Entry #20 - Godspeed - 6.12.07

Today Mike left. I had done some freelance work to promote his kennel and the plight of the pitbull movement as a whole. We’d developed a friendship and short-term business relationship during his final month and a half. The world slows to still frames every time someone leaves. Part of it is that we’ll miss them, sure. More than that, though, those individuals carry with them the fears and aspirations of the ones left behind.

As they walk out the front door, our scopes become set to follow them, wishing them well. Our ears to the pipeline, we keep focused on the streets. They become our gauge of how the outside world will likely treat us when it’s our turn.

The recidivism rate aside, another statistic comes into play. The one that indicates how many felons will violate their “paper” (aka probation). According to a 2006 Bureau of Justice report, 59% of probationers were discharged successfully, while the rest were either returned to incarceration due to a new offense or rule violation, or had their probation revoked without incarceration. About 3% of discharges had absconded.

Officially, we are prohibited from having any form of communication with the people who we’ve done time with or felons in general. From what I understand, this policy was implemented to curb mafia activity.

Now may I say just how asinine this policy is. Can you imagine spending 24/7/365 of your life for years at time while losing ties with friends and family who forgot about you long ago, and then find that the people that became your surrogate support for so long are now illegal for you to contact. (Put yourself in those shoes for a moment.)

People envision drug deals, organized crime, etc. occurring due to sustained relations but in truth, if a felon wants to return to their old life, they’re going to regardless. Trust me, there’s plenty of willing participants.

With so little available assistance to felons who get out, the bonds fostered, especially between white-collar offenders and street level hustlers, could serve to create opportunities for the marginalized and keep from creating a larger dependent class. But I digress.

Mike, Godspeed. Farewell and succeed. You owe it to yourself, and yes, to those you left behind.

Playlist

Song: “Count Me In” by Death Before Dishonor

Magazine: Urb – It appears electronica ain’t what it used to be.

Book: When will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops by George Carlin

TV: None – sweeps is over.