Help! My son gets out soon and I don't know what to expect, I'd like to find some type of support out here but I'm having no luck. He went in when he was 16yr. angry at the world, hating us and with depression and a terrible drug problem. He is now 18. I visit him as often as I can - it's harder now since he's moved across the state and I work weekends. I write him about twice a month. He writes me (when he needs $-some things never change). He "seems" to have matured in some respects. But I'm very nervous about his return. I'm very close to my son (at least I feel it). I want to give him a chance at "getting it together". My husband and son (yes, his real dad) don't see eye to eye. I've been put in the middle or let them put me in the middle way too many times!
I'd like to let him stay with us as long as he can stay "clean".
My husband and I both agree to this. But it's going to be a huge adjustment. I'm not sure if it's going to work my son and husband are both very strong headed. I hope we can live in peace. I'd like to find some tools to help us!!
I know the coping tools my son has had to learn in jail aren't what he needs out in the real world. And he didn't have the tools he needed when he was out or he would have never been put in!
He checked in pysch. about a month ago, amoung other things said he couldn't take this sh*t anymore. They put him on anti depressions! Great MOre Drugs!!!! But he's an adult and he had to sign a release for them to tell me what was going on!:argh My son has been Baker Acted for being suicidal, Marchmen Acted for doing so many drugs we though he'd kill himself just before getting locked up. So maybe you can understand why I'm alittle NERVOUS!
Why didn't the freakin judge just freakin listen to me about 3 freakin years ago?! :fb: Scr*w it, that's in the past.
And I'm worried about the FUTURE! Am I over reacting?
At any rate I'd like to know if there is any help out there for re-entry, family coping skills dealing with this, something?
If you know of anything please let me know!
Thanks for listening to me vent. Ya'l are great! Peace. cl:confused:(

CHERYL

THIS WILL NOT BE AN EASY TASK FOR ANY OF YOU... CALL YOUR FAMILY SERVICES UNIT AND THE FLORIDA DOC. SURELY THERE IS ONE... FIND OUT WHERE ALL OF YOU CAN GO TO COUNSELING NOW. GO AHEAD AND GET IT SET UP. YOU SON WILL NEED TO READJUST TO THE REAL WORLD. YOU GUYS WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH HIM, BECAUSE I AM SURE HE HAS CHANGED JUST BY BEING IN THE SYSTEM... E-MAIL JD'S WIFEY. SHE HAS CONTACTS THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET YOU INTO SOME COUNSELING IN FLORIDA... IT IS VERY NECESSARY.... I KNOW YOU ARE NERVOUS. IF THINGS WORK OUT IN THE BEST WAY, YOU MUST HAVE SOME HELP... STAYING IN PRISON WITHOUT ANY REHABILITATION WAS NOT THE ANSWER FOR YOUR SON. IF HE COMES OUT AND HAS THE SAME FRIENDS THAT HE HAD BEFORE , HE WILL BE RIGHT BACK IN THERE BUT FOR SOMETHING WORSE...

PRAY, PRAY PRAY AND INSURE YOU GET ALL OF YOU SOME HELP TO HANDLE THIS.

MY LOVE AND PRAYERS
DONNA

Cheryl, I'm not sure where I saw this article but found it to be very helpful. I also have another one on post-incarceraton syndrome and there is a book called 99days and a get up that both you, your husband, and son need to read.


COMING HOME

After years of waiting and counting down, it is almost time for the
gates on the Iron House to open and your loved one to step through and
come home. Your greatest dream and your worse nightmare are about to be
realized...yes, it is your loved one and no, you don't know this person
anymore. Is there hope that all can be healed and your loved one
becomes once again the person you knew and loved? The answer is a
resounding yes, but it will take honesty, patience and work by all.

