This is just the opening blog in a series looking at issues facing the newly released offender.  Let‘s begin by thinking about being in prison, locked away from society, from home and loved ones, from work, pets and everything we value for say, nine months or a year.  Finally the day comes for your release.  The day you have dreamt about and thought about is finally here.  

How will you feel?

• Do you have family who would have diligently visited you throughout and who will welcome you home?  How are they, do they have debts because of you?  Do you feel responsible or is your apparent indifference the cause of family stress?

• Do you have somewhere to sleep tonight or will you be released to homelessness?

• Do you have money?  You won't be signed to benefits (and the system will inevitably have changed) so how will you make a claim and how will you live until you receive your first payment?

• Do you have work lined up?  Do you have skills, work experience that would interest an employer?  What happens if they check up on you - what about the DBS check, will it show up your record?  What do you have to ow up to and when?

• If you have worked hard in prison to tackle your addiction issues, the day of release will present a new set of challenges.  Alcohol and drugs are suddenly easily accessible but your familiar support is gone.  How will you cope?

• Friends may be ready to welcome you back to their social circle, their activities and to old haunts.  Were these the source of your mis-deeds?  If so will you be strong enough to resist their call?  Surely that was good fun.  Was it all bad?  Maybe you can pick out the good from the bad and stay out of trouble.  Do you really want to?  Just one more… for old times sake…?

• Will your Ex be reasonable about seeing your children?  Will the children remember you or even want to know you?  How will you let them know you have changed?  Do you believe that you have?  How will you get them to believe you?

• As all these challenges mount up, will your new thinking and behaviour training be sufficient for you to make good decisions and set out on a new path?

If one or more of these issues becomes a reality as you settle back into life after prison then chances are, you will revert to old behaviours, perhaps including crime.  Prison is not a cushy existence and release isn't either.  

Should we - that is you and me and society at large - give prisoners and ex-offenders a second chance?  How do we feel about an ex-offender living on our street?  What about someone with a prison record working alongside us?  In England and Wales more than half of prisoner who serve a prison sentence of less than twelve months will be back in prison within the next year.  Prison isn’t working.  Is the failure of the ex-offender all their fault?  With so many obstacles could we as a society help them stay away from crime?  After all it may have been one mistake years ago, a life broken and wasted over a stupid decision…  And if we don’t support them they will simply go round and round the system, as the statistics prove.  Crime can’t simply be tackled by parents, police or schools, it is everyone’s problem and everyone needs to commit to being part of the solution.  

Think about it, how easy it is to find yourself with a criminal record.  Google “Celebrities with a criminal record” and you will be surprised at the list… No-one intends to get caught and few even consider the consequences of crime.  Nevertheless this could be my son, your son or daughter.