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I was locked up. I've worked with offenders coming straight out of prison. A majority will return to prison. Why? Several reasons. 1) When you get out, everyt

I was locked up. I've worked with offenders coming straight out of prison. A majority will return to prison. Why? Several reasons. 1) When you get out, everything is stacked against you. Despite what you hear, there is almost zero support for those released. You've almost certainly lost all your support networks (family, friends). You have no money, no ID, no bank account, no debit card, no cellphone, no email address, no home, no clothing, no food. You have a criminal record, the newspapers say you're a criminal, the Internet says you're a criminal. It's very, very tough. 2) Your only friends when you get out are other ex-cons. Most people in the system have suffered from drug addictions. Everyone you know will be trying to get you to use again. And if they can get you to use then they can get you to steal to get money to pay them for drugs, so they can pay for their own drugs. 3) Only the first stint in jail really sucks. When you walk back into jail you walk back in as a boss. You know the system, you know the routines, you're probably going back to the same jail, so you know the guards. All your friends are there. When you walk in the door your buddies will give you a starter kit to get you going. You're not scared of anyone or anything. After the first time, not only are you not scared to return, you might be thankful for the rest from the hardships of being released.

defrost 2y ago
Various by system - South Africa has a 9 out of 10 recidivism rate, the US 7 out of 10, Finland 3 out of 10. China, reportedly, has just over 1 out of 10 .. although the reason there is they apparently execute serial recidivists. Finland puts some effort into looking what circumstances land citizens in jail and addressing those and post time served support.
- qingcharles 2y ago
  Yes, sorry, my comment is specific to the USA. A lot of countries have better and/or different (China) ways of dealing with recidivism. It's horrible that if you go to prison once, then that's basically your whole life from now on. Most people will never escape the revolving door. Every single person I know who has been to prison is counting down the days until they end up locked up again.
  - defrost 2y ago
    No need to apologise, the contrast is worthy of some reflection. Australia does somewhat better than the US, but it's sharply broken on various demographics leading to rate quotes ranging from 32%, to 50%, to 60% (close to the US) depending on which populations are focused on. FWiW the US inspires much health, education, prison, etc. policy here .. albeit more often as a counter point or warning.

defrost 2y ago

Various by system - South Africa has a 9 out of 10 recidivism rate, the US 7 out of 10, Finland 3 out of 10. China, reportedly, has just over 1 out of 10 .. although the reason there is they apparently execute serial recidivists. Finland puts some effort into looking what circumstances land citizens in jail and addressing those and post time served support.

qingcharles 2y ago
Yes, sorry, my comment is specific to the USA. A lot of countries have better and/or different (China) ways of dealing with recidivism. It's horrible that if you go to prison once, then that's basically your whole life from now on. Most people will never escape the revolving door. Every single person I know who has been to prison is counting down the days until they end up locked up again.
- defrost 2y ago
  No need to apologise, the contrast is worthy of some reflection. Australia does somewhat better than the US, but it's sharply broken on various demographics leading to rate quotes ranging from 32%, to 50%, to 60% (close to the US) depending on which populations are focused on. FWiW the US inspires much health, education, prison, etc. policy here .. albeit more often as a counter point or warning.