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It
is a fact that most of Ohio's 44,000 prisoners will be released
at some I. Elderly and Disabled Ex-felons The elderly ex-felons will continue to be a burden to tax payers because they have been kept in prison for so long, that they are unable to support or care for themselves. They have no other choice but to rely on government assistance and charitable resources to survive. Most elderly ex-felons have long ago corrected the behavior that led them to prison, and for many years have conducted themselves as peaceful model citizens of the system. Housing prisoners in prison for decade after decade serves no constructive purpose for the offender or society. Once a decision is finally made to release these fragile beings, the elderly must sometimes wait additional months or years before release, because they have to find a nursing home or halfway house to accept them and give them medical care. Taxpayers will have to pay for this care. The family of most elderly people have passed away or are no longer in contact. Many
elderly could have contributed to their own care had they been released
from prison in a reasonable amount of time, and after they had addressed
the behavior that had landed them in prison. They could have been
productive citizens in their communities. They could have spent
some of those warehoused years working, so that they could collect
social security. Ohio will have a huge medical bill when it begins
paying for the prisoners it has kept housed for 10, 20, 30 or even
40 years - people who haven't been a threat to anyone for decades.
Some of the elderly disabled can't walk and are confined to wheelchairs.
Some are blind. Some have chronic diseases. II. The Able-Bodied Ex-Felon The other type of ex-felon is the physically and mentally able ex-felon. Just like the elderly class of ex-felon, this person will remain a continued burden on the community as a result of lack of integration. The physically and mentally able ex-felon is eager to meet life on life's terms. They have been punished for the negative behaviors that brought them into prison. By engaging in self-help programs and making use of corrective tools offered to them, they have taken a painful and positive inventory of their defects and shortcomings, and have addressed those issues to the best of their ability. Many ex-felons have evolved from their ignorance, and have no desire to return to a life of criminal activity. Resources
that assist the incarcerated in gaining a shot at employment once
released are especially valuable. Most soon-to-be ex-felons are
proud of their achievements. Some have obtained GED, vocational
certificates, and college degrees, as well as training in fields
such as dental tech, carpentry, plumbing, auto repair, culinary
arts, business management, and computer tech. They look forward
to applying these skills once released. The
biggest setbacks the ex-felons receive come from the community into
which they are returning. The communities won't allow them to change,
and won't accept that they may have changed. Sometimes the ex-felon's
own families are their greatest enemies (the crabs in the basket
syndrome). Employers won't give them a chance to prove that they
are good, reliable workers. Churches also sometimes won't let offenders
change. They pray for them but won't do God's work in assisting
them in their time of need. Victims won't acknowledge the possibility
of change, even though the ex-offenders have served their time and
done all that they can to change. The ex-offenders want to get on
with their new, positive life. But the communities they return to
continue to expect the worst. Society needs to put the necessary safety measures into place, to prevent ex-felons from returning to crime. They need to help them to get jobs with livable wages. The families of ex-felons should have counseling, to help them embrace and encourage the ex-felon's re-entry into society. Ex-felons need to believe that their communities wish to help them, and to work with them in a constructive way. Hate
produces hate. Anger stirs anger. Love and patience have a way of
disarming and calming the heart. Help ex-offenders re-invent themselves.
Karon
East #28041 Karon
East aspires to be a friend, counselor and motivator to people who
have disadvantageously found themselves a victim of crime and the
criminal justice system. She wants to be an unresting voice advocating
on their behalf, in order to try to right some of the wrongs they've
suffered. When writing to Karon, please send her a pre-embossed
stamped envelope so she can promptly answer your letter. She is
not permitted adhesive stamps, that is, regular stamps. |
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If you'd like to
contribute letters, articles, artwork, or educational materials
to this website, please contact us at: Prisonersolidarity.org You may contact Karon East directly by writing to her at the address listed above. |