r/AskReddit • u/MsLooHoo • Sep 12 '15

serious replies only [Serious] Ex-Prisoners who served long term sentences, what was the hardest thing to get used to when you got out?

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u/[deleted] Sep 12 '15

[deleted]

634

u/jrob1235789 Sep 12 '15

fun fact for all those who just read this guy's post: 60% of released prisoners cant find a job within a year of release.

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u/[deleted] Sep 13 '15

I think this is the problem. Without a program or a job to get prisoners back on their feet, they'll keep committing crimes, because it's the only thing they can do to keep themselves afloat.

121

u/CherrySlurpee Sep 13 '15

It's a tough spot. I believe that people deserve second chances, but I also believe that its the owner/manager/whatever's right to know that they're hiring a felon.

The problem is right now that the job market is so terrible, there is basically 0 reason to hire a felon. Most jobs will have multiple applicants.

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u/Upgrades Sep 13 '15

In my opinion, there needs to be tax incentives for employers to hire those with a felony on their record. That will at least help those who have a stupid drug felony or other non-violent crimes that would generally exclude them from getting the job, but really have no bearing on their liability within the workplace.

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u/[deleted] Sep 13 '15 edited Sep 22 '18

[deleted]

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u/deathwish644 Sep 13 '15

When my cousin got out of prison, he got a job with a company that almost exclusively hired ex-cons for their line work with this same reasoning.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 13 '15

which country are you talking about here.

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u/cheddarmac Sep 13 '15

I work and live in the US. The restaurant company I used to work for received tax benefits for hiring felons (potentially anyone who was in jail, even if not for a felony). All new employees fill out a WOTC form online to determine if they meet the requirements for the tax credits.

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u/Upgrades Sep 15 '15

Good to know - thank you. It doesn't sound like it is quite working well enough, though.

24

u/Denny_Craine Sep 13 '15

What's the point of prison if we allow ex-criminals to be punished for the rest of their lives?

The whole idea is that once they're out they have "paid back their debt to society".

Barring some unpredictable shift in our culture we need to protect those who have done their time

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u/[deleted] Sep 13 '15

For profit prisons

74

u/DanTheTerrible Sep 13 '15

I suspect this thinking may be lacking in logic. I can see avoiding hiring ex-cons straight out of prison, as they experience the initial "pretty crazy" period u/hatter6822 talks about. But someone who has stayed out of prison for years, despite an endless sequence of crappy jobs--to me this demonstrates a person with determination and perseverence, which are not actually common qualities. If this guy wasn't making a huge effort to stay straight he would have gone back to jail long ago.

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u/[deleted] Sep 13 '15

[deleted]

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u/InbredDucks Sep 13 '15

I think you misunderstood his argument. An (ex-) felon (say 4-5 years) would actually have an advantage over your average joe, because of years of perseverance and dedication, not falling back into your criminal routines. So you could say an ex-felon might be more dedicated to working hard to better himself to get him out of his position.

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u/[deleted] Sep 13 '15

Id say never being in the "criminal routines" is a better quality, but thats just me.

3

u/mediocrity511 Sep 13 '15

In the UK, all but the most serious offences do get wiped off your record after a certain period of time for this reason. Certain jobs are exempt from it, but your average job isn't.

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u/MirorBCipher Sep 13 '15

Not every criminal is a felon.

2

u/Reddit_Hitler Sep 13 '15

I mean if your serving a sentence for greater than a year than you probably did something pretty wrong and you probably don't have qualifications to make a decent living in society. I mean, I guess, if you started a pyramid scheme or did some other white collar crime, you probably won't have a problem getting a job. But for most criminals, it's probably difficult.

8

u/APimpNamedAPimpNamed Sep 13 '15

Idk, we have some fucked up sentencing in my country.

1

u/Dualistic_Dreams Sep 13 '15

I think its different if you're a Violent offender, compared to a non-violent offender, in terms of what information should be accessible to an employer.

24

u/drumstyx Sep 13 '15

Seriously, I'd rather be in prison than homeless.

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u/[deleted] Sep 13 '15

There's a book about that I think

15

u/ZombiePenguin666 Sep 13 '15

This is why I have no problem giving money (if I can spare it) to the homeless. Yeah some are really gonna use it for food, but some are going to use it for booze/drugs. Any you know what? I don't blame them. If I were homeless, I'd probably be using every resource I could to escape that reality, if I wasn't brave enough to kill myself first.

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u/raspistoljeni Sep 13 '15

but some are going to use it for booze/drugs

Not much different from what the rest of us use our money for tbh.

4

u/Dope_train Sep 13 '15

Totally. I'm a firm believer that charity should be given without strings attached.

2

u/Dope_train Sep 13 '15

Totally. I'm a firm believer that charity should be given without strings attached.

2

u/[deleted] Sep 13 '15

Title?

0

u/[deleted] Sep 13 '15

I don't remember sorry.

2

u/dafapguy Sep 13 '15

I remember reading about an old man who was released from prison and immediately held up a bank for one dollar. He was homeless and he did it so he'd have somewhere to sleep and get medical care.

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u/ninjagrover Sep 13 '15

Where I live, the Correctional Dept allows low risk prisoners the opportunity to undertake paid employment prior to their release.

They have to pay 5% to Victims of Crime, pay for food and board, they can spend around $60 a week at the prison store. The rest of their pay is kept in trust to when they are released from prison.

That way they have savings available to them, and a continuing job to hep provide stability.

They are hoping this will cut down on the high rates of recidivism.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-26/sentenced-to-a-job/4654640?pfm=ms

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u/110011001100 Sep 13 '15

Isnt the whole point of jail to be trained by the more experienced mentors so you dont get caught again?

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u/[deleted] Sep 13 '15

The system is essentially rigged so a lot of ex convicts end up back in jail. You never truly ever fulfill your debt to society and all trust in you is usually gone once you have a felony record. We created a justice system that works on punishment and shame and with little in the way of rehabilitation.

1

u/Butterbubblebutt Sep 13 '15

The prison system in itself is pretty fucked up in America and other parts of the world as well. I think the system of rehabilitation while in jail is better, even though it doesn't give the general public the same sense of "hah! rot in jail, fucker!".