LOOKING OUR CHOICES IN THE EYE
WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RECIDIVISMDid you know that the overall percentage of state prisoners re-incarcerated within a year of their release did not change significantly between 1990 and 2000, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics report on the recidivism trend during that decade. The percentage of women not returning to prison after release in 1999 was 48%, compared with 39% for men who made it. That's just something I thought I'd pass along to you.
OUR EXPERIMENT
Lakeith Amir-Sharif has agreed to allow me to follow his efforts to rejoin society after 'paying his debt' for a drug crime he did 10 years ago. He has been sharing his struggles, his fears, and his triumphs. He and I hope that you will understand a little more about why recidivism rates are so high. We hope his story will encourage you, as socially conscious people, to get those letters off to the editors and legislators demanding that programs be set up to help soon-to-be-released and ex-offenders make it on the outside.
At this point of the story it is not looking too good for Sharif. You've already seen two episodes in his struggle: The search for work, and the end of a new job. Both stories are chronicled at https://www.angelfire.com/fl5/sharif/sharif1.html
Sharif is going to lead you through the hell ex-offenders go through trying to do what society says they want them to do.
THE JOB IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
You have to have a home to start from, a way to groom yourself, some food, and a method for reaching a job until your first paycheck arrives. Sharif thought he had his rent and utilities covered after working for two weeks for a company that has refused to give him the two weeks salary he earned. This isn't so uncommon. For some reason people often feel they can take advantage of the ex-offender.
(If you want to encourage Advantage not to behave as the criminal they've treated Sharif like, their email is DHalbert@advparadigm.com)
So now it's getting pretty scary. He's down to nothing, even his hope has taken a nose-dive. He's feeling pretty angry with circumstances and maybe in his position, we'd feel the same.
SHARIF'S LETTER TO THE SOCIAL CONSCIOUS OF AMERICA
Monday, March 11, 2002 12:02 PM
Dear Society,It's me again, yeah the ex-felon whose been trying like hell to rejoin you as a productive and contributing member. I have something important to talk with you about.Try to Remember how you felt at the most depressing moment of your life, the moment of your deepest dejection. You no doubt have had many. Well, that is how I feel all the time, (especially lately), no matter what my level of consciousness may be, asleep, awake, in between. Maybe the last 4yrs. of my 9yr. sentence inside a 6x9 sensory deprivation hell-hole compliments of your Florida DOC, has something to do with my mental/emotional state.Anyhow, let me tell you the thing is there, and it keeps me moving, keeps me on the edge, stomach in knots, pins my eye to the ball, uptight and worried 24/7, as I try daily to resolve
issues of how I'll survive from this minute to the next.Society what do you really want from me and others like me? Tell me, please tell me. Hey, I realize that it's just a select few of you who truly understand the trauma and hardships faced by someone getting out of prison. I've also come to realize that many in society could give less than a damn about it and I'm sorry some of you feel this way.
I've been hearing a lot of talk from you about unemployment, homelessness, mental illness, drugs, crime, get-tough-laws and prisons. Your band-aid to no-aid policies and practices only fuel these social conditions you so adamantly claim you're trying to address.
Don't you realize (or care) that even for those prisoners with skills, re-entry into society can be traumatizing, degrading and much more? Searching for clothes, food, shelter, transportation and a job is very discouraging; especially when your DOCs give a person practically nothing in the way of useful resources leading up to or on the day of release. In Florida you get $100 when you walk out (if you have no funds in your prisoner account) and a one-way bus ticket. This does make harder one's attempt to reacclimate himself with you/society. I'm sure you'll agree with me on this.
Society, did you know America has 25% of the worlds prisoners, yet this country makes up only 05% of the world's population. I believe last year it was that the "richest country" on the planet earth reached an ugly mark with over 2-million of its fellow citizens imprisoned.
What was that rhetoric you, the judge and prosecutor said about sending me off to prison would be best for you and me. What is up with paying my debt to society? I received a 9yr. bid and did my time, so why am I doing a life sentence following my release? What happen to you foolish talk about REHABILITATION? What good is your "rehabilitation" if all you're gonna do is hold my mistakes against me until hell freezes over. What is the real mission of your Departments Of 'Corrections' (Corruption)? Nothing positive, nor beneficial to you, your family, friends or to me.
Society, I received 9yrs years of Florida's "STEEL-TOE BOOT REHABILITATIVE THERAPY" in over 18 facilities, and trust me on this, it left me nearly blind in my left eye while almost costing me my life on May 06, 1997. Is this why you cried out loudly for more prisons to be built? You are willing to spend all that cash to lock poor and working class people away, but you'd give me my walking papers if I asked you for a decent job so I wouldn't need to do crimes to survive?
You've taken away my dreams, my goals, and my hopes of a better life. In return you've added me to another of your statistics reports by ensuring my hopelessness, hunger, unemployment, and homelessness. To top that off you've backed me into that corner, the same corner you've backed hundreds of thousands of others into before me (and probably hundreds of thousands of others you'll do the same to after me). And to think, I was just a few late bills and a good job from making it out here with you. All I can say to you is MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!! OR is it?
Maybe if I walk out of here and go on some crime spree then your mission would truly be a total success, huh? Sure it would be, you never wanted me, nor others like me out here to begin with. Remember it was you who said "lock 'em up and throw away the key"? Strike 1,2,3?
Hey, I gotta go and figure out my next move. Thanks for this talk we've had. One day you are gonna learn from your mistakes, just as I had to do.
Sincerely Yours,
"Sharif"
Lakeith Amir-Sharif
amirsharif1@hotmail.comMy name is Lakeith Raqib Amir-Sharif, and I am an ex-offender who began doing non-violent petty crimes to survive and care for my family. So yes, America, I am guilty; guilty of trying to survive.
Sharif's Comments on "Up In Arms"