The experts say that it only takes 18 months for a person to be
institutionalized. After 20+ years working with First Nations persons
locked up in Iron Houses, I would say that the experts are being
optimistic and that any amount of time locked up leaves wounds that must
be healed and behaviors unlearned. You must understand the nature of
the enemy - the Iron House - in order to understand the damage done to
your loved one. The prison system, regardless of where located,
systematically, intentionally and scientifically makes every effort to
dehumanize a person in order to better control and "manage" the prison
population.

Immediately upon entering the prison system, activities are undertaken
to strip away a person's identity, decision-making capabilities, and
self-esteem. Their names are taken away to be replaced with a number.
Their sense of "Who I Am" is replaced with "What I Am." All
opportunities to make a choice are removed. They are consistently told
and retold what little worth they have to humanity. They are punished
for showing any emotion, questioning any decision, or stepping outside
of the accepted standard. Complete and utter compliance and conformity
are demanded. Individualism is punished swiftly and severely. And it
never changes. Colors are bland, meals are bland, activities are bland,
and days and night fold into each other. Time slows and stops, as does
growth and life for the inmate.

In order to survive such an environment, your loved must have been
flexible enough to adapt and once adapted, it has become his/her life.
It is life, alien and warped, but it is their life. And now comes the
time for the inmate to come home, a world that has now become alien and
unfamiliar and more importantly, terrifying. This is a time that will
require more strength from the inmate than going into prison. But this
time your loved one is not alone, you are there to help the healing
process and to encourage the growth. Your loved one has been deeply
wounded, but can heal. Yes, there will always be scars, but one can
live with scars as only distant reminders of bad times. So here are a
few things to be aware of and several things you can do. You and your
loved one are no longer helpless. Take your power back and use it!

TIPS AND HINTS:

First, recognize that he is coming from a place where he has had to be
constantly alert and attentive, a place that is never quiet, a place he

is never alone in peace, and that quiet is foreign to him. He will need
periods of quiet time in short intervals. And he will not be
comfortable with loud noises that he is not accustomed to, such as the
babble of party noises, street noises and the like. He will be
uncomfortable around a variety of colors, genders, children and
animals. He will at first be uncomfortable moving from room to room,
and will tend to stay in one room until it has become familiar. He will
be uncomfortable going out the door ahead of anyone else. His eyes will
always be shifting around and his heading turning, and he will probably
wish to sit with his back to a wall. These are instinctual things he
has learned and he won't even be conscious of it. The best cure is
simply time, to replace his instincts with new ones and to help him be
aware of his actions, without trying to correct the actions. Pay
attention to his comfort level and help make his new environment
comfortable, introducing new things slowly.

The worse damage done to your loved one is his ability to make decisions
or choices was taken away. It has to be relearned. We unconsciously
make hundreds of decisions a day. Your loved one is not allowed any and
has forgotten how to make them. He was not even allowed to choose what
he would wear for the day, or if had the choice, it was extremely
limited. Do not overwhelm him with choice.

The key to helping is staying supportive, but not smothering. He has to
learn to make decisions and to choose in order to survive and grow in
the new world, but he doesn't have to learn it overnight. Think in
terms of small and slow steps. Let him set the pace, and be there for
him if he demands too much of himself. He will want it all...the
sensations he lost, the colors he lost, the sounds, the feels, the
music. He can have it all, but in smaller doses. Wide open spaces will
scare him at first. Start with just watching a sunset to draw his
attention up and out. A short walk in the neighborhood or light picnic
in his own backyard. When you see he is comfortable, then expand to
something a bit larger, a bit longer.

Don't ask him what he wants you to cook for dinner. Ask him if there's
anything in particular that he would like, that he's been craving.
Don't be surprised if some of his old favorites have changed and he no
longer likes macaroni and cheese or turkey or meat loaf or pancakes.
Those are prison staples and he is sick of them, even if your
"home-cooked" was special. Again, give him small choices to make...do
you want corn or green beans?

