Saw this figure in a recent post. Surely it is a joke. Yes, there may be the odd one that did not do it, but having met, talked, read, massive amount on subject I know that it is not the case. And further, here in California better than 70% are return inmates.

I'd love to see some really reputable statistics on that from a respectable source. It seems many people in here say their pps are "wrongly convicted." But as you said, California has a fairly high return rate. At work, I call these individuals "frequent fliers."

like that. cheeky. One of the men I write is 29, he has been in and out of prison since 18 and for no longer a period that a few months at best. Want number go to department of corrections website for most states and they will show you the numbers.

I too find that statistic highly inconceivable. Maybe more like 6% ... !?!

Angelmum you are probably closer to actual number but am inclined to believe it is lower. Love reading your posts, you are a clever one. smile.

Thanks Rob ... likewise ... *wink*

With over 2 million prisoners in the U.S. I am sure there is valuable, accurate statistical information from the U.S. Bureau of Justice. For those interested ... see following link:

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/

AngelMum do you get the feeling that most of the people writing do not want to know the truth about thier pen pals?? Is there more going on here than I am aware of?? My son and I read quite a lot of past messages yesterday and it seems the same topics keep coming up. Think the most shocking one was of someone who visited at same time another was there to visit his pen pal. After 5 years and countless visits that was a first on me. We belong to outreach group that makes visits in connection with local catholic church to the receiving facility here in San Diego, from there they go to what ever prison is fit for thier level of custody. At Christmas time we bring baskets of personal items as a treat to the men who attend mass. The priest is very naive, he brags about how many men are going to be at service. I know that it is all about the underware, shoes, toiletries and other items. My feeling is and always was that if I just get through to one, it is a good thing. Thought you might like to know that the two we sponsored, are doing well and it looks as if they will never return to prison. But after reading all that I have I have to wonder.

this is an interesting statistic. i cant speak for all inmates,but i can speak from experience about the one i know. do you know how many times i have heard "i'm innocent" blah blah blah. i think sometimes people look at the world thru rose colored glasses. i for one can see first hand how one particular inmate is conning people,just as he did many years ago.once a con,always a con

Well, I do have my senses about it too and I hope this response doesn't cause the controversy on the board I imagine it can. This is my thoughts and not a judgment or the be all to end all, but my feeling is that it comes down to two simple words.

Blind Faith

We so automatically trust in ourselves and the belief of how much that we can really filter the good, the bad and the ugly.

However when that belief is challenged we get angry, hurt and feel confused & taken advantage of. Then we reach out for support, comfort, and for others to help us understand and to "see" the why.

What we also get is encouragement. To try again. OK, sure try again, but remember & learn from the disappointment. Your filter has been penetrated ... adjust it accordingly. If you choose to ignore the signals that something is not right, and plug on hoping things will work out in the end, great, but when hurt comes knocking at your door, answer it and face it. Why?, because you invited it.

Whether we want to admit it or not, we give to them expecting something back. I'm not even talking about material or physical things, but the respect, honesty & care we gave them. As long as they seem to give it back to us we are happy, and are content to concern ourselves with little else, even the harsh truth. When we don't get it back or it starts to break apart we become lost & unhappy. The relationship is terminated and we move on to find a new PP or none at all. Why, because we did not get back what we blindly expected.

If I had one thing to say, I would encourage everyone to remember that they have a world very unlike ours and expecting anything or accepting it as genuine from them while they are there is not wise, unless you are happy to live with only half the picture. Once you are in reasonably even worlds then the truth about who you are to each other will be clearly demonstrated. While there, they want out, most adapt & learn that "behaving" and acting noble, kind & good is the ticket to freedom. Can they maintain that forever in the free world? Most can't. That's where the truth lies.

For example, my PP was convicted of attempting to rob & for brutally murdering his own mother! To me that is one of the largest & worst crimes one human can commit on another.

I write to him to show him there are good people out there and hope the support & intellectual stimulation is encouraging for him. No matter how educated he becomes or how beautiful his letters may be, or how reformed he seems, I will never lose sight of what he has been capable of, or if ever again (given the right trigger or circumstances) that he could again. I will never expect to be a hero, or that I can change his world, but I hope I can make one day a bit more positive which is different.

We must never forget, it takes a certain personality and mindset to commit any crime. Because of this most criminals are very adaptive (chameleon-like) and are able to work situations to get what THEY need from it. I'll go so far as to say they may not always even intend to, it's inherent in their distorted cognition. If they are truly reformed, that will be evident once in the free world again, but while in prison they are merely surviving and will do whatever it takes to do so.

In prison you take what you get, but in the free world you have choices to pick from. I've already read posts about released inmates who no longer choose to keep what they were willing to accept in prison. If they return they are grasping for it again. The truth be told, they too are probably trying to increase their choices in a place where choices are few, and in cases of taking on several free world pen pals want a choice in who they want and how each participates in their life.

I applaud you & your son for the efforts you describe w/the church. Please keep it up even it is mostly superficial to many of the inmates. We still have to go on being good to a bunch of people in the hopes of reaching just one.

Not one of my four pp's claims to be innocent, but I know of two I believe will make it they are or seem to be in reality. I would guess the num of innocents in 3% or less.

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