As an inmate in a Washington state corrections center, I am affirming Leonard Pitts’ May 14 column, “Few options await prisoners who pay ‘debt to society.'” Presently, if you are a prisoner who has been released as a felon, you can count on your job prospects as virtually nonexistent. If you are a sex offender, you are essentially finished for your future life.
The prison-industrial complex is essentially producing a product called “recidivism.” This is a process to guarantee expanding business.
Paying your debt to society is the “debt that never quits debting.” The early release date is not a liberty interest (in Washington state), so it is meaningless. So my solution is to remain in prison, which becomes my partially assisted rest home. Since I have never been gainfully employed; never contributed anything to the good of society; never served my country in the Air Force; in fact, never done anything for a family productively — I’ll die in prison, which doesn’t bother me a bit.
God help the younger ones. Hopefully, society will wake up and realize the reason for recidivism.
