What is the greatest challenge to ex-con's out of prison?
This is my first answer, and I think it best to answer anonymously.I served just about 5 years of an 8 year sentence for drugs in a Texas state prison. The greatest challenge for me, and many others like me, is getting a good paying job.One of the first things I did when I was released was enroll in school. I have since earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering (summa cum laude) and about to get my master's degree in the same discipline.I still have problems getting a job offer, even with good grades and what I thought was a marketable degree. I'm not sure if I get excluded because of my crime (over 10 years ago now) or because I am a bad interviewer. I feel the interviews go well (I've probably been on a couple of dozen interviews now), but I never get a call back. I see my classmates who didn't fare as well in school get offers left and right.I've tried telling employers up front and only telling if asked; I have not lied about the past. I'm hoping the master’s degree will help, but if it doesn't, I'll just keeping going to school and become Dr. Anonymous, instead of just Mr. Anonymous. I currently have a low paying, engineer-related job, but I'd like to get paid an amount that most people with my degree get paid.While locked up I did not receieve a single disciplinary write up. When I was released on parole, I did not have a single violation or anything of that sort. Since receiving my conviction, I have not been in trouble with the law in any form or fashion. I'm trying to keep my hopes up that someone will give me a second chance. For me, it seems like everything works out in the end.Also, just FYI: having a felony doesn't preclude someone from going to school or even getting grants, unless the conviction occurred WHILE receiving grant money (drug related from what I recall). Even then, you can take drug classes so you can get grant money again.
Do you believe people who have been to prison deserve a second chance?
I do. I was a PO for several years before climbing the ranks. I went in assuming that I was going to loathe the people I dealt with and they were all inevitably going to end up in prison again, but I was mistaken.I figured out quickly that parolees generally fell into categories:the first time offender who made their one mistake and no matter what I do, will never re-offend.The repeat offender who isn't necessarily a bad person, they just make incredibly bad choices and will probably end up in trouble again. My role was to try to get them thinking out logical consequences and building strategies for dealing with issues. Many drug users fell into this category but some folks were people who didn't think things through. Like the guy who impulsively sees an unlocked bike and rides off because his feet hurt while walking to the parole office. He'd never hurt a fly, but come on man…..The “fixed” offender: this person has a certain amount of bad decisions he is going to make before it clicks with him. Once it clicks, he's done and will be good to go. It may take 2, 3, 10 incarceration shut eventually he will be done.The violent ones: some offenders have severe temper issues and/or aggravating circumstances or traits such as mental health issues or drug issues which have led them down the road of violence. Hopefully something will change and we generally try to interdict with mental health or substance abuse treatment but if the determination isn't there by the offender, it's probably not going to stickThe violent ones who enjoy it: I include in here the violent gang members and the ones who enjoy a predatory position in their community. Absent some major life change such as a religious revelation/conversion or some serious soul searching, most of these offenders are going to end up back in prison and there will be a trail of blood and tears that leads there.In summary, society essentially deems every prisoner deserves a second chance except for ones who are sentenced to life in prison or the death penalty. 97% of prisoners are going to get out at some point so it behooves our society to figure out smarter ways to reintegrate them. I do have some ideas that I think will make a difference but I guess I have to get elected to something before anyone will listen to me on those.
Pros and Cons of marrying someone incarcerated?
There are no "Pros" at all to marrying a man in prison. If he is going to be discharged in 2 years or so,......wait til' then. Why get married now if that is what you both want? It serves no purpose, and it would be better to wait til' he is free to be able to cultivate the relationship without fences, bars, and the DOC in the way. Also; no .....not all nor are many guys in Prison "turned out" as one person suggested. The number is minimal. Regardless, if you have your scruples together, wait til' he is out and see how he is then and then get married if you wish as a FREE couple. Doing so now makes no sense unless he is just looking for an angle to get you to support his whims and woes in the joint. If he's already your best friend,......why rush it? Besides.......why ruin a prefectly good friendship with the constraints of marriage?
Do prison guards ever end up becoming close friends with an inmate who won't ever get out?
Even talking to a prison guard can be extremely dangerous for an inmate. When you have to do it (lets say you need a permission form signed or something) you always want a witness, so nobody can accuse you of being an informer. Being known as an informer can cause you serious problems inside.Old school cons from the old “turnkey jail” days (before it was all computer controlled auto doors) preferred it back then, when the screws hated us and we hated them, when there was very little contact except for them cracking heads and ordering us around.The extremely rare situations where it might be ok (but not really) to speak to a guard are when there is a young vulnerable female guard and the con is trying a love scam on her, which eventually goes to the lovestruck guard bringing in contraband. But you would have to be a senior prisoner to get away with doing that. I saw it once inside, and it was not regarded very well by anyone, and if the con involved wasn’t a complete dead eyed psycho stone killer he would have faced a lot of problems.As a stand up prisoner certain things are expected of you. You are expected to hate informers, and pedophiles, and corrupt cops in jail, and anyone in the “boneyard” (protection wing). You are expected to be violent if ever you see one of those people unprotected, and would be looked down on if you didn’t. You are expected to have the bare minimum contact with the turnkeys, and beyond a bit of witty banter you wouldn’t want to be seen striking up a relationship with any of them. Their own colleagues would be very upset about it too, and would probably come down on you in other ways.Bottom line, there is no upside and a lot of downside for both parties in pretending to be friends. How on earth could you be friends with the person who is trampling over your human rights day after day anyway? Being a prison guard is a boring and thankless job, and quite often guards are gratuitously cruel to prisoners just because it is the only area in their lives where they exert any power at all.
What is a jailbroken iphone?
A jailbroken iPhone means that the handset has been "unlocked." People who want an iPhone that are not on the AT&T network often purchase a jailbroken iPhone. It's not a good thing because it voids the Apple warranty. It is considered illegal yet, enforcing it is somewhat sketchy. Apple is trying to block the jailbroken iPhones which would render them useless. I don't know if they actually have done this yet or really are going to do it. If you are looking for an iPhone - buy it from either Apple or AT&T to be safe. You can get a refurbished one for a lot less now and it comes with a manufacturer's warranty (at wireless.att.com). Good luck!
What some pros and cons forensic photographer?
PRO - guaranteed income: put bad people in jail: supplied equipment CONS - looking at terrible sights: no room for artistic involvement (you can't get real artsy with the photos)
What are your thoughts on conjugal visits in prison?
My thoughts are unmentionable, when I imagine "conjugal visits in prison". We live in such an immoral-sexually-charged society, it seems like "conjugal visits in prison" is the best invention since sliced bread!!! Pro or Con?: PRO! (a different pun intended): Which gender originated the idea?: GUYS. "we think about it every 17 seconds"!!! Isn't a little shag good for everyone?: Yes!!! Like all exercise it releases pheromones that make you happier and healthier...and orgasms are heaven on earth. Does it fall under rehabilitaton?: Yes. It could have that affect. Or is it further punishment?: Funny question. (for the poor compliant non-prisoner wife it might be bitter sweet, but not all bad) This is a very tender question. When the wife of my youth died suddenly, I advertised in a Christian singles magazine and was shocked and dismayed that some responders were women in prison.