From Prison to Promise is a Virginia-based organization that promotes left-of-center criminal justice policies. The organization advertises offering free support services to former inmates, citing programs supporting “returning citizens and their support systems” including “alternatives to incarceration,” employment services, record expungement, and substance-use treatment. ¹

Background

From Prison to Promise was founded in 2018 and is based Chesterfield, Virginia. The organization’s founder, Sonya Chiles is listed as a registered “CPRS, FPRS, ToT, REVIVE Trainer.” ² A picture of a poster for the organization features the tagline “Restoring Voices That Were Silenced By Incarceration” and advertises policy positions including “State Rights Restoration,” “Federal Pardons,” and “Life Coaching.” ³

Founder

Sonya Chiles is the founder of From Prison to Promise. The about page of the website for From Prison to Promise only lists her biography under a “meet the founder” section. She was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia and says she has worked for years in prison advocacy. She is also listed as an “Instructional Facilitator” at “D.E.T.E.R.,” which assists men and women who are in recovery from mental illness, substance abuse and incarceration. ⁴ D.E.T.E.R. also offers a “Forensic Peer Training program” that strongly encourages people who have a “history of incarceration, homelessness, substance use, or military service” to apply and participate. ⁵  

Events

In February 2023, From Prison to Promise hosted an event at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia titled “Reshaping Black History: The impact of mass incarceration.” The event featured two “returning citizens”: Shakil Ali, president and CEO of “T.R.A.P.: Total Reality Approach Process,” and Eugene Porter, founder of “S.T.R.O.N.G.: Standings Together and Relying on God Temple Fitness and Personal Training.” ⁶

Partner Organizations

Community Partners of From Prison to Promise include STRONG Temple Fitness, Delegation Established to Encourage Recovery (DETER), Hands Helping Hands And More, Blackbird Collective, and Green Mountain Farms. ⁷

1. “From Prison to Promise.” From Prison to Promise. Accessed April 14, 2023. https://www.fromprisontopromise.org
2. “From Prison to Promise.” From Prison to Promise. Accessed April 14, 2023. https://www.fromprisontopromise.org
3. “From Prison to Promise.” From Prison to Promise. Accessed April 14, 2023. https://www.fromprisontopromise.org
4. “Sonya Chiles.” LinkedIn. Accessed April 14, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonya-chiles-9b520a125/
5. “D.E.T.E.R.” DETER Today. Accessed April 14, 2023. https://detertoday.org/about-us
6. Lyne Carey. “S.T.R.O.N.G Temple brings redemption story behind name.” Emporia Independent. June 3, 2019. https://www.emporiaindependentmessenger.com/news/article_c0165392-771d-11e9-ab7d-c36b48e5a949.html
7. “From Prison to Promise.” From Prison to Promise. Accessed April 14, 2023. https://www.fromprisontopromise.org