The Felon

The present job market is still rather bleak, but imagine the plight of a convicted felon that is out on parole. It is easy to understand that the present system is attempting to keep us safe from those that may be released from jail, but could still potentially cause great harm. It is also true that we could be creating a no-win situation for those that are paroled.

I know one person that got out of prison about a year ago now and quite understandably has been unable to find a job. Because his crime was a sexual offense, he is listed as a sexual predator (not with a child). Upon release he was fitted with a monitor, assigned a probation officer, and given a laundry list of rules. Not even the slightest deviation from those rules is allowed or it is an immediate return to jail.

I do feel that there are many that are released from prison that should have stayed in prison and our judicial system is struggling with the application of appropriate justice while providing our communities with a safe environment. Part of the reason for parole, is the anticipated savings to the state as a result of not keeping the person in jail.

The individual I know, is in effect still in prison, just a larger one. He can not leave his apartment before 7 a.m. or be back after 6 p.m. He must take a bus everywhere, which adds at least one hour each way to every trip. He must visit a psychologist one time per week for a group meeting and must pay $25.00 at each session. He must live at an approved motel/apartment which costs $230.00 per week. He must wear a tracking device and stay within a specific county. He can not use the internet of be in any location where children or young adults may congregate. He must see his probation officer one time per month at the probation office and pay $60.00 to the state probation office. If he is late paying for his room, he goes to jail. If he doesn't have the money for the psychologist, he goes to jail. If he doesn't have the money for the probation office, he goes to jail.

Those that commit crimes should be punished and when released on probation should be closely monitored, but I must ask myself "Are we really giving them a chance?" With expenses that exceed one thousand per month it might be reasonable to expect anyone paroled to fail. The United States has a very high number of our population in prison presently and this does not seem an effective way to reduce this problem. I would expect very close monitoring, but was not aware of the cost.

As a High School teacher I had several students over the years that I felt could end up in the prison system and also felt that with the proper intervention it could be possible to prevent this possible course from becoming a reality. The reality for my friend is that he made a significant mistake, but struggles to prove that he is again able to join society. It isn't the rules as much as the cost that may become impossible for him. Most of us, including me, are or were unaware of the difficulty encountered by those trying to complete the parole process. If we parole someone we also need to give them the means to complete parole in a reasonable manner and we must make every effort to keep people from getting into such a situation in the first place.