I know recidivism rates are high and there's alot of reasons why that is the case. we need to reduce barriers to effective reintegration of former inmates into society, without their ability to function within society as a valued member their chances for recidivism are going to remain high. If they can no longer be part of society, hold jobs, take part in the community, and be freed from stigma and lifelong punishment of having rights stripped from them they will forever be forced into a subgroup of deviants or "ex-cons". This is going to drive a sense of being separate and apart and to a higher rate of recidivism.

I'm researching a sociology paper on how we can reduce recidivism rates in the US and I'm wondering if I can get some responses from former inmates who have left prison on what helped them to not return to prison again despite some of the curveballs society throws (unfairly I think) at them. What helped them or ppl they knew or what do they think would help lower recidivsm rates in the US justice system.

Thanks,
Chris

Hi Chris

As a former inmate I faced numerous problems in my effort to return and reintergrate. I am not a recidivist because I do not have a criminal mindset. I didnt have one to start with but that is an entirely different issue. Maintaining "freedom" is not the result of aversion to the prison experience or fear of punishment, it is a mental state and the availability of resources to ex-cons. Recidivism occurs partly because the social resources and support are absent and the pre-release programming in prisons does not inspire prisoners to change their lifestyle, education, and personal agenda.
Chris, you have mentioned the term "valued member of society". An inmate that seriously considers the concept of being of value has to first see merit in it. There has to be an array of psychological, social and educational efforts in achieving this. Prison programming does not enforce such goals. Therefore inmates that lack education, psychological support and coping skills have very little chance to see the merit in being valuable and consequently return to prison.
Home away from home and the revolving door concepts are the backbone of recidivism. Once an inmate or former inmate accepts that his/her stay in the outside is temporary then there is a "romantic" relationship with the prison system and punishment becomes an expectation and the norm.
I feel our problem is monumental with solutions being plentiful yet those in position to improve the system being inert and unwilling.
Your sociology paper needs to be a thesis/dissertation. I could write volumes on this issue but i am afraid it would fall on deaf ears. Peace.

Thanks for the reply, and yeah those are all very valid points, this particularly

" An inmate that seriously considers the concept of being of value has to first see merit in it. There has to be an array of psychological, social and educational efforts in achieving this. Prison programming does not enforce such goals. Therefore inmates that lack education, psychological support and coping skills have very little chance to see the merit in being valuable and consequently return to prison. "

but what can be done to change this state of existance and want to make people rejoin society? I'm sure some just don't want to period for whatever reason, there's certainly barriers built into the "system" to discourage inmates from even bothering, lack of access to educational opportunities such as financial aid, having a felony conviction keeping you from job opportunties and the 'stigma' attached, you wouldn't pass a CORI check which people applying for paper routes these days probably need.

Another things seem to be that prisons are, in alot of cases, holding areas for mentally ill who get no treatment while in and are released with none and no health insurance to followup and get treatment.. you'd think in the US that we *want* people to re-enter the prison system.

Well repeat customers is the backbone of any business. I guess repeat customers is the reason that both states and federal sentencing incorporates criminal history when imposing punishment. The federal grid system dedicates 3/4 of their guidelines to repeat offenders. As you said "Another things seem to be that prisons are, in alot of cases, holding areas for mentally ill who get no treatment while in and are released with none and no health insurance to followup and get treatment.. you'd think in the US that we *want* people to re-enter the prison system." You would think that repeat offenders have already been psychologically evaluated from their first offense and therefore upon reentrance there would be intervention to prevent a third or fourth criminal occurence. But noooooo, the repeat customer concept is much more appealing than the correction. Which makes me want to suggest a change in name for the department of corrections. Maybe a better name would be department of warehousing.

I have witnessed plentiful mental illness in prisons, a wide range of disorders, some easily cured and others in desperately dangerous stages, from mild depression to schizophrenia. Unfortunately they are all handled or mishandled by either being ignored or with pill line (daily administration of meds).

I feel, the character of a person, a group or a country can be evaluated by the way they treat the disadvantaged, mentally ill and the elderly. If we are not concerned, kind and caring to those groups we are definetely spinning out of control. Peace.

my million dollar question concerning this is always:

what are we doing to keep our loved ones out of prison? the DOC isn't going to do it (like remi said repeat customers is the backbone of any business)...so what are we going to do for them?

any suggestions anyone who has been there done that? i just can't live with the idea that "if the DOC doesn't do it...it won't get done". to me that's an excuse, and way too many inmates and their families are dependent on a non-working DOC.

