It's all about fear, if you think about it the whole system is about puting dear into people not just in the prisoner but also the families when the prisoners get out and are on parole its like doing the whole time again, i've beenout for five months snd its been hell, trying to find work to support the family but no one wants an ex con to hire and being charged with drinking and driving felony and having a csc 2 back in 95 its no wonder why people don't want to go on with life anymore (im not going to comit suicide) but its pretty dam hard with this burden.:angry:

HANG in there!!! I know its tough. Its especially not easy when Michigan jobs are leaving the state in droves!! Have you tried telling prospective employers that they can get a tax break for hiring you? Don't forget that employers can also get free bonding insurance if they hire you!!

A friend of ours went to a fledgling business and when they found out that they would get a tax break they gave him a chance!

The system scares me and the fear of having your own child walk into this system is greater then anything else I have felt during this entire process. The fear of him having the F word following him in the future is one I will deal with when its time but right now prison scares me more. Good Luck you, Jeannie

I'm not familiar with your area or what seasonal work there is, but what about doing some self-employment things. If you have a lawn mower, you have a lot of what you need for lawn service. A hammer and nails will get you into the fence repair/building business. I've paid guys $200 to come in with a trailer and haul junk away that I just didn't have the time to devote to doing myself.

Just some ideas, and I know that they're not C level positions, but it gets work on the resume and cash in the pocket. It might help until better comes along. Or, it might turn into a pretty decent business.

Rocker with the warmer weather coming there are alot of construction jobs and that sort of thing that does not check back grounds.. I hope that things get better for you and your family soon..

Hi, my name is Andi (I'm 29, a female), and I'm currently incarcerated (work release until August 31). I am very scared about leaving behind the life behind I once knew. I was a very successful business person, but now I am a felon with 10 forgery convictions. I've done good with my time - managed a paid internship/job with the Governor's office, but that's because they 'pity' those who have made bad choices.

I am scared about having to go out into the world as a felon, and find a good job to continue to provide for myself AND pay an outrageous $25K restitution. You are right that ex-felons seem to continue to be punished even after they have so-called 'paid their debt to society'.

I just wanted to tell you that you are not alone. let your character convince potential employers so that your history doesn't matter, only your future.

Take care, and best of luck,
Andi

You are so right , They the goverment, etc... go on and on about how they want all parolees to be able to stay out . but yet they don't do much to help, after paroled . Right now all I see happening is they are trying to pass so many different laws, that will take away so many of our rights. You just got to keep your chin up ! and keep trying! Don't give in to defeat. You'll find something. I firmly am a believer in Jesus Christ. and Satan puts those kind of doubts like your having into our minds to get us to turn away from doing the right thing. Turn to Jesus... He will show you the way , and with him nothings impossible!

I quite agree that the system operates on fear, working its dubious magic even on those who have "paid their debt to society". One need only ask anyone with any sort of conviction on their record who has had to deal with frivolous traffic stops by police hoping to catch them intoxicated, or police phoning or knocking at the door every time there is a crime in the area for which they do not have an obvious suspect--often they make it pretty clear that they'd just as soon you moved well away from the area. You never take the ring of the phone or a knock at the door in quite the same way again. You start looking over your shoulder a lot, feeling as if you're being watched. Some busybody might think that looks suspicious, and that just might compound the situation.

You serve your time....but in some respects, the sentence never ends. The authorities have the power to change that, but seemingly no interest in doing so. They love their dubious power too much.

The rigorous conditions of parole coupled with a distinct lack of employment opportunities was a HUGE burden on my man, myself and his family. He was on the ankle bracelet, had stringent curfews, daily check-ins and "drops", group sessions, you name it they threw it his way. The police took every opportunity to harrass him and his lack of respect for them didn't make matters any easier. It's little wonder he jumped at the opportunity to max out (on a flimsy violation) and I support his decision to do so. He'll be home in July off paper, hopefully that will make a difference.

Keep your head up, I know it isn't easy.