He will want to do those things that have been denied him all those
years, social functions, entertainment, etc. Help him to realize the
dream, but be cautious in how you do it. Do not take him to a movie the
first weeks home. Dark, enclosed places, where he is surrounded by
people will cause those flight/fight instincts to kick in. Rent a video
instead. Do not take him to car races...try watching it on TV first to
let him get accustomed to the noise. Do not take him to a restaurant
for a full meal...start by going into a smaller, comfortable, familiar

place and order just dessert or a beverage. Menus are really
intimidating and ordering dinner is overwhelming...soup or salad, what
kind of soup or what dressing on the salad, what kind of potato..mashed,
baked, fried or rice, rolls or toast, what to drink with dinner.

Don't ever come up behind him quietly and put your arms around him for a
quick hug, or tap on his shoulder. The flight/fight instinct will
immediately kick in.

Make a little noise before entering a room he's in or call out to him.
Encourage him to come into another room by inviting him in with you.

Do not take him shopping unless he asks to go. Under no circumstances,
take him into a shopping mall the first few weeks home. Start out with
small convenience stores or grocery stores. Don't ask him what he
wants, ask him what brand of something he was using or liked. If you
put him in front of a two dozen brands of toothpaste, he'll freeze.
Watch him closely at shopping expeditions. If he begins to sweat or
starts looking around more and more, pull him out of the store...he's on
overload.

Encourage his participation in household decisions by asking his
opinion, but do not pressure him to make the decision. I know that you
have longed to have the burden shared and it can be, but first he must
learn to trust his decision-making skills and feel comfortable with
airing his opinion. It's been a long time since he was asked and a long
time since he was trusted.

Prepare for him coming home by having a new wardrobe ready for him,
preferably colors he wasn't allowed to wear. But keep the wardrobe
small, six or seven shirts at most. He won't be able to decide what to
wear if he is overwhelmed with too much choice. Help him with the
choice by mentioning that you particularly like a shirt or that he looks
good in jeans, or you will be going someplace that tennis shoes might be
comfortable. Don't tell him what to wear, but give hints or
encouragement that will help.

Even though out of prison, there is still a long string tying him to
prison...fines owed, parole officers to check in with, boxes on forms
that ask if he ever committed a felony. The reality is that he is
forever marked by being a prisoner and both you and he must accept that
reality. Reduce the stress levels of the string by reducing the
situation to an annoyance rather than an obstacle. Acknowledge that it
is annoying, but then so is paying taxes, getting a driver's license,
showing ID to cash a check. Reinforce the idea that it is simply a task
to be done and has little importance in day to day life.

Help your loved one to redefine himself. He has lost "Who I Am," and
must now start over and this time carrying a backpack full of shame,
guilt, pain, anger and confusion. Don't remind him of who or what he
used to be, but encourage him to look for what he wants to be. Let him
know there are no limits to what he can be.

Expect periods of silence from him when he has nothing to say. Expect
periods when he won't shut up and you want to scream because you are
tired of the prison stories. Expect evasions and direct lies because
they have become a necessary part of his living system. Expect and

understand where these things are coming from, but do not change your
life to accommodate these things. When he is silent, respect his
silence but do not retreat into it also. When he won't stop talking
about prison, understand he is feeling particularly lost and redirect
his thoughts to here and now. Call him on the lies and let him know
there is no reason to lie. Remember, however, that he is used to
instant and harsh punishment and will expect the same from you.

Human touch was one of the first things taken away from him. His only
experience with human touch during his imprisonment has been in a
negative way or fleeting moments during visits. He will crave touch and
be repelled by it at the same time. Watch for his comfort level and
adjust to it and help him to expand. Never touch him when he is unaware
of your presence.
Do not sacrifice yourself and your needs to accommodate him. It will
only add to the burden of guilt he is feeling. Let him know that even
though the transition is home is tough, you are working on it together,
and that you expect him to be a partner in the work. Guide, do not
nag. Make opportunities for him to be a partner, and then sit back and
allow him to do it...even if you want to take it out of his hands and do
it yourself.

