topic Re: WHY do you think............re: prison in Community Chat

WHY do you think............re: prison

YorkieonmyPillow — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 02:13:06 GMT

Why do you think there is such a high rate of recidivism (returning to prison) among ex-prisoners?

What are your thoughts...

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

HappyDaze — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 02:16:00 GMT

unaddressed drug abuse/addiction and mental illness issues

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

homedecor1 — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 02:18:52 GMT

it's FREE (taxpayers pay) to live in prison - 3 meals, clothes, housing, medical & education!!!! Of course, the rate is high because when they return to "real life" it's easier to continue their old habits vs. finding a job with a record.

I saw many returnees & family members follow in their family footsteps during my tenure at Corrections!

Sadly, it's the norm very few success stories I'm aware of.

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

sunshine45 — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 02:19:36 GMT

a "free" place to live where people actually DO feel comfortable if they have been there for a long time. some just cannot adjust to the real world.

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

happycat — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 02:19:55 GMT

What @HappyDaze said.

And if I am being honest, I think people can make more money illegally than legally sometimes.

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 02:21:44 GMT

I've thought about this quite a bit. I don't understand why taking classes while in prison isn't mandatory. Teach them how to live outside of the prison. Teach them how to earn a living, skills for life that most of them never learned.

Also instead of watching TV make them learn some kind of skill as far as working when they get out.

Prison doesn't teach them anything. I think it should prepare them for the outside world. Something different from when they went in there. That's why they just repeat it over and over and while in prison they learn new skills like how to break the law even better.

It's crazy. Punishment is keeping them from society, I get that, but if you don't push them in a new direction, they'll be right back. It's not brain surgery.

Besides, to some going to school is a lot of punishment. Ha! That's my idea.

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

Lapdog — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 02:22:52 GMT

I watch all the prison shows.

There is not enough money spent on job training and then creating jobs for the ex-cons. They need to have hope that there is someone that cares about them on the outside.

They need more/better role models.

They need to have a lifeline away from the gangs and the streets.

It is a rite of passage of being/becoming a man, to go to prison.

They are in and out so often they see prison as their home.

IMO.

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

GCR18 — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 02:24:20 GMT

Lack of rehabilitation programs

Not enough follow-up

Living in same area

No job

No family support

Hanging out with old crowd

Addiction

Etc.

My sister's ex-husband has a brother in prison. He was into drugs and stealing to support his habit. The mother passed and the other siblings want nothing to do with him. He's been in and out a couple times. Ex-BIL thought last time he was let out he'd make it, but he didn't. It's really sad.

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

pdlinda — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 02:24:36 GMT

In many cases, when prisoners are released they have few supports in place to advance in society. Most have felony convictions that don't allow them to qualify for many jobs, they have no credit, very little cash and scarce opportunity to find adequate housing. Many come to prison with addiction problems that usually re-surface once they settle back in the neighborhoods that originally exposed them to behaviors that landed them in prison in the first place. If they relapse onto illegal drugs (including legal meds for which they have no prescription), they usually are arrested and sent back to prison.

Just think of how difficult it is for many citizens to sustain an adequate lifestyle in our society today and multiply that over and over again to see the barriers to success for those leaving prison.

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

HappyDaze — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 20:50:45 GMT

@happycat wrote:

What @HappyDaze said.

And if I am being honest, I think people can make more money illegally than legally sometimes.

@happycat you know, this is EXACTLY what my brother said when he got out of prison and after he got off of parole. He had a job that paid him good money thanks to my ex at the time who stuck his neck out for him to get him the job, a job he'd never be able to get with his track record. He had the family support. He had a nice apartment thanks to me because I stuck my neck out for him and begged and convinced an old rental manager of mine to let him rent it, etc. He stayed on the straight and narrow for a few years until he got off parole but the very next day, he stated that all this legitimate work was "hard" and it was much easier to just sell drugs. And back he went....just that easily and quickly. What he didn't remember is all the times he was robbed, stabbed in the back, the stress of always looking over your shoulder and worrying about getting caught, the attempts at his life, etc. Just crazy.

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

happycat — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 02:39:42 GMT

@HappyDaze, that is crazy and it's too bad your brother didn't stay out trouble after your ex took the time and effort to help him. I think people just remember the things that are convenient a lot of the time.

I have a distant cousin who is a regular at getting arrested for drugs. The last time I saw him, he told me he was getting his life together and was done with all that. I think at the time he meant it, but unfortunately it wasn't long before he got in trouble again.

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

makena — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 03:16:32 GMT

I should think it's obvious why.

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

JaneMarple — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 03:24:55 GMT

@makena wrote:
I should think it's obvious why.

What's obvious? @makena

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

jackiejenny — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 03:20:52 GMT

It is oft said that the only thing prison does for one is to make them become a better con.

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

blackhole99 — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 03:27:31 GMT

They need to be educated in prison, without an education they cannot get a job. Try getting any kind of job when you have been incarcerated if you only have a high school education. Of course many need counseling and drug rehab.

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

tansy — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 03:31:14 GMT

Vocational skills should be taught, as well as GED and college classes, and employers should receive an incentive to hire ex-prisoners when appropriate. Prisons should not be run by for-profit, private companies.

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

Zernia Rose — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 04:01:10 GMT

Tansy, your comment about for-profit prison is an important one. To others that have responded, I appreciate all of the thoughtful comments that offer solutions!

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

software — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 13:29:07 GMT

^^^^^^^^^^ All of the above plus my thoughts. When you see someone go to jail for say, theft. They are a thief. It's not what they do, it's who they are. That just happens to be the time they got caught. So when they get out, they are going to do what they are that is, be a thief. There are people who have no rules. If they see something they want, they don't care that someone else worked hard to make the money to buy it. The thief wants it. No self control.

I do believe it is partly their raising and a brain disorder as well. You know a "black sheep". The entire family can be wonderful people, always doing the right thing, helping others, contributing to society and then there's that black sheep. Just can't follow rules.

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

Quse — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 13:59:32 GMT

Prison life is actually structured. You eat, sleep, exercise, work when you are told to. For some, it may be the first time in their life that they actually have structure. Prison rules have their own hierarchy also, their own social structure. For some, when they get out of prison, they can't deal with the lack of structure and they get into trouble. I saw a documentary a long while back and one guy said he's just more comfortable in prision bcz he knew the rules. When he got out, there was, for lack of a better phrase, too many choices and he ended up in confusion.

It's more complicated than this one explanation, and there are other reasons posters have mentioned...lack of support, role models, etc...

Re: WHY do you think............re: prison

colliegirls — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 14:08:11 GMT

They often return to the same toxic friends and environment that wrongly influenced them to be criminals the first time.