After years of being locked up the average prisoner holds onto the dream of starting a new life, job, and helping others in order so they don’t make the same mistakes that they made. When they know they would be out soon all their thoughts are positive and productive.
Never a mention of being strung out on drugs, neither in any kind of trouble nor a thought of anything than complete success. There are far too many horrible memories of the place to ever want to go back.
Society perceive ex- convicts in a way it becomes difficult for them to fit in society, in our society it is normal to perceive an ex- convict at a first encounter as a violet or harmful individual. We also believe they are no longer fit for society and so should not be allowed to enjoy the benefits we do.
The hardest aspect of the prison system is the stigmatization that comes after release. This stigmatization against minorities makes re-integration back into the system very difficult especially in the labour market. Unfortunately, there are plenty of reasons for society’s actions; we all broadly, detest those who hurt us or the things that are important to us.
To share his life story is Paa kwasi, an in-mate at Nsawam prisons. After years of being locked up he was finally a free man. But as the officer saw him off at the entrance of the prison he gave him the customary ‘see you soon…’ Paa smiled and walked away because he was so sure he was not coming back. He got to the junction of his house which he spent hours looking for.
Society perceive ex- convicts in a way it becomes difficult for them to fit in society, in our society it is normal to perceive an ex- convict at a first encounter as a violet or harmful individual. We also believe they are no longer fit for society and so should not be allowed to enjoy the benefits we do.
The hardest aspect of the prison system is the stigmatization that comes after release. This stigmatization against minorities makes re-integration back into the system very difficult especially in the labour market. Unfortunately, there are plenty of reasons for society’s actions; we all broadly, detest those who hurt us or the things that are important to us.
To share his life story is Paa kwasi, an in-mate at Nsawam prisons. After years of being locked up he was finally a free man. But as the officer saw him off at the entrance of the prison he gave him the customary ‘see you soon…’ Paa smiled and walked away because he was so sure he was not coming back. He got to the junction of his house which he spent hours looking for.
They all stared at him not speaking but thinking he’s bad because they knew where he was from, he tried to look back but all he could do was bow his head in shame and this made him feel like he belong there. It reminded him of the guard’s last words.
Home at last, the house is in a worse condition than he remembers. He’s glad to be home but at the same time feels strange too. The last time he was home, he was a kid heading the wrong path, but it’s been ten years and he convinces himself that simply being older makes a difference. Sleeping on a twin bed half way reminds him of prison.
It’s almost midnight and he still can’t sleep so he pulls out a yellow folder he came home with, he reads over his business plan admiring the concept before putting it away. Trying to find job weeks after was driving him crazy, he filled over forty applications with zero call back. They always ask about his prison time, honestly, who would want to hire an ex-convict?
He stays home all day with nothing to do, no friends to even share thoughts with. Will you even see an ex- convict as your friend to be? After weeks of searching he found himself a girlfriend who doesn’t work, smokes weed and drinks, but this is not a serious issue for him because the bottom line is to have sex with her and he feels comfortable around her unlike the other girls in the neighborhood who stare at him with disgust. ‘She has a bad habit and I have bad history sounds fair to me’ Paa said.
The only thing he lives for now is him; his siblings treat him just like the neighbours do so he thinks of committing suicide. He feels society has been unfair to him upon his return. Never has he been given the chance to prove that he has changed. Do you think that ex- convicts deserve a second chance in life?
It’s been months and he’s still home without a job, he is forced to stay indoors and go out at night because whenever he steps out he feels he is not wanted or welcome. Paa kwasi can’t survive without a job because he needs to eat and take care of mummy too. All Paa can think of doing now is going back to selling weeds just to get some money, as difficult as the decision was he claimed he was left with no other choice.
On weekends he chills with his boys who also sell weeds. Unfortunately, one evening the police pulled them over. ”when I felt the handcuffs against my wrist the little boy inside me cried” he said. The judge gave him no bail because of his parole situation. As the officer signed the papers I couldn’t even pick my head up because he had the ’I told you look’ Paa said.
He feels society pushed him to the wall because he came completely changed but society did not give him the chance to prove himself. Now he’s disappointed in himself and feels so bad for failing his mum again. These are some of the problems ex –convict’s faces when prison doors swings open.
By Ice Breaks
Home at last, the house is in a worse condition than he remembers. He’s glad to be home but at the same time feels strange too. The last time he was home, he was a kid heading the wrong path, but it’s been ten years and he convinces himself that simply being older makes a difference. Sleeping on a twin bed half way reminds him of prison.
It’s almost midnight and he still can’t sleep so he pulls out a yellow folder he came home with, he reads over his business plan admiring the concept before putting it away. Trying to find job weeks after was driving him crazy, he filled over forty applications with zero call back. They always ask about his prison time, honestly, who would want to hire an ex-convict?
He stays home all day with nothing to do, no friends to even share thoughts with. Will you even see an ex- convict as your friend to be? After weeks of searching he found himself a girlfriend who doesn’t work, smokes weed and drinks, but this is not a serious issue for him because the bottom line is to have sex with her and he feels comfortable around her unlike the other girls in the neighborhood who stare at him with disgust. ‘She has a bad habit and I have bad history sounds fair to me’ Paa said.
The only thing he lives for now is him; his siblings treat him just like the neighbours do so he thinks of committing suicide. He feels society has been unfair to him upon his return. Never has he been given the chance to prove that he has changed. Do you think that ex- convicts deserve a second chance in life?
It’s been months and he’s still home without a job, he is forced to stay indoors and go out at night because whenever he steps out he feels he is not wanted or welcome. Paa kwasi can’t survive without a job because he needs to eat and take care of mummy too. All Paa can think of doing now is going back to selling weeds just to get some money, as difficult as the decision was he claimed he was left with no other choice.
On weekends he chills with his boys who also sell weeds. Unfortunately, one evening the police pulled them over. ”when I felt the handcuffs against my wrist the little boy inside me cried” he said. The judge gave him no bail because of his parole situation. As the officer signed the papers I couldn’t even pick my head up because he had the ’I told you look’ Paa said.
He feels society pushed him to the wall because he came completely changed but society did not give him the chance to prove himself. Now he’s disappointed in himself and feels so bad for failing his mum again. These are some of the problems ex –convict’s faces when prison doors swings open.
By Ice Breaks
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