Breaking Down the Criminal Mind
I wait to hear my name.
I see children playing by their mothers.
The room feels like a family reunion.
They call my name, and I get in line.
They pack us together like sardines in a can.
Finally, we reach our destination.
I greet my friend with a smile.
I hope he will make better choices and be transformed from his criminal mind.
Who can really be sure? The Criminal Mind Across this country, visiting inmates in the penitentiary system has come to feel as natural as eating apple pie.
Several months ago, I saw a sheriff escorting an inmate.
I started talking to him about criminality.
This sheriff, a criminal justice expert, explained the incarceration process for most prisoners.
He discussed recidivism, which is when a person repeats the same offence.
The sheriff said that once in prison, a person's life is transformed.
If he entered the prison system an honest man, he won't leave that way.
When released to society, he would find it difficult to survive and be forced back into his criminal life.
"Once a thief, always a thief" is the theme of an indifferent public.
But who wants to admit that criminality runs in their fine family heritage? We just don't discuss it.
Yet this matter is an impending concern for our area.
Let's deal with the reentry of former criminals into society.
The Ramification of Criminal Living The reality of prison culture continues to grow in America.
The celebrated "Three Strikes and You're Out" Law sparked an increased interest in crime across the nation.
People convicted of three felonies found themselves with possible life sentences.
As a consequence, petty criminals such as robbers were getting life sentences.
More prisons were built.
According to the Bureau of Justice, there are over 2 million prisoners held in federal, state, or local prison.
In 2002, over 500,000 prisoners were released from state prison.
In fact, the fastest growing prison population is women.
Some feel that former criminal behavior can change.
For example Tennessee Sheriff Chaplain Dorothy Johnson works with prisoners and sees transformation.
Johnson explains, "With man, it is impossible but with God all things are possible.
" Anthony Rodgers agrees.
He served over two years in federal prison for one of the biggest drug busts in Knoxville history.
Knoxville newspaper reporter Satterfied wrote, "They amassed so much bling it was obscene.
" Rodger's life was transformed in prison.
He's a now minister at Payne Avenue Baptist Church and the author of the new book, How God Restored My Life.
He also makes himself available to speak with community groups across the nation.
Rodger notes, "My change was due to divine intervention and wanting to change.
I just reached my level of tolerance for pain.
I did not want to continue in a life of crime.
" Rodger maintains that family and friends can help this transformation by forgiving and encouraging the former criminal.
A Reality Check Why should we care about the transformation of ex-cons? George Washington University director Cilluff spoke to Congress about the real threat of prison groups linking with Al Qaeda.
In fact, prison culture permeates pop culture.
You see it in fashion, speech, and attitude.
Ex-cons, as common as 50 Cent, become heroes to American youth.
In prison, respect is a major commodity to fight for.
In playgrounds across America, children fight each other for this same respect.
Therefore, it is important to understand how criminality will impact local communities.
Do we have an interest in the transformation of criminality? According to the BBC, the US recidivism rate has reached 60%, compared with the United Kingdom where it is 50%.
The UK focuses on rehabilitation and education while the US focuses on punishment and deterrence.
Reentering a community poses a problem to the inmates and to the community.
From the inmate's point of view, he must deal with a changing world and lack of resources to change.
Most need to live with families and can only get minimal paying jobs because of their criminal record.
Therefore, society must contemplate how to deal with this growing segment of the population before it is too late.
I see children playing by their mothers.
The room feels like a family reunion.
They call my name, and I get in line.
They pack us together like sardines in a can.
Finally, we reach our destination.
I greet my friend with a smile.
I hope he will make better choices and be transformed from his criminal mind.
Who can really be sure? The Criminal Mind Across this country, visiting inmates in the penitentiary system has come to feel as natural as eating apple pie.
Several months ago, I saw a sheriff escorting an inmate.
I started talking to him about criminality.
This sheriff, a criminal justice expert, explained the incarceration process for most prisoners.
He discussed recidivism, which is when a person repeats the same offence.
The sheriff said that once in prison, a person's life is transformed.
If he entered the prison system an honest man, he won't leave that way.
When released to society, he would find it difficult to survive and be forced back into his criminal life.
"Once a thief, always a thief" is the theme of an indifferent public.
But who wants to admit that criminality runs in their fine family heritage? We just don't discuss it.
Yet this matter is an impending concern for our area.
Let's deal with the reentry of former criminals into society.
The Ramification of Criminal Living The reality of prison culture continues to grow in America.
The celebrated "Three Strikes and You're Out" Law sparked an increased interest in crime across the nation.
People convicted of three felonies found themselves with possible life sentences.
As a consequence, petty criminals such as robbers were getting life sentences.
More prisons were built.
According to the Bureau of Justice, there are over 2 million prisoners held in federal, state, or local prison.
In 2002, over 500,000 prisoners were released from state prison.
In fact, the fastest growing prison population is women.
Some feel that former criminal behavior can change.
For example Tennessee Sheriff Chaplain Dorothy Johnson works with prisoners and sees transformation.
Johnson explains, "With man, it is impossible but with God all things are possible.
" Anthony Rodgers agrees.
He served over two years in federal prison for one of the biggest drug busts in Knoxville history.
Knoxville newspaper reporter Satterfied wrote, "They amassed so much bling it was obscene.
" Rodger's life was transformed in prison.
He's a now minister at Payne Avenue Baptist Church and the author of the new book, How God Restored My Life.
He also makes himself available to speak with community groups across the nation.
Rodger notes, "My change was due to divine intervention and wanting to change.
I just reached my level of tolerance for pain.
I did not want to continue in a life of crime.
" Rodger maintains that family and friends can help this transformation by forgiving and encouraging the former criminal.
A Reality Check Why should we care about the transformation of ex-cons? George Washington University director Cilluff spoke to Congress about the real threat of prison groups linking with Al Qaeda.
In fact, prison culture permeates pop culture.
You see it in fashion, speech, and attitude.
Ex-cons, as common as 50 Cent, become heroes to American youth.
In prison, respect is a major commodity to fight for.
In playgrounds across America, children fight each other for this same respect.
Therefore, it is important to understand how criminality will impact local communities.
Do we have an interest in the transformation of criminality? According to the BBC, the US recidivism rate has reached 60%, compared with the United Kingdom where it is 50%.
The UK focuses on rehabilitation and education while the US focuses on punishment and deterrence.
Reentering a community poses a problem to the inmates and to the community.
From the inmate's point of view, he must deal with a changing world and lack of resources to change.
Most need to live with families and can only get minimal paying jobs because of their criminal record.
Therefore, society must contemplate how to deal with this growing segment of the population before it is too late.
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