My question is : I have a friend who is being released from prison after 30 yrs. I have read some articles that state these prisoners come out pretty messed up mentally. I was wondering if there are any professionals out there that can tell me some of the behavior problems this man may come out with? And if any, how long before they go away? Perhaps there is even an ex prisoner out there to answer this also. Thank you.
What I’ve noticed most of all is difficulty in navigating social situations where one has to be able to accept and deal with grey areas–things that are neither black or white. Social skills most people take for granted. Prison is a place where one’s position is very clearly defined and delineated.
It’s also quite possible that he is going to be initially dazzled, and probably lost, navigating today’s technology, unless he had access to it while in prison. We’ve come a long way since 1980. Has he ever used a cell phone? The Internet? Computers are far different than they were back then.
Also, do you know if he is coming out with parole conditions, or is this an unconditional release? I’m guessing that he might have a better time with a parole officer who can help him navigate life and provide some stability and familiarity.
Thank you to both of you who replied. I am sure he will have a parole officer. No he has not used a cell phone, computer or the internet but of course has read all about them. I am actually concerned about his possible mental attitute due to the strangeness of the outside world and the possibility or perhaps probability of his not finding a job. I am wondering at possible mood swings and temper. Depression and just problems with coping. I was just wondering if perhaps someone had either researched these prisoners and their behavior after long incarcerations and could tell me that they will definitely go through this or that at first etc. Thank you though for what you have given me.
He’ll also have access to unlimited, free porn. That’s going to take a little getting used to.
Thats ok chacoguy. Just keep practicing.
Every human being reacts differently to situations, there is no way to predict what he may go through or need. Do you know if he will get any pre-release programme? Where I am they start preparing them in the final weeks and hook them into community agencies that can help and line up help with clothing/housing/welfare benefits. Call any local charities that work with the homeless, someone will know who does what for whom. The prison should also have good contacts, ask your friend if he minds if you call and ask to speak to a social worker or chaplain or even doctor.
I would suggest that you try to make sure that he has a safe rabbit hole to dive into where he can process the inevitable overwhelm if he needs it. He will not be used to privacy or quiet and may ask permission to do lots of stuff you think he should just do.
There’s an attitude we call “institutionalized”. Bascially it’s when prisoners become too used to letting the system take care of them. They have people to tell them when to wake up, when to go to sleep, when and what to eat, when to take a shower, when to watch TV. They lost their sense of initiative and ability to manage their own life.
It’s not going to be cell phones and the internet that will be problems. It’ll be simple things we take for granted. Keep in mind he hasn’t gone grocery shopping or written a check or rode public transportation or done his laundry for thirty years.
Illiinois has a program for ex-cons to find jobs and I can tell you it’s really pathetic. Oh they mean well and everything, but it is so far from what they need it’s ludicrous.
First is education level. The ones I saw could not even fill out a job application. If they go on food stamps, they’ll get sent into earnfare and wind up working for telemarketing or credit collection agencies and probably getting fired rather quickly as the goals for outbound cold calling telemarketing and debt collecting are hard for most people.
Of course the real aim is to expect failure to throw you off the welfare rolls, in a legal way.
The key is being able to relate to people in the “real world” and not in a structured environment.
It’s similar to going from high school, where people are on your back to college where no one cares if you do the work or not. Until you fail all your courses for not doing any of it 
Check out your state for programs for ex-offenders. Get him on food stamps right away. You can register online and it takes awhile so do it ASAP.
In a state that requires people work for their food stamps, he may get lucky and get a factory job of some sort. That usually pays up to $300 a month in addition to food stamps, so it can get some sort of work experience as well.
The hardest part is doing time, dosn’t erase your debt to society. Too many come out with the notion, “I did my time and the slate should be clean.” It’s never clean and probably justifiably so.
Someone I know spent 18 years in prison and was let out 3 years ago.
He had to learn about cell phones, computers, I-pods…etc.
It took a couple months for him to get used to driving a car comfortably.
He experienced sexual dysfunction (performance anxiety?) for about a year after.
We had to explain a few words and phrases he was not familiar with that are now common. For example, when we would talk about CGI in a movie he’d look at us blankly. We had to explain Computer Generated Imagery.
He was excited to see alot of movies in color because he watched a black and white TV in prison.
The first month or so he kept close to home and felt overwhelmed with all the changes to his town and with people he used to know.
Tivo was the coolest thing ever.
He thinks that people in general are more impolite now.
It all depends on the person and their support system. If your friend has family/ friends to help him re-adjust than that’s good. It took my friend about 18 months-2 years to feel “normal” again.