Dear Society,

It's me again, yeah the ex-felon whose been trying like hell to rejoin you as a productive and contributing member. I have something important to talk with you about. Try to remember how you felt at the most depressing moment of your life, the moment of your deepest dejection. You no doubt have had many. That is how I feel all the time, (especially lately), no matter what my level of consciousness may be, asleep, awake, in between.

Maybe the last 4yrs. of my 9yr. sentence inside a 6x9 sensory deprivation heel-hole compliments of your FDOC, has something to do with my mental/emotional state. Anyhow, let me tell you, the thing is there and it keeps me moving, keeps me on the edge, stomach in knots, pins my eye to the ball, uptight and worried 24/7, as I try daily to resolve issues of how I'll survive from this minute to the next.

Society what do you really want from me and others like me? Tell me, please, tell me. Hey, I realize that it's just a select few of you who truly understand the trauma and hardships faced by someone getting out of prison. (I've also come to realize that many in society could give less than a damn about it) I'm sorry some of you feel this way.

I've been hearing a lot of talk from you about unemployment, homelessness, mental illness, drugs, crime, get -tough-laws and prisons. Your band-aid, to no-aid policies and practices only fuel these social conditions you so adamantly claim you're trying to address.

Don't you realize (or care) that even for those prisoners with skills, reentry into society can be traumatizing, degrading and much more. Searching for clothes, food, shelter, transportation and a job is very discouraging; especially when your DOC's give a person practically nothing in the way of useful resources leading up to or on the day of your release. In Florida you get $100 (if you have no funds in your prisoner account) and a one-way bus ticket. This does make the attempt to reacclimatize themselves with you /society more difficult. I'm sure you'll agree with me on this.

Society, did you know America has 25% of the world's prisoners, yet this country makes up only 05% of the world's population? I believe last year it was that the "richest country" on the planet earth reached an ugly mark with over 2-million of its fellow citizens imprisoned.

What was that rhetoric you, the judge and the prosecutor said about sending me off to prison?  How it would be best for you and me? What is up with paying my debt to society? I received a 9yr. bid and did my time, so why am I doing a life sentence following my release? What happen to your foolish talk about REHABILITATION? What good is your "rehabilitation" if all you're gonna do is hold my mistakes against me until hell freezes over. What is the real mission of your Departments Of Corrections (Corruption)? Nothing positive, nor beneficial to you, your family, friends or me.

Society, I received 9yrs years of Florida's "STEEL-TOE BOOT REHABILITATIVE THERAPY in over 18 facilities, and trust me on this, it left me nearly blind in my left eye while almost costing me my life on May 06, 1997.  Is this why you cried out loudly for more prisons to be built?  You are willing to spend all that cash to lock poor and working class people away, but you'd give me my walking papers if I asked you for a decent job so I wouldn't need to do crimes to survive.

You've taken away my dreams, my goals, and my hopes of a better life. In return you've added me to another of your statistics reports by ensuring my hopelessness, hunger, unemployment, and homelessness. To top that off you've backed me into that corner, the same corner you've backed hundreds of thousands of others into before me (and probably hundreds of thousands of others you'll do the same to after me). And to think, I was just a few late bills and a good job from making it out here with you. All I can say to you is MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!! OR is it?

Maybe if I walk out of here and go on some crime spree then your mission would truly be a total success, huh? Sure it would be - you never wanted me, and others like me out here to begin with. Remember it was you who said "lock 'em up and throw away the key". Strike 1,2,3.

Hey, I gotta go and figure out my next move. Thanks for this talk we've had. One day you are gonna learn from your mistakes, just as I had to do.

Sincerely Yours,
"Sharif"

Surviving the System	A System Gone Bad	Open Season on Prisoners	Prison Food Costs Less
Medical Mayhem	Letter To Society	***	***