Leaving prison is just the beginning.

Crissie Carter, LCSW, has more than four decades of experience working at the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system. She earned her MSW from Barry University in 1998 and a BA in Sociology from the University of Florida in 1981.

Her work in this field began early. At 22, she was involved in federal trial preparation for a multi-defendant case, attending proceedings from jury selection through verdict and sentencing. That experience set the course for a career built around supporting individuals and families through incarceration, release, and reintegration.

Carter later served as a state probation and parole officer, gaining firsthand insight into supervision, compliance, and the challenges individuals face upon reentry. She also taught college courses within a state prison, further deepening her understanding of institutional life and the barriers to rehabilitation.

At 35, she became Co-Director of FLIP (Families with Loved Ones in Prison), where she collaborated with Florida's legislative criminal justice committees, contributed to policy discussions on Department of Corrections regulations, and participated in national reform efforts. She facilitated support groups through the Catholic Diocese of Venice, spoke at conferences, and worked with organizations such as CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants), including advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C.

Carter's clinical focus centers on the psychological and emotional impact of long-term incarceration, including institutionalization, loss of autonomy, social isolation, stigma, hypervigilance, emotional numbing, disrupted relationships, and difficulty with independent decision-making. She is committed to providing effective, informed care for individuals and families who are often misunderstood and underserved within the mental health field.