If at First You Don't Succeed...

Michael tried really hard for 18 months.  He worked his way from day laborer to Union worker with a full time job and benefits.  He went from walking as his major form of transportation to owning his own truck.  He reconnected with a good many of his family members and was integrated back into the life of the family. But then he relasped.  Why?  Well, not because he didn't get good advice from church members who wanted to see him succeed, and not because he re-offended.  Michael just got over confident.  Like many ex-felons, Michael had no concept of money, at least not the idea of saving any of it for a rainy day.  So he bought a truck from a car lot that preys on those less savvy to the finance world, and he moved in with people whom he believed were his new friends.  Those friends drove his truck while he bought the gas, cashed his paycheck and skimmed some dollars off the top, and all in the name of friendship.  But Michael didn't understand that these actions were not those of friends.  How was he supposed to know what true friendship looks like?  Michael has spent most of his adult life in prison.  So Michael stopped going to his court ordered therapy group at the urging of his "friends," and that violated his probation and put him back in jail for another 100 days.  Michael is out on the streets again now.  He's served out his last sentence and is no longer on probation.  What will be different this time?  What sort of "friends" will find and use Michael next?  Until society takes responsibility for teaching, training, and assisting with re-entry, prison for Michael and others like him, is just a revolving door.