Be honest, be patient, be loving and most importantly, be human. Do not
try to be perfect, do not try to be strong all the time. He needs to be
needed. He needs to give love as well as receive it. He needs to know
he is of value to you and the creation. He needs to relearn pride and
faith. He needs to be judged on his actions now and the past become a
whisper of memory.

Help him to find his spirituality. Help him to see the world beyond
himself and his place in the world through his spirituality.

Be the living example by which he can learn. Show compassion, honor,
trust, respect and fairness. These are qualities that he has not seen
for a very long time and they cannot be described in words. By your
example, show him the way home.


Final Thoughts:

Each situation, each human is different. But there is one truth for
all. Your loved one has been wounded by the horror of being locked up.
What must take place is a healing, not just for him but for you also.
It will happen. It takes time, love and absolute faith, but it does
happen. I urge you to be aware of what he has been through and where
he has been, but not to allow your home to become a prison also. Help
him to clean the prison out of him and replace that empty void with
home. Do not allow the prison to run your lives any longer by letting
him and yourself stay imprisoned within your heart and minds. In order
to be free, you both must feel free. Remind y ourselves constantly that
you are free!

I speak from the voice of experience. Not only have I supported First
Nation Iron House Spiritual Circles, but I married a prisoner. After
seven years in prison (six of which we shared together), my husband has
come home. On December 25, 1998, we celebrated ten months of freedom.
During our celebration, we talked about the insanity of the first few
months home, we talked of the love that had grown and strengthened

through the years and the most exciting part was that we talked about
the mundane, routine parts of life and made plans for the
future....building a new fence next year, getting a puppy as a companion
for our grown dog, rebuilding our lodge and renewing our wedding vows
next Spring.

All that I had hoped for and wished for has come to be. My husband is
truly home and we are stronger and more united for the experience. We
truly value love, companionship, partnership and each other. We do not
take for granted the small precious moments of life. The healing is
well underway for us both. Keep your faith and your hope....it will be
a good day, and a good life.

Tricia

Cheryl, Here's the article on Post Incarceration Syndrome:

Post Incarceration Syndrome and Relapse
By Terence T. Gorski (Terry Gorski is available to speak or consult on these issues)
Permission is given to reproduce this article with proper referencing.
The CENAPS® CORPORATION

17900 Dixie Highway, Suite 14, Homewood, Illinois 60430

708-799-5000; Fax: 708-799-5032

The Post Incarceration Syndrome (PICS) is a serious problem that contributes to relapse in addicted and mentally ill offenders who are released from correctional institutions. Currently 60% of prisoners have been in prison before and there is growing evidence that the Post Incarceration Syndrome (PICS) is a contributing factor to this high rate of recidivism. [i]

The concept of a post incarceration syndrome (PICS) has emerged from clinical consultation work with criminal justice system rehabilitation programs working with currently incarcerated prisoners and with addiction treatment programs and community mental health centers working with recently released prisoners.

This article will provide an operational definition of the Post Incarceration Syndrome (PICS), describe the common symptoms, recommend approaches to diagnosis and treatment, explore the implications of this serious new syndrome for community safety, and discuss the need for political action to reduce the number of prisoners and assure more humane treatment within our prisons, jails, and correctional institutions as a means of prevention. It is my hope that this initial formulation of a PICS Syndrome will encourage researchers to develop objective testing tools and formal studies to add to our understanding of the problems encountered by released inmates that influence recovery and relapse.

Post Incarceration Syndrome (PICS) - Operational Definition
The Post Incarceration Syndrome (PICS) is a set of symptoms that are present in many currently incarcerated and recently released prisoners that are caused by being subjected to prolonged incarceration in environments of punishment with few opportunities for education, job training, or rehabilitation. The symptoms are most severe in prisoners subjected to prolonged solitary confinement and severe institutional abuse.

The severity of symptoms is related to the level of coping skills prior to incarceration, the length of incarceration, the restrictiveness of the incarceration environment, the number and severity of institutional episodes of abuse, the number and duration of episodes of solitary confinement, and the degree of involvement in educational, vocational, and rehabilitation programs.

