I’ve been reading and hearing a lot about the difficulties we face when being released back into the free-world. This is a subject I make a point of keeping up with, as well as a topic I do my best to stand on middle ground when thinking about it. This is the only way I can stand in the shoes of both sides.

I must remember that corrections in this country is a big business and housing individuals is their service/product. Each town that has a prison is mostly operated by residents of that area, and those residents pay their bills with the income they earn at those prisons. The merchants of that area also pay their bills from the sales these prison employees make. Prisons are what make these economies thrive. Without prisons, where would these folks earn a living?

With that being said, I will say from the perspective of one who has spent just under a decade in prison: Had I not made the decision that I knew could possibly ostracize myself from a free-society, I would not have ended up a spoke in the wheel of the booming business of corrections.

There are approximately 2.2 million incarcerated individuals in this country. There are approximately 440 million citizens in this country. That says to me that there are far more people in this country not locked up than incarcerated. More folks are making the right decisions than the wrong decisions.

I should feel awfully shameful if I find myself in the approximately half a percent of the population.

No one told me anything was going to be easy, nor did anyone say it would be so hard. But it's not only difficult for myself, but it's also hard and not easy for every other citizen in this country, yes, even those who make the right decisions on a daily basis...

I practice the next right thing. I don't reveal my past to everyone, but I also never forget where I've been. I have no doubts there is no one to blame but the reflection in my mirror. I am not a victim... #Corrections #Business #America #Decisons #Victim

Corrections was an amazing career as worked my way up through all the ranks up to the highest ranking uniform staff , Senior Captain, 22 years on the Corrections Emergency Response Team, ( CERT ) and working my way through the ranks and being Appointed as the State CERT Commander, and being on the Honor Guard for 19 years. So the one thing needed throughout my career was funding. In corrections, you learn to make the best of what you have and move forward with your objectives.

Former K-9 handler and E-Squad team leader. Also Field training officer, Transport officer and QRT instructor. I am qualified with the following weapons: Remington 870 shotgun, AR-15 rifle and Glock 9mm handgun. I also hold a lifetime CCW permit and frequently target shoot using multiple targets. Am in the process of setting up my own dog training business as well. I have been turned down by two Casinos that were looking for security officers and also by Universal Protections Service. Not sure what it takes to be a security officer, but I am either over qualified or I am a threat to some supervisors.