I would like to say hello to all the members on this site, I use Briggsy as my handle, I am an ex con fom Manchester, England . UK.
I just heard about your great site by fedex on a similar site we have on www.convictsreunited.co.uk/ maybe you guys would like to come on there and meet up with us as we will also look forward to coming on this site and doing, I would like to wish you all the best of luck and also good luck with your futures.
I have been goin straight now for 20 years having started my own business after serving my last sentence of 11 years, which I only served 2 of, concurrents sentences, I carried on in the same profession that I learnt whilst inside nick and thank god it worked out. good luck, nice to meet you all, and thanx for gettin in touch David from fedex. nice touch.

HI FELLOW:

GLAD THAT YOU JOINED US. I HAVE A SON WHO HAS BEEN INCARCERATED IN THE DOC FOR 12 YEARS. GOD BLESS YOU CHILD. IF YOU SURVIVED INCARCERATION AND CAME OUT A WHOLE PERSON THEN YOU ARE VERY SPECIAL.... I WORRY ABOUT THAT SO MUCH WHEN I HEAR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THE PRISON SYSTEM.
MY SON, BUTCH, IS A PRETTY STRONG GUY AND HE HAS A LOT OF FAITH ON TOP OF THAT. I FEEL THAT HE WILL SURVIVE ALSO.
MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND I HOPE THINGS GO WELL FOR YOU AND YOURS.

SINCERELY
DONNA

briggsy

what a great example you are of how to get it together and become a success-i wish you the best now and always--it is a shame that the "powers that be" in the DOC forget that those who have had the misfortune of being incarcerated are men and women with hopes, dreams, capabilities, and futures--just like everyone else. I am glad that you were stronger than that mentality and proved to the world that misconception about offenders is simply not true. I've got much respect for you! God bless

sherri

thanx for those most Kind and considerate remarks sherri,
you are a credit to your site and America, this is what it is all about, it is most uplifing to have someone of your integrity
and wellbeing on this site, it makes it all worthwhile.
I also wish you the best of luck that you so deserve.
I t was nice to be recieved in such a response in such a short time by you guys. God bless you and God Bless America.
and this message also goes out to all those on this site and
in particular to David .fed X for makeing it happen.
You should be proud of yourself.
You are all most welcome on the convictsreuntied site regards wether you are a prisoner, con or ex-con or whatever, we is all human beings and thats what is most important.

Hi Donna, nice to hear from you and thanx for making me welcome, it is most kind and considerate of you to respond to my message, much appreciated.
I hope that God watches over your son and that he makes sure that he is safe and sound, I spent most of my life in and out of institutions, correctioanal houses and young offenders and prisons before I got it together, not say I am clean as a whistle now but I don't get involved in anything heavy, as the saying goes, " LET HIM WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CASTE THE FIRST STONE" I don't think that there are many humans beings in the world who would come into that category, well unfortunately a minority of them finish up in Jail or prison, not saying most of them or us don't deserve it but once we served our time and try to get our lost lives back together then we so rightly do.
Anyway, God Bless you and yours, be lucky and good luck.

mister briggsy,

wow! never expected to talk to someone from the other side of the planet here! you mean the united kingdom, right?
were you ever on probation? what is prison like over there?

toby

Hiya Toby, with a user name like Tyson guess you must be a boxing fan and especailly Tyson right, snap, I am into boxing too and a lot of sport, but particular boxing, gonna be one helluva scrap when Tyson and Lewis get it on hey, can't wait, thats if it ever comes off, I used to be an amateur boxer and a few of my friends where professional.
Yeah I was on Probation in my earlier years, a few times before they gave up on me and bunged me up, got put away for 4 years when I was 12 years old in an approved school, or guess you call it a correctional house in the usa, then I progressed to Borstal and then in and out of nick from there until It dawned on me, hey hold on, I am doing something wrong here, lol, know wot I mean bud, took me bloody long enough, guess I started to get wary of spending the rest of my life inside, already was institutionalised as they call it over here.
yeah, good to talk to our buddies and friends in The USA, good luck now, be good if not be careful.
Yeah I am in England Uk. A place called Manchester, you heard of it? think it is the most violent city in the Uk. so they say.

Hello Briggsy
Nice to meet you. I now live in Canada but I'm originally a Brit. Born in Reading and grew up in Birmingham. Moved here with my 3 week old son when I was almost 19.
Did they teach you a trade inside and do they still do that there? We don't have many programs here that are work related. Unfortunately, the guys do their programs and then they are pretty much warehoused for the rest of their sentence. My son has been in and out for about 14 years and just went down for another 6. He is 27 and has been involved with drugs and crime since he was 13, knows no other life really. We are hoping this will be his last bit but who knows what will happen.
Gillian

p.s. I used to cheer for Maanchester United when Georgie Best was playing lol. Bet that really dates me.

Hiya Gillian, nice to meet you and thanx for replying , George Best hey, bet you had a crush on him then, lol, he is still on television now each week doing commentating on football,
had a lot of drink related problems has you may already know.
I am also a Man Utd supporter, they are top of the league right now, do you still keep up with the news from over here?
So you where a brummie then, oill give it foive, remember that, was it stars in their eyes, no, I remember, it was top of teh pops, heamon Andrews I think, can't remember her name now tho that used to say it, lol
So you moved to canada, nice place, sorry to hear that your son has problems and I hope that he does manage to sort himself out when he gets released.
Its a long tiime since I was last in prison, 20 years ago, I learnt how to sew on a sewing machine and when I got released I started a business with very little if no capital from my home making leather clothing and progressed from there.
Yes I think that they do teach you a trade inside over here and you can also take exams and pass them if you want to.
Well good luck to you and Yours, hope everything turns out for the best in the end. Briggsy.