Patty

It's very hard to show respect for police when they behave like common thugs while expecting you to bow down to them. Sometimes one has to swallow one's pride and just pretend to get them out of the house faster....other times it's impossible to contain yourself and they invariably cause trouble. Cannot help but be reminded of a Woody Guthrie lyric:

"I know the police cause you trouble
But they cause trouble everywhere....
And when you die and go to heaven
You'll find no policemen there."

After getting out, it is TOUGH. You still gotta look over your shoulder and moreorless "shuck and dive" (a little a...s kis...ing); but even those who have not been incarcerated go through this to keep jobs. Yours is accentuated because of your past that folks use to hold over you. But, the old adage that life will find you as a responsible citizen comes with time (later not earlier...always to be continuing) and even then you gotta look out for yourself cuz when anything happens you are the first they look to or at...BUT, you gotta get on with life and not dwell on it, but never forget it either. My heart bleeds for said souls who are trying to go straight and narrow and just need a job. Just taking some job for beginners is one way to go and then move on to another....this establishes your credibility...just remembering that the first job is important and you should be a model of whatever it takes and stay there for a while. Input on this is important from everyone. Keep the faith; you are not alone. All families are affected by this too. Momma Minerva

you are so right! it IS fear, and ignorance all mixed into one. the DOC loves for reentry by any means neccessary, and to fight it we must learn, learn, learn all we can and NOT be afraid to get help, face our past, talk about it, share it.

don't give up, you are doing great!!! be strong and hang in there, this will pass too!!!

It's very hard to show respect for police when they behave like common thugs while expecting you to bow down to them. Sometimes one has to swallow one's pride and just pretend to get them out of the house faster....other times it's impossible to contain yourself and they invariably cause trouble. Cannot help but be reminded of a Woody Guthrie lyric:

"I know the police cause you trouble
But they cause trouble everywhere....
And when you die and go to heaven
You'll find no policemen there."

you are SO right! :clap: policemen behave so much like thugs, it's ridiculous. they let their pride run their jobs, and it's a SHAME. you are so right...and you expressed this better than i ever could have! my hubby has what i call a "policeman problem" and one of my BIGGEST concerns is that when he comes home, they will harass him and MAKE a reason for him to go back to prison, even if he is doing everything perfectly.

i wish i could print your words out on a t-shirt and wear it, but they would probably try to sue me for slandering LOL.

can i at least use them in my siggy? lol!

Hi, my name is Andi (I'm 29, a female), and I'm currently incarcerated (work release until August 31). I am very scared about leaving behind the life behind I once knew. I was a very successful business person, but now I am a felon with 10 forgery convictions. I've done good with my time - managed a paid internship/job with the Governor's office, but that's because they 'pity' those who have made bad choices.

I am scared about having to go out into the world as a felon, and find a good job to continue to provide for myself AND pay an outrageous $25K restitution. You are right that ex-felons seem to continue to be punished even after they have so-called 'paid their debt to society'.

I just wanted to tell you that you are not alone. let your character convince potential employers so that your history doesn't matter, only your future.

Take care, and best of luck,
Andi

welcome to PTO andi, and your story is amazing! i hope that you post more so that some of us can get to know you better and gain knowledge from what you've been through.

you are so right about your last statement too...i am going to tell this to my hubby when we visit together this weekend.

Hah! You know what I wish? I wish that the average citizen had the same right of self-defense against a police officer as against any other thug.
It'd keep them on the straight and narrow, but can we honestly believe it will ever happen?

Let's face it--sometimes the police come to kill you...and if you try to do anything about it, you'll be in violation of the law. What can one do?

A friend who is an ex-Marine found a way to deal with two cops who arrived at his door and made it clear that their intentions were not good. He turned on a video camera, then handcuffed both of them to a squad car door and called the police chief and the sheriff's department.

After looking at the video, they acknowledged he had acted in self-defense. Perhaps the best one can expect--though I don't own a video camera.