Our son is on study release and is taking the HVAC program to prepare him to own his own business in a couple of years. The problem is that only four inmates in the entire state get to go on study release. If more prisons allowed study release and prepared inmates for self-employment with a chance of making a decent living, fewer would go back to prison, in my humble opinion.

All good and said but the prison system I know in the State of Louisiana all they want is the Feds Money and they surely get it by what;did someone say repeat customers, if we could only see the big picture that this country, world whatever you may call it is designed to keep the unfortunate down, main goal, from economics, education, housing, laws etc.. etc I know the best way to deter anyone from going back to prison, is mind-set and giving it all to the Lord.

What keeps me from returning to prison? The four years and 8 days that I spent there.

I hope that this new year is a good one for all of you recently released!

i am still what i always joked about, a"state step child" because i have been in cali's system since 1974 an thru the y.a. system back in 1969 to 1972. in all my years of doing time an the drugs & crimes behind thr drugs, i could never see myself ever getting straight. i could not stand to be out for very long, i loved the life style that came with it an the respect i thought i got everytime i went back. what made me finally give it all up? my late husband past away in 2002 30 days to the gate. we'd been married 20 yrs. an i did alot more time than he did. i some how managed to have 8 kids along the way too. losing him an hearing how much he suffered along with my kids watching their dad fighting to stay alive long enough for me to get home, was too much. i kneew when i walked out those gates that that was it. i went back on a violation in 2004 an since i got out, i have maintained a home for me, my daughter an grandchildren. i have almost completed my schooling for a alcohol an drug counselor. i turned my life around on shear will power an the man upstairs help. no, its not easy hardest things i've ever done. but, everytime i pay those bills, i know i'm in reality. this is life an i love every single minute of it. not, everyone can do it this way, but, i did.

Dear Sparky

You are inspirational. I am sure I am not the only person that told you this. Nothing better than a success story like yours. I wish you strength, stability, health and the power to pursue your dreams. Thank you for sharing. Peace

What keeps me out of prison, is knowing the fact that i have been there for something that i didnt do but had no choice but to plea too. and my children.
i guess that wraps it up on what keeps me out.

Cass

Well I Have Never Been In Jail Or Prison Myself. However, My Hunny Has Had A Bit Of The Revolving Door Syndrome With The Fldoc. He Had Numerous Trips To Jdc As A Kid. As An Adult He Had 1 Major Charge In 1996. For That Charge He Gave Nearly 5 Years Of His Life To The Prison System. Not Counting County Time. When The Crime Occured He Was Only 18. So, He Began His Adulthood In The Prison System.:(
I Met Him 2 Days After His Release From Prison And On Probation. Since Then He Has Violated The Original Probation, Was Put On Comm Control(house Arrest)violated That, Given 1 More Chance At The Cc, Violated That. From This 3rd And Last Violation He Was Sent Back To Prison. I Just Do Not Understand Why His Family And I Were Not Able To Keep Him From Himself.:confused: :(
Everytime We Had A Situation That Was Accidental And Could Have Resulted In A Violation He Got Sooooo Upset. I Really Do Not Think That He Wanted To Go Back. But His Behavior The Whole Time He Was Home Was As If He Was Preparing To Go Back. When He Showered He Would Not Leave The Curtain Closed( Like He Did Not Want To Get Used To The Privacy), He Took Lots Of Pics (so I Would Have Lots To Send Him), He Got Me A Generator(so I Would Be Prepared In A Storm With The Kids), We Got A Dig Camera Just Before He Left(i Use It A Ton),he Brought Me Up To Speed On Our Computer( I Was Basically Computer Illiterate) No Matter How Close We Got He Was Always Trying To Pick Fights To Push Me Away(as To Not Get Too Attached). Why? Was It A Defense Mechanism? Because Of The Pain Of Losing Everything The First Time? Did He Want To Go Back Because The Pressures Out Here Were Too Great And He Wanted To Be Back With What He Knew? Did He Just Not Care About Me And Our Kids, Only Himself? :confused:
He Had Lots Of Support, Many "bumpers". ( People To Say... Hey You Should Not Do Or Be Doin That). It Did Not Make A Difference. The First Violation Was Only 3 Monthes Post Release. The Second Was 2 Years After That And The Third Was Only About 2 Monthes After That. Our Families ,Friends And Myself All Tried Soooo Hard To Help Him To Not Be Stupid And Careless With His Freedom. But We Failed Miserably.
I Sooo Often Feel Responsible, Were The Pressures Of Family Life Too Much , Or Were They The Only Thing That Kept Him Out That Long? He Had Sooo Many Chances, Good Job Opportunities, People Who Wanted To See Him Succeed And Would Help Him To Be Successful In Anyway.
I Agree That Releasees Need All The Help, Support, Love, Understanding ,that They Can Get. But He Had All That And Squandered It All. I Think It Was A Combination Of Things. The Pressures Of The Fam Life I Believe Helped And Hindered Him. He Soooo Desperatly Hungered For The Security And Love It Provided, But, He Also Felt The Need To Make Up For Lost Time In His Life. Which Is What Lead Him To Trouble. I Personally Believe That He Started Out Trying But The Pressure, The Temptations, The Unfamiliarity Of The Lifestyle, Hell Just The Drastic Lifestyle/routine Change Was What Drove Him Back Into The Secure, Routine, Familiar Arms Of The Doc.
I Mean Fam Life Is All About Putting Others Before Yourself. Prison Is All About Looking Out For U And Only U. This Was A Great Struggle For Him All On Its Own. Trying To Remember That There Are Other People On This Planet Other Than Himself. He Did Try, But It Was A Great Challenge. He Was Sooooo Used To Being The Only One Who Looked Out For Him, That It Was Hard For Him To Let Me Care And Look Out For Him.
This Lead To Alot Of Feelings Of Just Being Used On My Part, But I Try Sooo Hard To Be Understanding Of His Mental And Emotional State.:o

