Prison

Prison

Hello all, this is the first segment of many to come, when discussing prisons... My question today is, if a man goes to prison, serves his time and returns home, why is he set up to fail? It seems that the inconsistencies that occur in our court systems have become prevalent and disturbing to me in many ways and for many reasons. Let's start with this scenario. A man is arrested for selling drugs, he goes to court and all of the proceedings, he is then sentenced to prison. He serves his prison term and has now come home. Ok, the average unknowing person has no idea of what actually occurs behind the scenes.....I am choosing to discuss the “once you arrive at home” segment at this time, after you have served your prison sentence. So let’s be abundantly clear. The obligation of repaying the law, the people and society are complete and over..right...that’s what you thought after you just went through hell and back for however many years you were locked up. This man is trying actively not to become a statistic again even though by default he already is one....why is the rate of recidivism so uniquely high...? Let me explain to you why our males that have served time in prison almost always return...Society has embraced the thought that if a man goes to prison once, he'll go back because he can't stop doing what he is doing that got him there in the first place….This may be true, sometimes, but there are also times when a man makes a true attempt at becoming a lawful member of society. My next question is, How the hell, and I repeat HELL, is he supposed to do this. When he came home, he had to register with law enforcement as a former prisoner, or felon, his past history, conviction, picture address and damn near social security number are available to the whole world to see, though his was not a predatory or pedophile crime. All of his bills are behind because he couldn’t pay them, so once again his credit is in the garbage. He has regain a license if he is able to drive after being away from the “world” for a period of time….He has huge court costs, whether he had a lawyer, or a public defender, he has liens and he has fees that are owed to the court. He also has to register with a probation officer for a number of years if applicable..Last but certainly not least as the walls in my brain start to succumb to internal thought of being jailed again in the mind, HE HAS TO GET A JOB!.. Realistically, this often more times than not unattainable due to his now permanent record, which is a constant reminder of the past he is trying so desperately to forget. Has he really done his time? No, he is burdened with the ill thoughts of what he did and what he has to do now to survive, to support his family, to live, to eat, to stay sane. As this man is anxious and excited to get a job, go to work, receive some form of check, become self sufficient, he is then placed into an involuntary state of devastation…Why? Every application asks, have you ever been arrested …automatic X….Have you been convicted of a crime….automatic….X….are you willing to complete a background check…….you state yes…but they know you have a background…..automatic X…….There is no second call, there is no interview, the response is well, we will keep your application on file…as days become weeks, and weeks become months and months become years, you still have one unemployed man that is starving for a way out, an answer, a chance, a breath of air, faith to prevail… This man then turns to underpaid, side jobs, trying to call in a favor, asking for help from any one that can assist or give the hope of assisting.. He tries a trade, he is laid off, he has no contract, no health benefits, nothing….What can one possibly do to attain some substance, some affirmation that things will be alright….Just a plain old, let me put the past to the side and give you a chance and opportunity…..Many people that are not familiar with such a situation can say, well he made his bed, he has to lie in it, but at what point does one let the time served be THE punishment.. Enough is enough, but will the consistent reminder and continuous defeat, anguish, suffering while trying to attain the norm, automatically force this man into a rebelling and defensive position of defeat, retribution and return to the state he was initially in, the coerced criminal, the one that couldn’t stay away from breaking the law. The law in an essence is actually and purposefully making a path of destruction for these men…Constantly and consistently keeping our men in prison and forcing their return… How insane and ludicrous is this…THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!! Ask a family that has an absent father, brother, uncle, friend, lover, son, husband, spouse, how they feel….It’s a wrap!!!!!