It's all about fear, if you think about it the whole system is about puting dear into people not just in the prisoner but also the families when the prisoners get out and are on parole its like doing the whole time again, i've beenout for five months snd its been hell, trying to find work to support the family but no one wants an ex con to hire and being charged with drinking and driving felony and having a csc 2 back in 95 its no wonder why people don't want to go on with life anymore (im not going to comit suicide) but its pretty dam hard with this burden.:angry:


i can dig your furstration, however i would like to see more ex-felons documents their struggles to find jobs, housing, and pursuit of happiness...
we as american citizens have a full and total right to reintergration into society, absent governmental hurdles...
the more we write about this nonsense the more others may take note...
discriminating against exfelon does not solve the crime problem...
it may well enhance it, however as i have said---most states in america rely on their criminal justice system to supplement the states income, provide jobs, and to disenfranchise minorities...

rocker I am sorry to hear about your problems, it is not fair to continue to discriminate against people once they have done their time, but unfortunately I have no solution to the problem except as Counciller said just keep documenting it. It needs to be brought to the publics attention as well as the lawmakers, they must see the way it impacts recidivisim.

Hang in there. I know it is very difficult, I tried to find my boyfriend a job and it was very discouraging. We finanlly go him a asbestos license and he makes $20-32 an hour. Not great work, but pays well.

I know this is an old thread, but I have looked at it often, especially DaveMoff's quote of District Attorney Reed Walters.

When I first retired from the Coast Guard and long before I got in trouble with the law myself an incident happened that to this day I cannot believe I did. But it had to be done.

We had just moved into this house, in fact, it happened when we were unloading from the last run of the move.

We heard a siren in the distance and the next thing we knew a car jumped the curb and stopped across the street a jumped out and started running. Right behind him a cop stopped and chased him. When the cop caught him he threw him to the ground and cuffed him. Pretty normal in that situation. And then the cop just started beating the living crap out of the guy. Cuffed hands, behind his back, face down on the ground, and the cop sitting on him beating the snot out of his head.

Well, my mouth is known for getting me in trouble and I definitely made an impression that day. I was an LEO with the Coast Guard, in fact, all Coast Guard personnel are Law Enforcement officers by Congressional mandate. However, I has served in the drug interdiction field with what is called Tactical Law Enforcement Team - at sea - and in South America. Key words there, Coast Guard jurisdiction is ONLY in the National Waters of the United States and under special treaties with other nations. I was out of my jurisdiction and retired to boot.

However, I started walking towards the street to cross, and as I did I yelled to the officer that I was a retired federal officer and if he hit that man one more time that I would place him under arrest.

Cop stopped! Looked up and then got on his mike. My ex was trying to shut me up. Long in short of it, I did have to show my ID (we did not and do not carry badges unless in our jurisdiction and on duty, never understood that) I did have to give a statement and I did file a complaint the the local yocals. Lotta good it did.

Nothing came of it - not even a letter of reprimand against the officer. Well something do come of it, I became marked by the cops to be gotten and I eventually was.

But the point is this: if I had intervened I could not have lived with myself, and regardless of all that came after that to me is far more important than this house, a car, my freedom. My honor and my integrity is to this day intact.

The point is that yes sometimes we have take chances, get that video camera, if you have none and you see a violation by the police find other witnesses to back up what you see if you can. You can also make a citizens arrest, but you better have all your proverbial ducks in a rows.

Fear is a good thing, fear is something that we as humans can learn to use. I was scared to death that day and have been since during the war protests I now participate in and at other times. I almost went back to prison a year or so ago this month because of a war protest (long story not for this post).

The point is as we ex-cons and family of ex-cons, or anyone for that matter, if you let the fear control you, they control you. Learn to control your fear and turn it around into action against what you fear. I know that is so hard.

But if we are to get that job, or a bigger goal changes the laws, we have to learn to control it, and use it against our enemies. Yes I now consider the system, the government in all it's forms my enemy. One we have to live with but an enemy all the same.

Do not let the system beat you, do what you have too, find the money to go to school, open your own business, march in protest, send a teabag and a letter of protest to your legislators, but use your fear and turn it into action!

There may be consequences yes, but nothing good has ever come without a cost. And changing your life from ex-con with nothing to ex-con with a job, a family, a career, is entirely up to you. Even the bigger goals can be done, there are far too many examples of people becoming success' after what we have gone through to say it cannot be done.

Patti