I Almost Think That More Than Being Afraid Of Returning To Prison Itself, He Was Afraid Of Reliving All The Traumatic Feelings From The First Go Around. It Took Alot Of Work On Both Our Parts, But,he Did Do Alot Of Emotional Growth And Healing While He Was Home. It Just Was Not Enough(obviously)! This Was One Of The Saddest Parts To His Last Arrest. All Hat Pain And Working Through And Talking And Healing We Did Of His Old Emotional Wounds........ Just Flushed Down The Toilet. We Were Just Making Some Really Good Head Way When He Left. Although I Know Some Of It Will Not Come Undone...... I Know Alot Of It Will. We Will Have To Start All Over Again.:(

Now, One Thing About This Time, He Has Me.:D Sounds Silly I Know But, Last Time His Woman Split After A Few Monthes In.:blah: In Feb I Will Have Already Survived 1 Full Year Of Him Being Gone And In May 1 Full Year Of Prison Time Done. :thumbsup: I Have Been Through The Hardest Parts, Not To Say That The Rest Will Be Easy, But, All The Initial Pain And Shocks Are Passed. It Still Hurts, But I Am Adjusted Now And So Are The Kids. We Visit Him. Last Time He Had No Visitors At All. We Talk On The Phone Once A Week. Last Time It Was 1 Call A Month To His Mom. We Write Daily, I Know He Got Some Mail, But Not A Devoted Daily One Like Myself.
I Am TrYing To Maintain And Build Up His Trust In Me And The Value He Places On Me & The Kids While He Is In. So That When He Comes Home We Can Heal Some More And Move Forward. Will This Work? Will It Be Enough To Give The Idea Of Being A Loving ,Devoted, Upstanding Husband And Dad, Merit? Or Will I Be Played The Fool As Sooo Many Say I Already Have Been And Will Again?:confused: Only Time Will Tell For Sure, But If Anyone Has An Opinion I Would Really Appreciate Hearing It.:thumbsup:

Chris~ Hope Some Of This Helps, I Know It Was A Little Off The Direct Point, But It Is A Real Life Example Of A Person Who Re-entered Despite All The Love Support And Understanding We Could Give. IT IS ALSO A LISTING OF SOME THINGS THAT WERE DAMAGING TO HIS SUCCESS ON THE OUTSIDE, THAT OCCURED (OR DID NOT OCCUR) WHILE HE WAS ON THE INSIDE THE FIRST TIME AROUND. Again Hope It Helps And Good Luck!:thumbsup:

you know its a trip cuz today one of my daughters an i was talking on the phone, we were saying something about my oldest one, she had always been "mama" to her younger ones cuz of me being gone most of their lives. then she got involved into drugs also an they lost a lot of respect for her. she now has herself on track an is even working an being responsible. my other daughter said how proud of her she was an i said well, you have her back now... she said, mom, we looked to her as our mom, but yea now we have a SISTER cuz now we also have a MOM..... me, doing all this gettind clean an sober is well worth hearing that. i hear it all the time how proud my kids are of me, but, put that way, well, it put the biggest smile on my face an the warmest feeling in my heart. i've always said that if my going thru what i did kept my kids from doing it all then it was meant to be. don't get me wrong my kids a few of them made choices that could have ruined their lives but they pulled themselves up an out of it too before it got out of control an for that i'm thankful to my the man upstairs.

