Jennifer, Thank you for your thoughtful, inspiring words. This country needs more hope, love, and a sense of unity. I'm going to continue to educate myself on what's happening in the current shift in administration, and will advocate for human rights for all in this country.
Thank you so much for sharing these. Thinking of your first poem, "Going 'Home'" in particular. It reminded me of the saying "home is not a place" - we can create home anywhere. It's the responsibility of those who are not incarcerated to create a home that will be waiting for you when you leave - a world that is welcoming and non-judgmental and wants to give you the things you need to succeed. I will do everything I can to make sure that world is waiting for you. In the meantime, please keep writing!
Thanks for distributing this information; it's definitely useful to illustrate what a large portion of your facility's population the DOC has failed to "correct", according to its own stated goals! In fact, according to the most recent numbers from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the national recidivism rate over five years (2005-2010) is actually as high as 76.6%. The most recent number supplied by the Massachusetts DOC (32%) is indeed somewhat misleading, since it only measures re-convictions over the last three years (2012-2015). In general, if we want to get a complete and accurate picture of what the true recidivism rate is, we should be looking at everyone who is re-convicted, as you did, not just people who were re-convicted within a certain number of years of release. Unfortunately, to do that with maximum accuracy, we would have to also compare the number of re-convictions to the whole US population of ex-offenders not currently in prison, a number that the BJS does not seem to collect.
Thanks again for this report. Keep up the good fight!
You're an excellent writer. I'm sorry that Christmas won't be so merry and bright for you all. I wish there was something I could do for you outside of my usual loud-mouthed activism. Just know that I and lots of others are thinking about you and wish you all the best.
Hi Maze, it's the 4. December now. Sorry for taking so long to answer. I'm very forgetful. :( Good luck with the Astronomy-magazine-thingy! :D Don't worry, I won't tell anyone that you were actually wrong about something...;)
I didn't know about the Band "Staind" but I listened to the song you mentioned now. It's nice! It was uploaded to Youtube in 2007 - I don't know how old it really is... Not sure about keeping up with the times. :P But really? You don't have to keep up. Most new songs are - sorry- absolute bullshit.
Glad to hear you could meet your folks. What exactly do you do when they visit?
Hope you got your MP3 back. Life without music is boring:/ Especially in prison I can imagine.
I read your essay about time. I really like how you mix a serious topic with humorous examples (loved reading them).
Mhhh, it may shock you but I don't really do anything different in my holidays. I'm in front of my computer most of the time, spending my time playing video games, reading stuff or watching series~ I've never been skiing, but most people here love it. You've never seen snow?! Kinda depresses me. I actually hate snow (I'm more of a spring-summer child) but still, I can't imagine never having seen it.
No problem with your vegan joke. c; I'm forgiving.
x) Is a smiley, I guess. ) <- Mouth, x <- Eyes. You could put a nose between them like: X-)But young people don't really do that anymore. :P
I don't think I'll hear from you before Christmas so I'll just say it now: Merry Christmas!:)
RSS
Thank you for your thoughtful, inspiring words. This country needs more hope, love, and a sense of unity. I'm going to continue to educate myself on what's happening in the current shift in administration, and will advocate for human rights for all in this country.
Be well,
Emily
H
Allison
Thank you so much for sharing these. Thinking of your first poem, "Going 'Home'" in particular. It reminded me of the saying "home is not a place" - we can create home anywhere. It's the responsibility of those who are not incarcerated to create a home that will be waiting for you when you leave - a world that is welcoming and non-judgmental and wants to give you the things you need to succeed. I will do everything I can to make sure that world is waiting for you. In the meantime, please keep writing!
Adina
Bridget
Your words are powerful. The simplicity and directness of your poem "Iron Slab" hit me right in the heart.
Thank you for sharing.
Jo
Thanks for distributing this information; it's definitely useful to illustrate what a large portion of your facility's population the DOC has failed to "correct", according to its own stated goals! In fact, according to the most recent numbers from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the national recidivism rate over five years (2005-2010) is actually as high as 76.6%. The most recent number supplied by the Massachusetts DOC (32%) is indeed somewhat misleading, since it only measures re-convictions over the last three years (2012-2015). In general, if we want to get a complete and accurate picture of what the true recidivism rate is, we should be looking at everyone who is re-convicted, as you did, not just people who were re-convicted within a certain number of years of release. Unfortunately, to do that with maximum accuracy, we would have to also compare the number of re-convictions to the whole US population of ex-offenders not currently in prison, a number that the BJS does not seem to collect.
Thanks again for this report. Keep up the good fight!
Jeff Sherwood
You're an excellent writer. I'm sorry that Christmas won't be so merry and bright for you all. I wish there was something I could do for you outside of my usual loud-mouthed activism. Just know that I and lots of others are thinking about you and wish you all the best.
Sending warm thoughts,
Sara in Michigan
it's the 4. December now. Sorry for taking so long to answer. I'm very forgetful. :(
Good luck with the Astronomy-magazine-thingy! :D
Don't worry, I won't tell anyone that you were actually wrong about something...;)
I didn't know about the Band "Staind" but I listened to the song you mentioned now. It's nice! It was uploaded to Youtube in 2007 - I don't know how old it really is... Not sure about keeping up with the times. :P But really? You don't have to keep up. Most new songs are - sorry- absolute bullshit.
Glad to hear you could meet your folks. What exactly do you do when they visit?
Hope you got your MP3 back. Life without music is boring:/ Especially in prison I can imagine.
I read your essay about time. I really like how you mix a serious topic with humorous examples (loved reading them).
Mhhh, it may shock you but I don't really do anything different in my holidays. I'm in front of my computer most of the time, spending my time playing video games, reading stuff or watching series~
I've never been skiing, but most people here love it. You've never seen snow?! Kinda depresses me. I actually hate snow (I'm more of a spring-summer child) but still, I can't imagine never having seen it.
No problem with your vegan joke. c; I'm forgiving.
x) Is a smiley, I guess. ) <- Mouth, x <- Eyes. You could put a nose between them like: X-)But young people don't really do that anymore. :P
I don't think I'll hear from you before Christmas so I'll just say it now: Merry Christmas!:)
Stay well,
Jamie