The Post Incarceration Syndrome (PICS) is a mixed mental disorders with four clusters of symptoms:

(1) Institutionalized Personality Traits resulting from the common deprivations of incarceration, a chronic state of learned helplessness in the face of prison authorities, and antisocial defenses in dealing with a predatory inmate milieu,

(2) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from both pre-incarceration trauma and trauma experienced within the institution,

(3) Antisocial Personality Traits (ASPT) developed as a coping response to institutional abuse and a predatory prisoner milieu, and

(4) Social-Sensory Deprivation Syndrome caused by prolonged exposure to solitary confinement that radically restricts social contact and sensory stimulation.

(5) Substance Use Disorders caused by the use of alcohol and other drugs to manage or escape the PICS symptoms.

PICS often coexists with substance use disorders and a variety of affective and personality disorders.

Symptoms of the Post Incarceration Syndrome (PICS)
Below is a more detailed description of four clusters of symptoms of Post Incarceration Syndrome (PICS):

1. Institutionalized Personality Traits
Institutionalized Personality Traits are caused by living in an oppressive environment that demands: passive compliance to the demands of authority figures, passive acceptance of severely restricted acts of daily living, the repression of personal lifestyle preferences, the elimination of critical thinking and individual decision making, and internalized acceptance of severe restrictions on the honest self-expression thoughts and feelings.

2. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) [ii] is caused by both traumatic experiences before incarceration and institutional abuse during incarceration that includes the six clusters of symptoms: (1) intrusive memories and flashbacks to episodes of severe institutional abuse; (2) intense psychological distress and physiological reactivity when exposed to cues triggering memories of the institutional abuse; (3) episodes of dissociation, emotional numbing, and restricted affect; (4) chronic problems with mental functioning that include irritability, outbursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, and an exaggerated startle response. (5) persistent avoidance of anything that would trigger memories of the traumatic events; (6) hypervigilance, generalized paranoia, and reduced capacity to trust caused by constant fear of abuse from both correctional staff and other inmates that can be generalized to others after release.,

3. Antisocial Personality Traits
Antisocial Personality Traits [iii] [iv] [v]are developed both from preexisting symptoms and symptoms developed during incarceration as an institutional coping skill and psychological defense mechanism. The primary antisocial personality traits involve the tendency to challenge authority, break rules, and victimize others. In patients with PICS these tendencies are veiled by the passive aggressive style that is part of the institutionalized personality. Patients with PICS tend to be duplicitous, acting in a compliant and passive aggressive manner with therapists and other perceived authority figures while being capable of direct threatening and aggressive behavior when alone with peers outside of the perceived control of those in authority. This is a direct result of the internalized coping behavior required to survive in a harshly punitive correctional institution that has two set of survival rules: passive aggression with the guards, and actively aggressive with predatory inmates.

4. Social-Sensory Deprivation Syndrome:
The Social-Sensory Deprivation Syndrome [vi] is caused by the effects of prolonged solitary confinement that imposes both social isolation and sensory deprivation. These symptoms include severe chronic headaches, developmental regression, impaired impulse control, dissociation, inability to concentrate, repressed rage, inability to control primitive drives and instincts, inability to plan beyond the moment, inability to anticipate logical consequences of behavior, out of control obsessive thinking, and borderline personality traits.

5. Reactive Substance Use Disorders
Many inmates who experience PICS suffer from the symptoms of substance use disorders [vii]. Many of these inmates were addicted prior to incarceration, did not receive treatment during their imprisonment, and continued their addiction by securing drugs on the prison black market. Others developed their addiction in prison in an effort to cope with the PICS symptoms and the conditions causing them. Others relapse to substance abuse or develop substance use disorders as a result of using alcohol or other drugs in an effort to cope with PICS symptoms upon release from prison.

