From “The
Human Condition: A User’s Manual,” by Arnold Kunst
20
November
LIFE IN
PRISON, PART THREE
I
remember at one point in my teaching career in the prison system I taught a
class called “Re-entry.” It was designed to equip guys for success who were
approaching parole, and covered things like mock job interviews, taking the DMV
test, anger management strategies and the like. It only lasted 3 weeks which
wasn’t much, but it was at least a step in the right direction. It was open to
any guy within six months of being paroled. Recruiting happened during what was
called “dead day” – the day after one 3-week session and before the beginning of
the next. On that day, arned with a computer printout of eligible guys, I’d make
the rounds of the housing units to drum up a littlle business.
I
remember talking to one guy about the class who, although eligible, said he
didn’t need it. I told him, “Do you realize that 72% of all parolees in the
state of California will return to prison inside 3 years of their parole?”
“Doesn’t apply to me,” he answered. “Why’s that?” I asked. Here’s the answer
that stopped me in my tracks: “I'm paroling to Nevada.”
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