Statistics say the 1 in 3 African-Americans will go to jail or prison, and that translates to roughly one-third of the African-American male population being on some form of probation at any given time. This keeps a significant number of fathers, brothers and providers tethered to the criminal justice system because although you are free, you are still under the direct supervision of either the Courts or the Department of Corrections. As a result, you are not as free as you think and you have a diminished right to the constitutional protections enjoyed by someone who is not on parole or probation. Although you still have certain due process rights when your liberty is at stake, you are at the mercy of your parole officer or probation officer as to whether you will be placed in cuffs.
In all likelihood a felony conviction in most states diminishes your rights to do and possess certain things anyway, things like weapon possession or voting. While on some forms of supervision you have no right to refuse a search, own a dog, or even associate with a known felon or people who are listed as gang members. In other cases, depending on who your parole or probation officer is, you will have some very unrealistic restrictions and any technical violations will send you back to jail or prison.
It is important that when we find ourselves in these unfortunate situations that we inform ourselves of all the rules that govern us or we set ourselves up to be returned to the one place where we do not want to be, jail.
The key to surviving parole or probation, besides the obvious, is developing a plan and doing all the things it takes to execute that plan, that means finding a job, going to school, or even doing some volunteer work if you can not find a job right away. You can find many opportunities in which to volunteer, like a soup kitchen, a church, or local community centers. This not only allows you to give something back, but it also keeps you busy and allows you to build some bridges by networking in circles that you would not normally navigate.
This is a way to show your parole or probation officer that you have not only changed but you are doing things differently and you need resources to accomplish that change. Staying busy can benefit you because you never know who you may impress by being devoted to the volunteer work.
Your success depends on you being able to successfully navigate through the pitfalls set before you. It will not be easy, but it is doable. There are programs in place that offer help to get you started like the Safer Foundation which has its roots in providing resources to the formerly incarcerated. Roosevelt university also has a program that offers services for felons.
Take advantage of the resources that are offered and in the event they do not work for you, create your own program by doing volunteer work. Even consider visiting your neighborhood Alderman or your State Representative, persistence pays. Just remember you have to be willing to do work as a volunteer. Hard work gets you noticed for a chance to get employment or assistance with other outside issues. It mainly shows that all felons need a chance to prove themselves as changed individuals.
Curtis “Delayahu” Ferdinand
Roosevelt University
Life Skills Reentry Program
430 S. Michigan Ave., HCC402
Chicago, IL 60605
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