Ex-offenders should be our secret weapon, not outcasts
January 26th, 2009 by Site Admin
“I believe that if the government wants to reduce reoffending, then the employment of ex-offenders is the secret weapon. Go to any drugs treatment centre and you will find it mostly staffed by ex-drug users. It is crucial for those recovering from addiction that they learn to support others who are doing the same.”
January 27th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
I do agree with this, how would anyone, who has not been through what those kids ARE going through know how to help them and support them 100%.
It is all fair enough people saying they need this, that or the other, but if that person has never been through and shared the same experiences then they cannot truly understand and appreciate how hard things can be for those kids or others like them; (not saying that if you have never had those experiences that you can’t help or support them, just that if you have then you can support them more, due to having more knowledge and understanding of what they are thinking, feeling and going through.)
I myself have never been through this so i cannot fully comprehend the struggle that people go through, but i do appreciate that it takes a lot of guts, hard work and support to get through it.
Well said Mark.
March 5th, 2009 at 12:12 am
im not a heavy ex user but ave bin in trouble mostly violence but now through the work of people like mark i am now working for the probation service as an outreach mentor which even now when so called mates hear about they cant believe it yes it does take guts hard work and support to make big changes but just look at mark and you can see how its done.
June 21st, 2009 at 9:29 am
As an ex-offender myself, did the YOI, graduated to more serious crimes at Her Majesty’s College, became a prolific offender. And a much more serious offender learning from my cohorts while locked up in a prison cell 23 hours a day if we were lucky it did not rain at Castle Greyskull (Armley). Aged 17 it had a profound affect on my live.
I’m now 36, and after years of been ’straight’ and working for a number of Blue Chip companies in Sales and Customer Service (I did lie on every application and interview).
I have just completed my degree at the University of Leeds BA (Hons) Social Policy and Sociology. You would think I would not have any issues or problems going forward. How so not true. I am only now realising what psychological effects prison and crime has had on me. In terms of ‘going straight’ many don’t realise who try to understand desistance, the guilt, and pain one feels for my past actions.
And the consequences therein for the rest of my life. I don’t want to sound to negative, because I’m one of the lucky ones, I managed to turn it around before too much damage was done. I feel hopeful I will help others and be a success, with an identity which is positive.
But I often I hear the banging on the cell door in my dreams, and the souts going out across the landing “Boss, Boss, his hanging”, you never forget that sound.
November 16th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
How so true this is. I could never put it in better words myself other than the ones that have described it above.
How can anyone say “i understand exactly what you going through” when they have been nowhere near there.
Of course i am in no way disregarding the tremendous work and effort the social workers and probation officers and those involved in this type of work. They are doing an excellent job, but being an ex offeneder gives that extra how can i put it, other than mentioned above the powerful weapon that we so need from those who have been there and fortunate enough to come out on the other side.