The Long Way Home: A Guide for The Ex-Felon, How to get Out and Stay Out

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ISBN: 9781098304843

Table of Contents

Acknowledgment

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1: Recidivism, from a different perspective

Chapter 2: The Issues

Chapter 3: Community Involvement

Chapter 4: Post Release: Helpful Hints for Someone Existing Prison

Chapter 5: Can you beat the background check?

Chapter 6: Why so many half Way houses (CCC) don't work

Chapter 7: Urban Housing Solutions Inc.

Acknowledgment

This is the result of many meetings to discuss, brainstorm, complain, argue and debate about the best way to shed light on the issues, how to get people on the outside involved, and most importantly, what people need to make the transition once released. In an effort to make my word bound, I thank all of you for doing your part. The rest is on me.

For the tens of thousands of people coming home from some the worst treatment a human being should never have to endure. This, I offer as a tool, may it use bring you much success.

To a leader and an example, for the young and old in the communities all over

Nashville, TN  Bro St. Minister Samuel X, We thank you for service and sacrifice.

To the local representatives of the NOI Prison Reform Ministry, Bro St. Capt. Andre Muhammad, Bro Eric Muhammad and Bro Theo Muhammad of Mosque #60 thank you for the years of work, and commitment to those incarcerated.

Larry LT Turnley, Seeing you come home and get in the streets and push…

bruh, you are an inspirational to me,

Respect.

D’Mitri Muhammad, Master Instructor,

for always being in my ear, I so appreciate you, I respect you and love you brother.

Project Return, Inc. as a resource for the post incarcerated, your organization is

unmatched.

Mending Hearts Inc. for women in

recovery in Nashville, your organization set a precedence, thank you greatly.

Dedication

To men and women that have paid their debt to society and come home only to find out that, no one is interested in knowing how much time they’ve done, or whether they’ve changed.

All they want to know is:

Are you convicted felon?

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Atlanta, United States Penitentiary. My name is… 

It doesn’t matter who is the officer or the prison because, the message generally all the same. You’re here now, and that where ever here is, this is your world. I don’t give a dam about who you think you are, or were because you in a whole new reality. So listen the f*** up…, is the message, now, let me tell how it is here!

We have gangs here, you have the… 

Stamps is the money… 

"In the chow hall, everybody sits in their car

(geographically)…"

For those of you who like them sissys, listen…

Now, The last three inmates that got stabbed here was because….

And there is knives all over this dam compound… 

For maybe an hour, as a new arrival you’ll learn everything you need to know about what’s happening in that prison. My crude example of a briefing, is the reality of what takes place all across the U.S. penal system. Depending upon the prison, none are the same but it’s pretty straight forward, maybe even hard core.  Never-the-less, upon arrival to a prison, no matter if it’s you’re first time inside or you’ve moved from one institution to the next.

Before you set foot on the compound you will be given this briefing as part of your orientation.  I find it fascinating today as think back to the 1980’s when it was the prisoner’s themselves that did this part of the orientation process for the new arrivals. They may do in some states. Whether it’s a prisoner or guard that doesn’t matter, everything is covered, the good (for lack of a better term) the bad, and the ugly. Looking back, I understand why this takes place now. The unfamiliar and people in prison don’t always yield good outcomes. It’s something about this transition period into this new environment that’s unlike anything anyone will encounter in a lifetime. Here, in prison the human being who’s mind is made to think right has shift, in order to function in this new world. Change on every level is absolute for survival. What struck me is, after five, ten or fifteen years  or more in this new way of viewing, responding, expression, thinking and living these individual can be in a whole new world, home in less than two hours. In many cases, the city from once they came may have gentrified, family and friends are dead, married or moved on. Everything is different now. But instead of a briefing or debriefing into this new world, many ex-felons if they’re lucky have found themselves in a half-way house. No they’re not quit home, but they’re no longer inside. Not exactly free, yet no longer locked in a unit, a pod, or a cell. There are no gates or walls, just a security desk or office at the entrance. The now, freed ex-felon is in the so-called free world.  Here, if they’re lucky are greeted by a whole staff ready to give these new arrivals drug screens, breathalyzers, pat searches, and plenty of guidance. Yes, guidance about where they’ll find themselves if they ant back here by this time, or if they don’t pay this amount by this day, and if your ever seen with this person, I mean it too just once, you hear me? I’ll have you’re a$$ back inside so fast it’ll make your head spin.  WELCOME HOME!

