I was wondering if anyone has a suggestion on what I could do to help Bo out when he is released. His release date isn't for another 6 years 7-4-09 but I personally think it's about time for him to think about being released and his goals and his plans on being successful once he gets home. He has been in prison for 9 yrs now and being in there since he was 20. So everything out here in the "free world" has changed and there are so many things that I know that he will not know what to do or what to expect. I have read so many stories of how many times an inmate is released and is sent back again because they had a hard time dealing to the freedom. I do understand it will be hard but I am also afraid that him being gone for so long that he will feel like a failure and want to go back to a place that he is comfortable with. I also can't tell you how many times I have heard that they believe they can do it on their own without any help too. I want to much to be the kind of person that Bo will come to for support, a shoulder to lean on and a hand to hold onto. Even though he won't be out for awhile is it too early for him and I to talk about plans on what he is wanting to do? Once he is out, I do know he will have to start everything over again, buying clothes, finding a job, getting a car and finding a place to stay, even though I will give him that if he needs a place to stay. So I was wondering where do I start or what do I do to make sure he is one of the success stories that people do hear about making it out of prison and staying out?

If he still has six to go---that probably seems like a life-time to him!!! As an X-offfender,myself,it did not really hit me until about the last month before release. You could do things such as print out job info.,the prices on things---just everything---cause timez have changed and so have prices!!! You could print out lots of resourcs---if you have access to on-line and a printer---the options are endless!!! Hope this helps out some. Good luck to you!!!

I have a pen pal who is getting ready to be released, what can I send to him while he's still in to help prepare him for the outside world and what can I do as a friend to help him when he's home?...I have thought about keeping a calling card charged so he can call as often as he wants...Any thoughts on that subject would be good too...

Thanks, Sondra

Just wanted this thread to get some attention. I'm positive some body can give a better answer than me.

Depending on the mindset of your loved one, time can go faster than you think. I am honest when I say that 4 1/2 years went kinda fast; but that is relative. Is it too early to think about plans; yes and no. It is too early to make definite plans, because far too many things can happen between now and the next 5 years. New technologies we have not seen could appear and change your plans. Personal issue could change your life or your location. I personally would not make plans "etched in stone". However, you can make some vague plans. Where will he live? Can he get a job,and if so, where? Has he taken any classes while in prison? What are his dreams? These kind of things he will have to at least look at now. For example, when I was in prison in NC, several camps offered computer classes, some electrical courses, some HVAC, ect. Has he learned a skill or a trade? This is one of the most important things he can do, because it actually puts him ahead in his preparation. If he spent all that time in prison and not learned anything, he will be behind the eight ball coming out. Or, how about this, is there a particular thing he is good at? Inmates have shown many unique skills like drawing, painting, and other skills. Maybe that can develop into a personal business. The point here is that you develope a positive characteristic to replace the negative. Something that gives him hope for a future will be the strongest thing he can have. For that reason, planning is essential, because it gives him expectation, which can make his time go faster than worrying if he will be worth anything. Expectation can be so strong that he will wake up every morning, even though he is in prison, and think that everything will be alright. Ask him what he wants in life, what he wants to accomplish,and then make some plans to make it happen. I assure you, he can become a great story of success, as any human being with breath to draw can.