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I really think the point is not how long it might take someone to learn how to use tools, but the impacts of prison. I work with these folks through my company

by kyooyk 6y ago

I really think the point is not how long it might take someone to learn how to use tools, but the impacts of prison. I work with these folks through my company to help them become employed upon release. A few things, it is astounding but believable that when people are released they enter a world that is entirely unknown to them. Not only technology but their relationships and neighborhoods are completely different. In addition,They have no reliable way of getting back on their feet. They usually have zero money, no housing and no job - and there is why you have high recidivism rates. Not only that, but no one wants to hire justice involved individuals, even though significant tax credits are available for doing so - Walmart for example, takes extreme advantage of these. The training programs in prisons will train someone up to a certification, but fall short of letting them get that certification. People have completed their GED maybe 5 times inside serving sentences at different times because doing so can reduce their sentence, it doesn’t help them in any other way. Without the ability to access training for in demand skills, many of these individuals get temp service jobs as flagged for construction for example. Doesn’t make sense to me that we want to rehab people yet minimal opportunities inside are provided to break the cycle. Realize this. People serve a sent and then they are eligible for parole. Many people opt to serve their parole inside, rather than outside. I’ve been told they feel it is easier inside than out.

jimmaswell 6y ago
Shawshank Redemption did a great job showing a lot of this.
anonymousiam 6y ago
I've never served time, but from what I understand, the burdens associated with being on parole (check ins, drug tests, danger of associating with the wrong people, etc.) are so onerous that many prefer to serve the full sentence so that when they get out, they are not on parole. I would probably make the same choice.
- mike00632 6y ago
  I learned only recently that people on parole have to pay for parole. All of the mandatory meetings and drugs tests are paid by the parolee. What happens if they can't pay?-- back to prison. It's brutal.
kayfox 6y ago
The two prison reforms I want to see the most: 1. Education programs that actually mean something and actually are adequately funded. 2. Retaining prison work, but requiring that prisoners who are not paid minimum wage where they are be paid the difference on release. (The Federal government may need to make this a protected fund or trust to make sure its not use as a fund to raid by lower governments and administrators.)
- kyooyk 6y ago
  They have some education programs, they just are always not focused on skills that are valuable outside. There’s also issues, believe it or not, about people not knowing these programs are avail. What we are doing is trying to create Edu programs for in demand skills and bring in a dif local business to teach each course. This way it breaks down the stigma for these businesses about hiring justice involved individuals, trains these individuals at a skill, and helps them get hired by these businesses after. And this is not training to work in fast food chains. There’s also work release where certain members can go off location to work when they’re getting close to release. In addition there stuff like unicore https://www.bop.gov/inmates/custody_and_care/unicor.jsp https://www.bop.gov/inmates/custody_and_care/unicor.jsp Unicore pays pennies on the dollar though. But this money helps people upon release have enough maybe to get an apartment for their first month out - which most cant afford. Some cool organizations trying to help, just as examples off the top of my head in case you are interested in looking further about solutions include: -remerg https://remerg.com/ https://remerg.com/ -KOBEYO https://www.kobeyo.com/ https://www.kobeyo.com/ -Justice reskill https://justicereskill.com/ https://justicereskill.com/ But main point is really these individuals that have served their time are not adequately given the resources they need to succeed. Tons of opportunities to contribute though - as with any u underserved demographic.
MonkeyClub 6y ago
> justice involved individuals Is that PC for "ex cons"?
- kyooyk 6y ago
  Yes

by kyooyk 6y ago

jimmaswell 6y ago

Shawshank Redemption did a great job showing a lot of this.

anonymousiam 6y ago

I've never served time, but from what I understand, the burdens associated with being on parole (check ins, drug tests, danger of associating with the wrong people, etc.) are so onerous that many prefer to serve the full sentence so that when they get out, they are not on parole. I would probably make the same choice.

mike00632 6y ago
I learned only recently that people on parole have to pay for parole. All of the mandatory meetings and drugs tests are paid by the parolee. What happens if they can't pay?-- back to prison. It's brutal.

kayfox 6y ago

The two prison reforms I want to see the most: 1. Education programs that actually mean something and actually are adequately funded. 2. Retaining prison work, but requiring that prisoners who are not paid minimum wage where they are be paid the difference on release. (The Federal government may need to make this a protected fund or trust to make sure its not use as a fund to raid by lower governments and administrators.)

kyooyk 6y ago
They have some education programs, they just are always not focused on skills that are valuable outside. There’s also issues, believe it or not, about people not knowing these programs are avail. What we are doing is trying to create Edu programs for in demand skills and bring in a dif local business to teach each course. This way it breaks down the stigma for these businesses about hiring justice involved individuals, trains these individuals at a skill, and helps them get hired by these businesses after. And this is not training to work in fast food chains. There’s also work release where certain members can go off location to work when they’re getting close to release. In addition there stuff like unicore https://www.bop.gov/inmates/custody_and_care/unicor.jsp https://www.bop.gov/inmates/custody_and_care/unicor.jsp Unicore pays pennies on the dollar though. But this money helps people upon release have enough maybe to get an apartment for their first month out - which most cant afford. Some cool organizations trying to help, just as examples off the top of my head in case you are interested in looking further about solutions include: -remerg https://remerg.com/ https://remerg.com/ -KOBEYO https://www.kobeyo.com/ https://www.kobeyo.com/ -Justice reskill https://justicereskill.com/ https://justicereskill.com/ But main point is really these individuals that have served their time are not adequately given the resources they need to succeed. Tons of opportunities to contribute though - as with any u underserved demographic.

MonkeyClub 6y ago

> justice involved individuals Is that PC for "ex cons"?

kyooyk 6y ago
Yes