Training Convicted Felons is Taboo

The training of convicted felons, in my opinion, is taboo. A common thought is, “It’s their own fault. They are getting what they deserve. They shouldn’t have committed crimes in the first place.” And, ironically, I agree- to a degree. While it is true that we never should have broken the law in the first place, holding that as a reason for no longer assisting this population with opportunities to become successful only exacerbates the criminal activity in our communities. I believe that if a person acknowledges his/her bad decisions, they should have the support in place to assist them in redirecting their lives. Otherwise, the behavior doesn’t stop, it only increases because there is always a younger generation that will be tainted by those that society refuses to assist based on prior bad behavior.

As a nation, do we feel that criminals are doomed to a life of crime and that they cannot be redirected? If so, then how do we expect to reduce crime, but, more importantly, how do we reduce the number of crime victims? There has to be a point that we realize that something has to change. We must make some type of intervention in order to regain control of our communities. In my opinion, the best way to fight crime is to convert criminals into positive, productive, law abiding citizens and train them to be the catalysts of change in their communities.

Society can no longer afford to simply count people out and leave them to fend for themselves. It is not possible to lock every criminal up. And over 90% of those that are incarcerated will be released. So, we need to be prepared to provide opportunities for them to be converted. As a former criminal, I have disdain for individuals that chose to live lives of crime. Instead of merely being angry (as if I have never committed crime), I focus on the intentional redirection of those that have become ingrained in the criminal culture.

Our criminal justice system is not set up to redirect behavior. Instead, it has become a place to house individuals in an effort to give the community a false sense of security. I believe that the powers that be are beginning to understand the need to transform the correctional system, mainly because of the cost. I offer an addition to that thought. The system needs to truly be focused on the correction of bad behavior, as opposed to merely punishment. That way, the funds spent become an investment that can have tangible, positive, lasting results that begin to remove the generational patterns of criminal activity.

I don’t believe people should be considered to have no value. Everyone has value. I, also, believe that we need prisons because there are those that refuse to transform their thinking patterns. But for those that desire a productive life, after realizing the flaws in their thought processes, they should have real opportunities to find value in themselves and see how that value adds to the overall value of our world. MY JOB IS TO DO THAT!

Making the Normal, Normal (Combatting the Criminal Culture)

In the past week, our neighborhood has had 5 young men shot, one of which died. I was interviewed by a news reporter who had just left the scene of the murder. She informed me that while she was interviewing someone about the murder, she noticed children in the background laughing and twerking, as if they hadn’t just witnessed a murder! She was irate, and stopped the interview to address the children. They responded, “We (are) used to this”. She was at a loss for words.

That story illustrates the attitude in most of our inner city neighborhoods. Gunshots, murders, crime- they have all become normal. It is now socially acceptable for these things to occur in our neighborhoods. Violence and disrespect have become common, as common and regular as the mailman delivering the mail. It is expected now. The abnormal has become normal.

How do we combat this culture? The neighbors don't know how to respond. Many people have said that the task is too great, and they have moved to other places. Others have become recluses, and refuse to sit on their porches or allow their children to play outside. We (LifeLine to Success) see this as the perfect opportunity to make a difference and change the direction of our community. Many of our team members were the causes of these events. We are the reason that this sub-culture has not only survived, but has begun to thrive. We know what is needed to make the normal, normal again. It is our duty to make it happen.

Our classroom instruction has equipped the team members with the skills to combat negativity. Our community service efforts have instilled in them the sense of ownership and civic responsibility that makes them want to see the benefits of their labor. They have become enlightened and have accepted the charge. To combat this sub-culture, we plan to start sports leagues (beginning with baseball) to allow us constant access to the children, in order to give them tools to become successful adults. We will be the alternative to a life of negative behavior.

We cannot do this alone. It takes partnerships and the community coming together, working in harmony. We will SUCCEED!

Everyone Has Value

How do you show the world the value of a human being- one that has been classified as “less than” or unworthy of redemption? How do you convince the world that all men and women have potential and purpose. How do you convince those that are not directly affected by this plight to get involved and assist? And who is responsible for making sure these issues are addressed?

I sit in my office, frustrated and discouraged by the fact that “big business” has the ability to rally and apply pressure to ensure that their agendas are fulfilled. Yet, men and women that have no voice are being overlooked and left to fend for themselves. No one is rallying to make sure that convicted felons are able to provide for themselves and their families. Sure, “important people” will stop by and share a word, but will they become the voice of a voiceless, overlooked population.

I understand the fear that felony convictions cause. Society has labeled one that has committed such crimes that are of a felonious nature as being threats. While that is true for a segment of this population, the majority of us are not threats. We have seen the error of our ways and want to be accepted. So we will subject ourselves to conditions that are less than favorable, in an effort to show just how committed me are to transforming society’s image of us. We have vowed to outwork and outlast the general population. We have vowed to become vital assets to the community. We have vowed to change society’s view of us.

I believe that our work is valuable and essential to the transformation of our community. Who will stand and say that for us, though. Who will say that the work that we do (transforming the lives of those that have felony convictions and have had no desire to positively contribute to society before encountering our program) is so important that it can not be put in jeopardy? Who will partner with us and continue the momentum that we have begun?

We will not quit! I am a success. I matter. I am important. I am somebody special. I am NOT my crime. I am NOT my past. I am new. God loves me. I love me. I WILL SUCCEED!