This is going to be part 1 of a 3-part series taking a look at our justice system. When you read this I may come across as a weeping whiny Leftist Liberal; but believe me I’m not. You will have to read these blogs as they come out get the full message.

Do you know that there is a high count of recidivism of those constantly returning to prison? There are around 68% of 405,000 released prisoners who were arrested for a new crime within 3 years, and 77% were arrested within 5 years.

The factors contributing to recidivism include a person’s social environment and community, their circumstances before incarceration, events during their incarceration, and one of the main reasons, difficultly adjusting back into normal life. Many of these individuals have trouble reconnecting with family and finding a job to support themselves. Some of them don’t have the proper support system to help them to get back on their feet.

Some of these people lives in a poor community, the inner city, so-to-speak; and breaking away from that is very difficult without the proper help. I’m not saying that it cannot be done though.

Those on the Left would like to keep you dependent on the government; so they can control you.

With a little hard work and being persistent , anyone can move beyond their past incarceration. Some can even avoid going to prison with the right support.

Dr. Ben Carson was self-taught. His mother was a single working mother raising 2 boys in the inner city. She didn’t have much of an education, and her reading level was very low. She made her sons read and do book reports on what they read to show it to her; even though she couldn’t read them, herself.

Another example is part of our history: President Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican President was a self-taught man of the 1800’s. He grew up in a poor family, raise in a log cabin.

Some of these young boys grows up in a single family unit; where the father is in prison and the mother is working hard to make a living for her and the children. Some of them will end up in prison themselves because of that lifestyles. They need the support of someone who will come from behind to lend a hand to help them make a better life for themselves; to keep them from going to prison in the first place.

There are people in prison who suffer from mental illness; ever since the government closed down the mental institutions. Thus making prisons the new mental institution.

Instead of throwing money at the problem, they need to actually look for solution to help those in prison to keep them from returning once they are release. Some may need counseling. Prisons can offer an education program; so that they can get the proper education to better themselves. Those in prisons got to want to better themselves though.

There are 2 country singers who had made a name for themselves once leaving prison. First there was Johnny Cash. Then there was Merle Haggard, who after seeing Johnny Cash perform while he was prison, Merle chose to follow that dream as well. So you see, it can be done; if there is the right support system out there.

Like I said earlier, getting a good job after being in prison isn’t very easy for them. There are employers who are not willing to give them a second chance to better themselves. There is a strict background check before they can even be hire. I can understand the reason for the background check for some jobs. If there crimes had anything to do with drugs and alcohol; there are some jobs they may need to reconsider if they are to remain clean and sober.

How far back should the background check go? When will they ever be able to live down their past?

It’s no wonder a person may lie on the job application or even interview when asked if they were ever convicted of a crime and in prison. It goes to show that honesty isn’t always the best policy. Honesty can keep those who been in prison from ever getting past it and succeeding.

I’m not saying that this is true for everyone. There are people who should be still in prison, the career criminals. There are people who made a bad judgement; which led them to being in prison in the first place. They paid their dues and hopefully learned their lessons, and got the help they needed. Shouldn’t they get a second a chance?

I do believe that if they are saved while in prison and once they are released, they find themselves a good church to use as a support systems. At the same time though, there are those who would used a Christian faith as a crutch. They’ll pretend that they a change person, a better person; who found Jesus. They may not be very genuine in their faith though; but who am I to judge. Only God knows!

Some of those in prisons weren’t able to afford proper defense attorney. They couldn’t afford a good lawyer and so they had a court appointed attorney. They get paid whether they win or lose a case. I will discuss more of this in part 2 next week.

There are some good people who deserve a second chance. They have worked hard to become a better person.

After reading all three blogs, hopefully you will see that something needs to be done to help those who truly want and need the help to become a better person.