I ask the reader to go beneath the surface in this endeavor. For what seem as a lack of professionalism, thought I admit I don’t claim to be a professional writer. I undertake this work for a simple reason. I must. I also care and I am not afraid. If I come across as a little crass please understand, that it is not me. I am taking the reader into a world that I want to believe that most do not know that exist. It is what it is.   

What I share herein is from the perspective of individuals whom have either; been in prison and is now making a life in the socalled free world, or may very well be still be inside. In this work I share many example that have been shared with me. I don’t advocate that anyone do anything that is unethical, wrong or against the law. What I share with people coming home is a view of the choices that will lie before them. I’m not suggesting that anyone to do anything. But what is clear, is the guidance for these people have been blurred. For far too long, much of the re-entry programs are created by the very same people that turn the keys on the cells in prisons. Most evolved do so for economic reason or to advance their career. Again, what I offer here is really more than a different perspective. It’s the real deal. I make no apologies. Thank you.

THE LONG WAY HOME:

A guide for the Ex-felon, How to get out, and stay out.

Chapter 1

Recidivism, from a different perspective

Cause and Effect.

Thought is the cause of it all. This is a truth that implies that there is always an idea, a dream, or a vision that preceded everything that we see with the physical eye. Someone envisioned it (first in their mind), then used whatever resources necessary to bring it into reality. Well with that being said, what was the idea (or vision) behind the making of what we now call the US Penal System or Department of Corrections? Has that idea changed over the years? What is the reality now in 2020, and where is it all headed?

We live in a nation that was first inhabited by the Native American, but through European conquest, it is now a nation founded and established upon the ideals of the Anglo-Saxon white male. Like the fact that all movement is not forward, many of these ideals are not good. Many of the principles, values, and ideals that shaped this nation are (and were) for the sole benefit of the white Americans. If we just look back into this nation’s history, just a litter over 150 years ago, we can find no better example. Chattel slavery was the ruthless exploitation of human beings, for the benefit of the European nations. For over three hundred years, this and every European nation grew rich at the expense of hundreds of millions of Africans lives. And the relevance chattel slavery as a central part of the foundation of this country, enable the open mind, to see that the US Penal System even in this day and time is an outgrowth of that reality. But first we must go back, way back. 

In the late 1400’s, the nation of Spain after, seven centuries of being dominated by the Moors1; under King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella, they sought to rid their country of the African rule as there was ruthless persecution of women and the exile of Jews and Muslims. And as Spain went about their reconstruction, they made use of their POW’s (namely West African Moors) for many of the less desirable jobs. Call it what you will, but it’s a common practice found throughout history; (a nation at war with another nation, using the captured troops, of the opposing force for hard labor) though a crude practice, but common. It’s unethical and immoral as a practice, but without global police, nor a universally recognized legal system to fall under, to the victor goes the spoils. 

As Spain sought to insert itself into the New World (the Americas), it would find new use for this cheap labor (the POWs). And after experiencing the tremendous rewards in the use of African POWs, the boundaries between POWs and Africans in general would disappear. All of which, would give way to the wholesale exploitation of the entire African continent. This would come to be known as the Transatlantic Slave Trade and or the Black Holocaust. Over the next three hundred years, nearly every European nation took part in this— the most brutal and barbaric treatment of any people in the history of the earth. However, the history of this holocaust, the worst in human history has been glossed over, whitewashed, hidden and even justified based upon race, religion, divine right and economic advancement. In Today’s terminology, in National Interest.

What was considered crude but commonplace (the use of POWs for hard labor) would become something even more wicked, more inhumane, and unheard of. And it would continue for another three hundred or more years, due to the mass misinformation campaign by a select few with twisted philosophical ideals and concepts. 

There was a time when a person who had broken the law was imprisoned to a set term of confinement. While incarcerated, they were expected to demonstrate (in their behavior) that they were preparing to be returned to society as productive citizens. They did this by learning a trade (if they did not have one), getting an education if they were illiterate, or even getting a deep sense of spirituality. If one would do this, then they would be giving an opportunity to participate in various release programs like parole or probation and leave prison with a small amount of gate money. And there was a time when the warden had the power to release anyone that they deemed reformed and fit to be released back into society.

In the release preparation, the ex-felon could receive assistance in finding clothes, a job, and a place to live. And for a time, they would be monitored to see that they stay the course. And of course, any offender that did not take these steps to better themselves wouldn’t be allowed to participate in any of the release programs. Nor would they receive parole or probation. And when they were to break the law again, they would receive the full weight of the law.