You will think that being released from prison will be a relief. But for prisoners who have spent years in prison, being released also comes with apprehension. So, how do prisoners feel when released? Well, here we are going to explain about how prisoners feel when released.
How Do Prisoners Feel When Released?
Here are some emotions prisoners feel when released:
1. Confusion about the world around them.
Ex-prisoners will be confused about the world around them. Imagine spending one week away from home for a business trip. When you return to your own family, you see new foods in the refrigerator, tell of conversations or incidents which occurred over the week. Now imagine years away. Technology will have been upgraded, new political leaders will have taken office, slang lingo will have changed, friends will have moved away, new singers will be topping the charts, and so on. Emotions released prisoners experience will include discomfort while getting acclimated to the family, current social, and political climate.
2. Guilt and shame
Although having paid for their crimes, emotions released prisoners could still include guilt and shame. They are going to feel unresolved guilt regarding the crime and the people they harmed. Also, they are going to shame in public or with their old family and friends due to the fact that they served time in prison or jail. They can even feel that they disappointed their loved ones, such as by asking for help to pay for bail, because of the crime they committed, or because of what happened while they were in prison or jail.
3. Worry about the future
Obviously, released prisoners will worry about their future. Where will they work? Are they going to be able to afford to live today? And there are the social questions: Are their children angry with them? Did their boyfriends/girlfriends truly “wait for them” as they said they would? Are their best friends now only acquaintances?
4. Prison changes people
If you are free, you are able to get into your car and drive any time you want. However, ex-prisoners cannot do that. They may have become used to that fact in prison. It is possible that someone who was once full of energy will get out of the prison lacking the drive that it takes to live a happy life. Another scenario would be that they could have seen and experienced so much in prison which they became cynical. Or the opposite could occur; they could have truly had an epiphany and get out of the prison with the fortitude to change the world. There is no doubt that prison can change people. Both the prisoner and their family or friends will have to adjust to the new person if positive changes happen, or work on getting the old one back if not.
5. Prison will have become familiar
For prisoners serving a significant sentence, they have no option but to turn prison into home so that they do not feel at home in their past surroundings after they are released.
Things Not to Do When Your Loved One is Being Released
Here are some things not to do when your loved one is being released:
1. Do Not Forget How They Feel
People being released from prison usually feel anxiety, fear, excitement, and expectation, all mixed together. Freedom is thrilling, however, once they are out, they may feel that there is a sign above their own head telling everyone they are a former prisoner. They do not know where they will live, whether they are going to find a job, or how to get from place to place. Simply, they are overwhelmed. Ex-inmates returning home are overwhelmed by the number of decisions to be made in a short period. They are going to be confused when it seems like there is more than one right option. For this case, you have to put yourself in their position and consider how they are feeling before deciding how to help.
2. Do Not Forget to Set Boundaries
Boundaries are crucial to a successful reentry. Without them, there are chances for misunderstanding, miscommunication, and missteps. Your loved one is going to benefit from an obvious reentry plan which sets expectations and responsibilities around problems like free time, house rules, finances, and the negative behaviors which caused problems in the past. While it seems uncomfortable to discuss previous failures, it will assist promote future wins and transition to life on the outside.
You may discover yourself faced with questions like: Should I lend money? How much financial help should I give? Should I give rides if public transportation is available? Each situation is unique, thus there are no easy answers. However, you have to keep in mind the purpose of boundaries. Without boundaries, you risk enabling bad behavior from your loved one. To avoid enabling these bad behaviors, you have to be careful to set respectful boundaries.
3. Do Not Do All the Work
Even if you have set healthy boundaries, you may be tempted to take over planning for your loved one’s reentry, but do not do that. Denise Harris explains that you want to be careful not to enable the former prisoner, or they are going to be dependent on you indefinitely.
Lots of prisoners develop a reentry plan before their release which includes information like where they are going to work, how they will get there, and where they will live. Please ensure that your loved one has a solid plan before agreeing to help. If possible, you are able to request your loved one and their parole officer join you in a meeting to discuss the plan together.
Do not do all the work for your returning citizen, however, do let them know you believe in them and support them. Please encourage them to take ownership in the process and demonstrate their desire to live a changed life by discovering a job, staying clean, and meeting their parole requirements.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
