get jobs. It’s everything. It’s nice. They do everything they can. They’ve got a good program going on.”

72+ received donations in the form of lawn mowers and other items that help the men in the program begin to earn a living.

All who have gone through the program still keep in touch with the organization. They make sure that those who helped them know how appreciative they are. 

Smith believes there need to be more programs like this in Louisiana.

According to Smith, many across the state have discussed starting programs like this one, but they say they will do it when the money comes. Smith and the other founders decided to put their own money in to get this organization off of the ground. 

“They have a lot of groups talking about it, but we’re the only ones who are really doing it,” Smith said. 

The purpose of the First 72+ goes beyond simply helping people. They wake up every single day with a mission.

“Every day, we get up here to make sure that somebody don’t go back to jail,” Smith said.