Another thread got under my skin this morning regarding pen pal sterotyping.
On a more serious note. First I would like to say my son was in a min work camp for three years. I find those a total waste of tax payer money. They are non violent to begin with, no need to protect society from them.Community service, probation or rehab would make a much more positive outcome.

Now as to those who are inside prison and will be back out into society. Who do you want coming back into your neighborhood? One who turned into a bigger problem to society, then when they went in?

Of course the inmate themselves is responsible inside to begin with, but the odds are stacked against them from the day they walk in.

Prison extinguishes hope and do so brilliantly !!!

On release as was done to Jon, the administrations mission to prepare offenders for re-entry is done in a few hours to meet the transition back to society.

No finanicial resources, nor prospects of employment even if earned a graduate degree, no housing, veh, insur, or even clothes to wear.
While the years inside a reserved seat,respect from homies,clothing, shelter, food, medical etc.
We are creating refugees, alienation of positive people.

Even if a model inmate the real hardships began now !!!

What could be done differently? For one they need more community ties and employment would be a great positive for success for the individual as well as society as a whole.

Instead of hope inside, the attitute from administration is cynical to those who seek meaningful and substained preparation for release.

Keep witing those inmates, and bring some hope that is so needed !!!

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I'm sorry for your son. As a non-American, I guess the word "min" means minority ?

Well, the situation is the same in France - actually we don't have work camps in France, but we have built "des centres fermés pour mineurs" = prisons for minors (under 18). They're not allowed to work. They had been closed up 15 years ago but now they're reoponed. It shows how bad our society goes. In France, there is one very famous quote that says : "you know how the Democracy of one country is doing by looking into its jail system" - well the result is catastrophic - prisons are overcrowded, and inmates don't get sufficient help, monitoring,therapy, formations, teaching.. They lack of everything. No wonder why, once they're out, more than 60% go back to jail :-)

Whereas in Holland, they're closing down prisons ! Yes - because once a person is incarcerated, he receives all the help he needs, he learns a job, gets an education degree, etc. and the result is simple but true : less than (I think, I've seen it on TV a week ago) 15% go back to jail - the others GET A JOB, A LIFE and are NO LONGER A THREAT TO SOCIETY which should be the goal for emprisonment. In France, last week a pedophile made the headlines, because he had spent more than 25 years in jail and NEVER got any therapy - of course, the day he got out he abused a little boy. He had asked again and again to get a therapy, but just a few prisons in France have therapists.

Rehabilitation in Holland - they know that it may cost them a lot in the beginning, but when you know the price of one inmate per year, and you see the result, we should think it twice - that should make US think .. but now, in France we send more and more people to jail for longer periods and nothing is done for their return into society.

Well, Peanut - you're right, we as PP are (hopefully) helping a few out there

Things are slowly starting to change here in the U.S. A few months ago I went to my ex's drug court hearing. The judge made a point of letting us no that the florida legistlature was uping there budget. Here in Florida, building and construction was a huge part of our economy. We were hit very hard by the housing bubble. The state is cutting funds everywhere, even education. They allocated more funds to the drug courts because they know it saves money. Instead of sending many drug offenders directly to prison they give them time to rehabitate outside.

We wonder why people end up back in jail. Its our fault, we dont do nearly enough to prepare these men and women for the real world.

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You always have to remember - no matter what you're told - that God loves all the flowers, even the wild ones that grow on the side of the highway."
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Life is short, live every day like its your last

Show your pride I wouldn't say it is our fault. It is a complicated situation. Sometimes it is easier for people to break the law and do things the easy way. Some people are career professionals because they want to be, think about the people who rob mansions.

How many criminals do you know? How do you explain all the kindhearted people out there, who are used by the people they love? I have known several people who have been "saved" by some man or woman. They have food, shelter, and their friend or lover even helps them fid a job or go back to school. These people more often then not take advantage of their partners love and sometimes ruin them. Think of all the women in prison out of a miss placed since of loyalty.

It is never one persons fault, nor is it societies. We can only prosper when we choose to and are in an environment that fosters prosperity. I have known heroine addicts fight to gain control over there lives and succeed. I have no middle class kids result to video games and booze to dull their pain.

Exactly Tjames !! It is much more complicated then that, it is not one person nor is it society as a whole.

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Funny but the steps they use in Alcoholics Anonymous, bring to me a plan for inmates when they first enter prison and will be back out into society.

Steps an inmate should have available to breakthe addiction of the criminal behavior.

First to understand then to be understood. Enter with a goal in mind. Accountability, adustments. Can win win attitute instilled.

Some kind of plan as with the the AA logic twelve steps program????

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Thanks Sandy my son served that time back awhile now, in a minimun prison in Florida, and it really did more damage then good. He really needed rehab was all. One charge was leaving the scene of the accident, being he hit a fence... ...no one hurt and he was alone.

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You're welcome !

How come did they charge him for leaving the scene ? since he was the ONLY one out there ? ! I guess I'll never understand American laws ;-)

In France, the movie "The prophet" came out this year and showed how a young man, 18 y.old with no education got into jail and only learned how to become a theft, a liar and a mafia boss. It showed how bad it is to incarcerate a naive and stupid young man with professional murderers and cons. I do agree with you, prison causes more damage than good.

Plus, in France, more than 70 inmates this year have committed suicides, most of them were very young, being locked up for the first time and half of them were actually awaiting for their trial. It made the headlines.

Hope your son is doing better now !