After an ex-offender has been released from prison the feeling is ecstatic. However, it can be a disappointment, mainly for those who return after years of incarceration. The parolees have memories of people they left behind when they went to prison, but on returning to the society, they find everyone has moved on, and the situation has changed. The parolee finds himself as a stranger to the place he once knew too well.
In order to overcome the challenges of strangeness reentry I would make use of the supervising officer and allow him or her to guide me on how to handle the challenges. Additionally, I would use the skills taught while in prison to make a living out of that. I would also request the parole officer to help me get assistance from a psychologist who would help me cope with the challenges that I face. The psychologist may assist me in realizing that time has passed and people moved on with their life and I should move on too.
Impact of Supervision
Supervision is true evidence that shows that an ex-offender is not completely free. As a criminal who has been released from prison, I have no privacy since the officer may decide to search my place at any time. My family will be affected by the supervision since the officer may interrupt their daily operations. Additionally, supervision may affect my job and at times may draw unnecessary attention on me whenever the supervising officer comes around, thus making the employer uncomfortable, which may lead to my dismissal. However, the officer plays a significant role in ensuring that I adhere to the rules and regulation, hence reducing chances of going back to prison.
Problem of Unmet Needs
As a Parolee, am aware of the critical needs that must be met on the streets. I will need a place to live, look for money, food, and transportation. When one moves out of prison, he/she is not sure of the world he/she likely to meet out here and anxiety kicks in. Therefore, in order to overcome this issue of meeting personal needs, I would look for a job, though not easy to come by but with the assistance of the parole officer. I would struggle to find one or use my vocational and educational skills learned while in prison to make money that will assist me in fulfilling some of these critical needs. In case I get sick, I would seek medical attention in a government hospital since they are free or cheap and I can afford to pay from the little funds I earn.
Barriers to Success
After release from prison, there a many more restrictions one faces other than just close supervision. The restrictions bar an ex-offender from successfully contributing to the society. For instance, we are barred from voting or holding public office and employment is hard to come by and in some professions, one is denied a license. To overcome this problem, I would try to be expunged and have my criminal records legally removed to allow me to live like other citizens. The law also limits an ex-offender participation in his/her child school programs. Additionally, the law requires one to inform the supervising officer in case they need to travel out of the set boundaries. This would make it hard for me to go on a vacation, but if I have my records expunged, I would live freely and travel anywhere I wish and without supervision.
As an offender, we face a myriad of challenges that hinder successful reentry to the society. We have to adjust to a new and strange environment, the need for job training, money, employment, and limitations on the opportunities. Additionally, we face a stigma that makes us miss on job opportunities that we may be qualified for. However, as an ex-offender, I have to make efforts to ensure that I overcome most of these challenges.
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