Nikos Kazantzakis once said that "In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can." In 2010, I was convicted of a crime, which resulted in a felony charge on my record. It became evident to me that in order for me to have any chance at still accomplishing my goals in life, I must first believe in myself. In order to do this, I had to do something people didn't think was possible. I had to do the one thing that I believed in, and that was change.
In today's society, those with felonies are often discriminated upon because of their mistakes in life. There are those that have made mistakes and do not regret making them. There are also ones that are repeat offenders and have no intentions on changing. Then there are those that may have had clouded judgments and did not know any better. They were simply misguided and as a result, made a mistake in life that they must live with for the rest of their lives. They will have many obstacles that they must overcome, such as finding a job. Many often lose hope because of the strenuous amount of effort required in order to overcome these obstacles. They will often be known as dangerous, untrustworthy, and failures at best. But with hope and faith, they will overcome the obstacles and can live a normal life. I categorize myself as being one whom has made a mistake and is living with it. I try to make the most out of my life and learn from my mistakes. If there is one thing in my life that I can honestly say I believe in, it is change. I believe that anyone can change as long as their heart, mind, and soul is in the right place.
For someone to change, I believe that they must have different relationships, disappointments, successes...
... middle of paper ...
...s. They start out as an egg, quickly hatching into a larva. They soon after spin a cocoon around themselves. The larva will then change into a pupa. They now have eyes, wings, and legs.
When this pupa is ready to complete its life cycle, it will turn into a fully grown bee. This change, depending on the type of bee, can take up to a month. There can be no bees without change, only larva. This is true for us humans. Our lives are constantly changing and undergoing a similar life cycle, known as metamorphosis. When I look into the mirror, I certainly see no bee, but I do see a young man who is now happy, and also the possibility that if I remain a good productive citizen of society, that one day when I leave this world and my son behind, that he will be able to enjoy a satisfying life and that he will be better off because I changed who I once was.
How does being sentenced to prison affect someone later in his or her life? Many people pose the question, but they have yet to form an immutable response. Oscar Wilde once said, “one of the many lessons that one learns in prison is, that things are what they are and will be what they will be”, this quotation engenders the philosophy of prison, which consists of one being held responsible for his or her wrongdoings. The book Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman explores how a once drug money launderer goes to jail for a crime which she committed almost a decade earlier. At the time she committed the crime, she considered herself lost and naive in regards to her life.
This research study will address the on-going issues of reducing recidivism, and the need to help ex-offenders succeed in society post incarceration. While literature pertaining to this topic of reducing recidivism is available, such literature tends to be written by elites and/or individuals who have never been incarcerated. Our study will provide first hand authentic answers regarding how to reduce recidivism.
Convicts rarely serve their entire sentences in prison (Ross and Richards, 146). To alleviate the costs of imprisonment on taxpayers and lessen the staggering populations of prisons across America, it is simply prudent to let inmates out on parole. Unfortunately, the parole system is imperfect and often leads to many ex-convicts recidivating. With the various trials and challenges that ex-convicts are bound to face when rejoining society after prison, Ross and Richards provide valuable lessons in their book of how a convict might survive beyond bars.
In most states ex-felons are not allowed to vote. This takes away a large portion of the voting population because of how many ex-felons there are right now and the many more that will be in the future. Ex-felons may also have a very hard time finding a job or a place to live. Legally landlords are allowed to deny an ex-felon. In Carbondale Illinois rental properties owners “Home Rentals” does background checks to make sure that none of their potential renters are felons. If they are felons Home Rentals claims that they will deny them the privilege of living in one of their properties. Ex-felons may also have a hard time finding jobs. Not many employers are willing to employ ex-felons for the fear of more crime or less commitment. Though denying these ex-felons jobs will not help the economy, only giving them jobs can help that.
my life the best it could be, and also knowing that it could come true, and
The reasons as to why individuals desist from crime can range from genetic, environmental, social, or psychophysiological. One belief focuses on the idea that criminals desist from crime through pro-social development and a worthwhile career path. In a study conducted by Aresti, Eatough and Gordon (2010), five ex-offenders participated in interviews about their lives as offenders, and their new found lives as productive members of society. Results show that four major themes emerged from the five men. First “being stuck” in their offending ways, second “defining moments” or moments of self-change, third “life in transition” or moments in the self-change process, and fourth “a new world” which encompasses the men’s new and reformed lives. The men in the study each had defining moments, typically the realization that they were going to be locked up for many years or losing out on time of their lives acted as this defining moment. This produced angst and made the men question their existence;
When you do something bad in society, such as commit a crime, you are punished. Your punishment can be a fine, or depending on the severity, a prison sentence. After you do your sentence you are then placed on parole. Parole is things that you can and cannot do. They are rules that have to be followed. If these rules are broken, then that revokes your parole and back to prison you go. You have to understand the terms of your parole to the fullest. Certain things you did before you did your time, you won’t be able to do once released. One big factor is hanging around convicted felons. This will have you back in the hole. Somewhere were most people do not want to be.
More than 600,000 prisoners are released into the main population of the United States every year. Of that 600,000, 30 percent end up back behind bars within six months of their release, and 70 percent end up returning to jail within three years (Reisig, 409). Upon release, many criminals find that life on the outside is harder on them than it was when they were convicted, sentenced, and locked away. People who know them may become just as prejudiced as the interviewers and landlords who deny them the chance to earn a living or a place to stay. Through the continued use of labels like criminal, thug, crook, and felon, many released offenders feel ostracized and isolated. Their friends and families may turn their backs on them, taking away the few things they have left...
...you in your past, you are not your past, you are the resources and the capabilities you glean from it. And that is the basis for all change.” In conclusion, learn from your mistakes, remember what talents got you where you are today and success will eventually come along the way.
...ecial cells, the queen puts the eggs from which a new queen will emerge. After the larvae develop from the eggs, the cells are covered with wax.
the future. The gift that God gave me is a wonderful one. Sometimes I have a
Another thing that is extremely important in my life is family. At my age not a lot of people think about having one but its something that I know I want. I mean with all the plans I have for my future they wouldn’t be as great if I didn’t have people to share it with or give to when I passed away. Also having little kids and doing father activities with them is something I really look forward too.
In a few weeks, adult workers will emerge. It is their job to hunt for food and make the nest bigger. More workers will develop and the colony gets very organized. The new workers will take over as caretakers of the eggs, larvae, and pupae. Now the queens only duty is to lay more and more eggs, thousands of them in her lifetime. Many wingless workers develop and help to enlarge the nest into an intricate network of tunnels and chambers that will eventually house thousands of ants.
This scenario is played out every single minute in the United States. Potentially highly qualified individuals are immediately dismissed because of their past mistakes. That is why it is imperative for the United States Legislature to pass a law that would prohibit potential employers from asking an applicant about their convictions until after the initial application process.
To be the person that I am now, I had to reflect and accept accountability of my past actions. My past is one that many would love to erase from their memory, a past, which remained dormant, until I found myself. The steps involved in regaining myself encompassed letting go of my anger and self pity. I had to look within myself and see my self’s worth, which lead to my belief that I ran away to college to forget my past. During the years leading to entrance to college, I became caught up with friends, cared way too much about my appearance, and became “that girl” who needed others to be happy. I lost sight of my goal, to become a lawyer. My goals were buried by my present materialization infatuation, thus my dreams, and my values, failed just to create a façade of which I came to despise. Through my journey and reflection, I came to appreciate family values and redemption. Like others, my trials and tribulations came full circle.