PICS Symptoms Severity
The syndrome is most severe in prisoners incarcerated for longer than one year in a punishment oriented environment, who have experienced multiple episodes of institutional abuse, who have had little or no access to education, vocational training, or rehabilitation, who have been subjected to 30 days or longer in solitary confinement, and who have experienced frequent and severe episodes of trauma as a result of institutional abuse.

The syndrome is least severe in prisoners incarcerated for shorter periods of time in rehabilitation oriented programs, who have reasonable access to educational and vocational training, and who have not been subjected to solitary confinement, and who have not experienced frequent or severe episodes of institutional abuse.

Reasons To Be Concerned About PICS
There is good reason to be concerned because about 40% of the total incarcerated population (currently 700,000 prisoners and growing) are released each year. The number of prisoners being deprived of rehabilitation services, experiencing severely restrictive daily routines, being held in solitary confinement for prolonged periods of time, or being abused by other inmates or correctional staff is increasing. [viii]

The effect of releasing this number of prisoners with psychiatric damage from prolonged incarceration can have a number of devastating impacts upon American society including the further devastation of inner city communities and the destabilization of blue-collar and middle class districts unable to reabsorb returning prisoners who are less likely to get jobs, more likely to commit crimes, more likely to disrupt families. This could turn many currently struggling lower middle class areas into slums. [ix]

As more prisoners are returned to the community, behavioral health providers can expect to see increases in patients admitted with the Post Incarceration Syndrome and related substance use, mental, and personality disorders. The national network of Community Mental health and Addiction treatment Programs need to begin now to prepare their staff to identify and provide appropriate treatment for this new type of client.

The nation's treatment providers, especially addiction treatment programs and community mental health centers, are already experiencing a growing number of clients experiencing the Post Incarceration Syndrome (PICS). This increase is due to a number of factors including: the increasing size of the prisoner population, the increasing use of restrictive and punishing institutional practices, the reduction of access to education, vocational training, and rehabilitation programs; the increasing use of solitary confinement and the growing number of maximum security and super-max type prison and jails.

Both the number of clients suffering from PICS and the average severity of symptoms is expected to increase over the next decade. In 1995 there were 463,284 prisoners released back to the community. Based upon conservative projections in the growth of the prisoner population it is projected that in the year 2000 there will be 660,000 prisoners returned to the community, in the year 2005 there will 887,000 prisoners returned to the community, and in the year 2010 1.2 million prisoners will be released. [x] The prediction of greater symptom severity is based upon the growing trend toward longer periods of incarceration, more restrictive and punitive conditions in correctional institutions, decreasing access to education, vocational training, and rehabilitation, and the increasing use solitary confinement as a tool for reducing the cost of prisoner management.

Clients with PICS are at a high risk for developing substance dependence, relapsing to substance use if they were previously addicted, relapsing to active mental illness if they were previously mentally ill, and returning to a life of aggression, violence, and crime. They are also at high risk of chronic unemployment and homelessness.

Post Release Symptom Progression
This is because released prisoners experiencing PICS tend to experience a six stage post release symptom progression leading to recidivism and often are not qualified for social benefits needed to secure addiction, mental health, and occupation training services.

· Stage 1 of this Post Release Syndrome is marked by Helplessness and hopelessness due to inability to develop a plan for community reentry, often complicated by the inability to secure funding for treatment or job training;

· Stage 2 is marked by an intense immobilizing fear;

· Stage 3 is marked by the emergence of intense free-floating anger and rage and the emergence of flashbacks and other symptoms of PTSD;

· Stage 4 is marked by a tendency toward impulse violence upon minimal provocation;

· Stage 5 is marked by an effort to avoid violence by severe isolation to avoid the triggers of violence;

· Stage 6 is marked by the intensification of flashbacks, nightmares, sleep impairments, and impulse control problems caused by self-imposed isolation. This leads to acting out behaviors, aggression, violence, and crime, which in turn sets the stages for arrest and incarceration.

Currently 60% of prisoners have been in prison before and there is growing evidence that the Post Incarceration Syndrome (PICS) is a contributing factor to this high rate of recidivism.

