Convicted Felons, The Life After Prison

What do you think when you hear the words convicted felon? How would you answer this question, would you cringe, scoff, or worry? Try it right now; think of the first word that comes to mind when you say the words to yourself. I have tried to search the Internet time and time again for something good about a convicted felon. Nothing, you get all these sites about political issues, (voting rights and gun rights) where to buy other people’s personal background records, or other garbage about convicted felons. So, here is my first question, where are all the sites that will help guide a convicted felon back into the world, help him find a job, help getting into a school, or anything in general that will help a person who made a mistake get back into the world? What about finding a place to live? I am a convicted felon; I have been out of prison for a year. In that year I have enrolled in a University and am studying Information Science and Technology, I will be moving into my own place in March, and I am currently fighting my ex-wife for custody of my daughter whom I have never seen. I am doing it; I am living in society as a respectable individual. I am off parole, and if for any reason, my parole officer is willing to tell of my success. I am a statistical anomaly, 90% of males 18-25 will return to prison within six months. That is a scary statistic, which is why I am trying this blogging thing for the first time. Just because a man or a woman makes a mistake in life does that mean they should fall victim to the rotating door of the legal system. There is simply not enough help out there for people like myself, the people that have learned from their mistakes and change their lives. By help please don’t think of me asking for a handout, I mean help, guidance, and direction. I have worked all my life, and will continue to work it is something I enjoy. However, some people are not of the same mind frame as me, I am a driven person, one who always wants better. Some people just need direction, a plan of sorts to follow upon release. Face it they throw you out of prison tell you that you will be required to pay, fines and fees, that in most cases are absolutely ridiculous with no place to live. We need to push for programs in our prison systems, good programs, which will aid a person to becoming a productive member of society. Give these thousands and thousands of young people training. Teach them a trade that they can go into upon release, so when they get out they will have qualifications to find a job. Have an advisor along with a parole officer; this would help with things like getting a place to live, straightening out credit problems. Look this is my first blog and with that I will end and look forward to any and all feedback on this issue, good or bad. Remember please keep an open mind these people we are discussing are in fact that PEOPLE.