- Mood:
This is a combination of two convos I had with friends. Their names have been removed for privacy.
Libby: man, I just don't get the jail system down here AT ALL
Friend 1: huh?
Libby: they release prisoners
Libby: they put them literally on the street
Libby: these people have NO idea where they are
Libby: we just had a 19 year old kid come in
Libby: wanted to know how far he was from Houston
Libby: I told him, and he nearly collapsed
Libby: wanted to know the name of the town
Libby: he had no money
Libby: no way to contact anyone
Libby: nothing
Friend 1: sucks
Libby: I let him use our phone to call his family
Libby: and they are so broke, they couldn't send him any money
Libby: after 10 minutes on the phone with them
Libby: he broke down in tears
Libby: he had absolutely no where to go
Libby: and this happens a LOT
Friend 1: sounds like that jail wants to set people up to go back into crime.
Libby: yes, it does
Libby: it makes me sick
Friend 1: not just that one, but the system
Libby: this kid was so broken, <name removed>
Libby: I can't even tell you
Libby: and Boss 2 was havin' no sympathy for him
Libby: so I finally said, "I'll be back in 10 minutes"
Libby: took the kid down to 183, gave him 40 bucks and told him where the cigarettes and the hotel were.....and to get himself a calling card and/or a bus ticket
Libby: he couldn't stop crying the whole time
Friend 1: sad
Libby: I'm just sick to my stomach over it
Friend 2: god...that's terrible!
Libby: it happens ALL the time here
Libby: we are right next to two jails
Libby: and they always wander in here
Libby: wondering where they are
Friend 2: ugh
Libby: Boss 2 thinks I'm an idiot for helping him, I'm sure
Friend 2: they haven't done that here for at least 40 years
Libby: he was giving me the "opposing argument" (his dad is a lawyer) about the whole deal
Friend 2: <State> Penal system puts them to work and they earn money in a savings account to soft-land them upon release
Libby: I think most of these come from the county jail
Friend 2: the opposing argument being punishment-fits-the-crime? Maybe it does, but it's not in society's best interest to keep the recidivism rate high.
Friend 2: ah, I don't know how those are handled around here
Libby: no, opposing argument being the county is broke, and we can't be helping every one of the out.....and yea....they had it coming
Friend 2: wow, such uncreative thinking
Libby: heh
Libby: I am just sick, <name removed>
Friend 2: I bet!
Libby: this kid couldn't stop weeping
Friend 2: I'd be heartbroken seeing that
Libby: he family refused to help him
Friend 2: and very, very angry
Libby: or were unable to
Libby: not sure which
Friend 2: I consider prison a debt to society. You pay it, you're clear, as far as I'm concerned. Where, oh where did we come to believe that it was the unforgivable sin? Libby: the kid wanted to know how he could pay me back the money
Libby: and I told him not to worry about it
Libby: but he kept asking
Libby: and so I said, "Sometimes it's the strangers that get us through things in life"
Friend 2: yes
Libby: "So, you help someone else out. That's how you can pay me back."
Libby: He quieted down
Libby: nodded
Libby: took a deep breath and shook my hand and thanked me
Libby: I just hope it's enough
Friend 2: I do too
Friend 2: good answer
Libby: thanks
Libby: *is still a little nauseated
Friend 2: *offers some 7up and a Horatio Alger book
Libby: One of that kid's cigarettes would be tasty about now
Friend 2: I'm smoking my pipe, you're welcome to take some hits off it
Libby: thanks
Friend 2: of course
3 moans.
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