I recently heard a statistic that if you came to prison before your 25th birthday that you stood a nearly 100% chance of returning to prison, if you are ever released.
That's a truly sobering statistic, but the sad fact is that it makes sense. It's said that whatever state of maturity you were when you came to prison, that's where you stay. That can't possibly be true for everyone, but prison has a way of keeping people stuck at their particular level of maturity. If you aren't proactive in educating yourself and developing a healthy psychology, and a meaningful spiritual self, you most certainly are likely to get stuck in an unhealthy immaturity.
Unfortunately, the DOC doesn't provide many resources or incentives to help one achieve these objectives. Frankly, I don't believe they are interested in putting in the work necessary to truly reduce recidivism. But that's only part of the problem.
There's such a strong pull for the younger men in prison to belong to something that will help them feel significant, and standing out, or seeking to educate yourself, or correct behaviors that are accepted by your peers is counterproductive to these short-sighted desires.
Most men in prison didn't have mature men to emulate, and coming to prison doesn't fix that problem. But there are a few who can make a difference, no matter how insignificant is seems. I've also learned through experience that people have to want to change before it's possible to help them change. It's easy to get cynical in prison and believe that nobody wants to change, but they're here. You just have to keep your eyes and ears open and catch them before they get sucked into the negativity that runs rampant in prison and lose their desire to become better men.
It's not easy, but I'm determined to make a difference where I am, whenever I can. And that starts by being someone I'd be proud to have someone else emulate.
