Several Thoughts

Somewhat ironically, I'm always energized and rededicated in my commitment to improving the odds for successful reentry whenever I engage other former offenders about their reentry experience.  An email exchange with a fellow returnee from prison today led us to the importance of persistence.  "Mark" has a very good education, with almost 30 years of successful business experience.  Unfortunately, "Mark" also has a conviction for child pornography.  The facts of the case, as I understand them, suggest that "Mark" continues to get an extremely raw deal from his judge, parole officer, and from employers to whom he has applied. 

 I encouraged "Mark" to remain persistent and innovative, and to embrace responsibility not only for his past behavior but also for the way that past behavior gets communicated to potential employers.  At this stage in his reentry experience--18 months out of prison, innumerable rejections, surviving on unemployment benefits, and completely traumatized by the entire ordeal--he has no one to turn to who can better serve his needs than himself.  He's smart, personable, and articulate.  He has to believe in his redeeming qualities as a human being, and continue to put one foot in front of the other as deliberately as he can.  

I know that I gave him good advice and encouragement.  I do, however, share his sense of futility.  The spirit is willing but the flesh is certainly weak.  Still, even a willing spirit often grows quite weary ...

That reminds me of a recent message I received in my inbox from the folks at Just Sell containing a quotation attributed to Teddy Roosevelt:  "When you find yourself at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on."

Moving on ...

The Pew Charitable Trust's just-released report, Collateral Costs: Incarceration's Effect on Economic Mobility, 
reports this curious fact: 


After release, former male inmates work nine fewer weeks annually and take home 40 percent less in annual       earnings, making $23,500 instead of $39,100. That amounts to an expected earnings loss of nearly $179,000 through age 48 for men who have been incarcerated.

I'll have to read the methodology of the study to understand how the study reached that conclusion.  I've been home over three years and I haven't earned $23,500 in those combined three years. 

Finally ...

I'm heartened by an investigation into employment and housing discrimination against former offenders in Kansas City, MO, which you can read about here.  I don't think that very many people, including employers, realize that it is actually illegal to refuse to hire persons solely on the basis of a criminal background.  This investigation heartens me because I believe more vigorous emphasis on the illegality of this yet-ubiquitous discrimination would do much to open more employment and career opportunities to persons with criminal backgrounds. 


Where are the law and order folks when you need them?