Reducing The Incidence Of PICS
Since PICS is created by criminal justice system policy and programming in our well intentioned but misguided attempt to stop crime, the epidemic can be prevented and public safety protected by changing the public policies that call for incarcerating more people, for longer periods of time, for less severe offenses, in more punitive environments that emphasize the use of solitary confinement, that eliminate or severely restrict prisoner access to educational, vocational, and rehabilitation programs while incarcerated.

The political antidote for PICS is to implement public policies that:

(1) Fund the training and expansion of community based addiction and mental health programs staffed by professionals trained to meet the needs of criminal justice system clients diverted into treatment by court programs and released back to the community after incarceration;

(2) Expand the role of drug and mental health courts that promote treatment alternatives to incarceration;

(3) Convert 80% of our federal, state, and county correctional facilities into rehabilitation programs with daily involvement in educational, vocational, and rehabilitation programs;

(4) Eliminate required long mandated minimum sentences;

(5) Institute universal prerelease programs for all offenders with the goal of preparing them to transition into community based addiction and mental health programs;

(6) Assuring that all released prisoners have access to publicly funded programs for addiction and mental health treatment upon release.

WOW, Trisha I had know idea what I'd be dealing with. Thanks for sharing the info. Peace. cl

Hey Trisha that was a very informative couple of posts thanks so much,

Cheryl, how are you doing? When will your son get out? I can only hope and pray that my son gets to come home soon, we are putting in for a judicial release soon and if it goes through he could be home for Christmas. Please keep posting and let us know how things are going,

Susan

Susan--how is your son and how is the judical release coming along? Is Christmas still a possibility? I hope so! Take care.

Susan--how is your son and how is the judical release coming along? Is Christmas still a possibility? I hope so! Take care.

Sorry for the double post....I don't know how that happened and don't know how to fix it!!

Wow,

This is such powerful information! You really don't recognize what being institutionalized means until you love a Prisoner and understand their world and read information like the above.

I think that this is must have information for anyone bringing a Prisoner home and it is all part in parcel with the need for a re-entry plan to reduce or eliminate the incidence of redicivism.

So glad you shared this!

I know this is an old thread but , but only today I had a response from Clinton to it...I had printed this thread out and send it to him, escpecially the post about coming home...well this is what he wrote...I don't totally agree what the experts said about a man becoming institutionalized after only 18 moths. A man becomes physically institutionalized the very first day he is incarcerated. But what's more important is whether after any amount of time his mind becomes institutionized. There are only a few in prison that become mentally institutionized because they can't read or write. the majorety reads extensively and become great writers themselves. I totally don't agree that "all oppertunities to make a choice are removed" our choices maybe somewhat limited but they are never completely removed. We are not puniched for showing any emotions, guestioning any decision, or stepping outside of accepted standard. We still have state and federal constitional rights. Individualism is not punished. Prisons are no more then buildings that limit one's movement. We have plenty educational and vocational oppertunities. I am a living witness to that. I have not been " deeply wounded" or "scared" like so many others here. I have grown intellectually, spiritually, and psyshologically. I agree that a person becomes " constantly alert and attentive" but who would not in any environment where there is a lot of people , it does not have to be in prison. and my goodness we hear loud noise , music all the time. I do not agree that a man will be uncomfartable going out the door ahead of anyone else...and please don't believe that I need to relearn how to make decisions or choices...it was very interesting to read this, my mind has always been focused on society, not prison. I am very sharp with my thinking, I am not paranoid and I will definitely not panic and freak out in a store. of course I will need some time to adjust, but I don't want to be treated like an alien. I will write you an article about prison life for PTO...

Great post, I missed it earlier, but I am very glad hilde brought it back out.

hi yall is it permissable to copy and paste something off of pto? if it is would someone please copy and paste the artical about pics and send it to my email address; mamas_hope45@msn.com as my son has mental problems i thank this would be a good artical to send to the govenor with his appeal for realease papers; someone please let me know soon god bless albajo