my million dollar question concerning this is always:

what are we doing to keep our loved ones out of prison? the DOC isn't going to do it (like remi said repeat customers is the backbone of any business)...so what are we going to do for them?

any suggestions anyone who has been there done that? i just can't live with the idea that "if the DOC doesn't do it...it won't get done". to me that's an excuse, and way too many inmates and their families are dependent on a non-working DOC.

Personally, I don't see where it's the DOC's job to try to keep you out of prison. You have to choose to do that for yourself.

But, on the other hand----if one wants the DOC to make you not want to go to prison or return to prison, then I'm afraid many people would whine that they are issuing 'cruel & unusual' punishment. Because I'm sure they'd be more than happy to make your prison stay unpleasant. That is something you have to NOT WANT for yourself.
(by 'your' I wasn't speaking personally to you mrsChris....I was speaking in general)

i personally think that you have to have a sincere disire to succeed other wise you won't. i sorta did what tom's honey did but the complete opposite. my guy has been in and out of jails and in and out of drug treatment centers since he was very young. even had a prison camp go round. none of them were nothing compared to the first time he went to prison, 36 months, the longest time he had been in. i supported him unconditionally, we went every week to see him, he got several letters a week, daily hours long phone contact...you know comcast back in the day you could do that. plenty of money on his books at any time. His best friend told me that he wasn't ready to be done with the life, like a fool i believed him. it took him 6 months to go back. when he was home i did nothing but support him, i encouraged nothing but fun between him and the kids, i was working at a great job so i wasn't pushing him to find a job, just stay home and be dad to the kids for a bit. but even though i supported him and loved him unconditionally, even after him not coming home for 3 days and when he did come home he was spracked out, i told him we would get through this. i tried to be more supportive. when he went back in this time for 24 months i ended all contact with him, no mail no phone no nothing. we started writing letters in october, 7 months before he is to come home. we have no phone contact, we might go have our first visit in Febuaray or March, just a couple months before he comes home. i am hoping that literally losing everything will be what it takes to give him the desire to live a different life and be the man that i know that he is.

i hope this helps!

I think there are alot of things that make the difference on whether or not they will return; education programs while inside would help; job traiing would help; NA/AA meetings and counseling might help; having a supportive and loving family to come home to helps........ but the biggest most important thing I think is for them to decide they are ready to give up the life. for some, it is the only thing they have known. . . thats hard to give up because its familiar. . . . . that, i think, will be the deciding factor in whether or not they succeed outside the walls.

I know recidivism rates are high and there's alot of reasons why that is the case. we need to reduce barriers to effective reintegration of former inmates into society, without their ability to function within society as a valued member their chances for recidivism are going to remain high. If they can no longer be part of society, hold jobs, take part in the community, and be freed from stigma and lifelong punishment of having rights stripped from them they will forever be forced into a subgroup of deviants or "ex-cons". This is going to drive a sense of being separate and apart and to a higher rate of recidivism.

I'm researching a sociology paper on how we can reduce recidivism rates in the US and I'm wondering if I can get some responses from former inmates who have left prison on what helped them to not return to prison again despite some of the curveballs society throws (unfairly I think) at them. What helped them or ppl they knew or what do they think would help lower recidivsm rates in the US justice system.

Thanks,
Chris
stay away from old friends, ways and everything you can think of that was thought of as cool and that got on put into prison in the first place. Do the right thing even if it hurts and is the absolute pits. ALWAYS do the right thing, no matter what.

Eliminate the question "Have you ever been convicted of a felony" from employment applications (or at least put a maximum amount of time that one has to answer yes).

That might help.

I think that it would help to put all first time offenders in a seperate program than the repeat offenders. Maybe they would be less "instituionalized" when they got out.

AMEN Chicken!! The only thing that kept me going thus far has been my child... now that she is away --- I have no clue what will keep me from going back -- or if there will be anything.
Right now.. at this point.. I can only take it minute to minute