Inmate’s question: Once free, where do we go to live>

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 6, 2008

By William K. Handy
For the Salisbury Post
In recent letters to the editor, concerned citizens have given voice to the fears of a proposed halfway house along Ellis Street, in the letter writers’ neighborhood. I had read the original article in the Post about the placement of the halfway house (House of Hope) for former inmates, the fears of the local community, the potential for harm and the good it can do.
To all those involved in this proposed action, and other actions that are sure to follow due to 39,000-plus (and growing rapidly) incarcerated in this state, and the statistic that 1 in every 4 people have someone they know involved with the law, this is my concern and rhetorical question: Just where would you have us go?
There isn’t a neighborhood in this state that doesn’t have a school, day care, retirement home, playground or something that people do not want in proximity to ex-offenders.
What would you do with us who are going to come back to society? I’m sure that everyone has an off-the-cuff answer to this, but are there any realistic and viable solutions to deal with the inevitability that people who have offended are coming back? Some of these people have the potential to offend again ó some of them will ó but all have some potential to live sane, rational lives in a community.
My experience with the law is quite intimate and extensive, yet in my 20-plus years’ experience, I’ve never seen lawmakers and council members make communities safe, regardless of circumstances. Then again, I’ve read about and know of many communities that have put fear and circumstances aside and tackled issues with good attitudes and commitments to their neighborhoods. They are a shining example of what could be.
It seems to me that this community has a unique opportunity to jump into this “seemingly” hazardous development project, put aside fears, roll up its sleeves and help these men (and possibly women?) re-integrate successfully back into society. Is that not what real “communities” are about ó helping others to live better by the power of a group?
Even if that proposition is too horrendous or dangerous to pursue, consider this: Even though a halfway house is in the community, at least you have a good idea where the ex-offenders are and what they should be doing. It’s those current offenders who masquerade as sons, nephews, brothers, cousins, friends and even neighbors that might need more attention. I would wager those ones will tear apart a community much faster and deadlier than a halfway house.
– – –
William Handy is an inmate at Piedmont Correctional Institution serving a life sentence for murder.