The Sometimes Slippery Slope Of Parole In Texas

[Firebrand]

He was sitting across from me in the lobby as we both waited to see our parole officers yesterday morning around 10 a.m. and I could tell from the minute he spoke his first words to me that something was wrong in his world. He had that all familiar look in his eye that’s a mixture of tension, uncertainty and a sense of “it’s over” all wrapped up in one. He knew they were going to arrest him that morning and he was probably right. He hadn’t attended the 3 classes for….something… that was required of him and along with that he hadn’t reported at all last month. I don’t know what happened after that. I went to the back before he did to report and when I came back out to leave, he was not there. Before my P.O. came to the lobby to get me he said “Well…I’m ready. I’ve packed all my stuff up and got everything taken care of before I came up here so, I’m good to go.” His situation is a bit more complicated than the average parolee due the fact that he’s an out of state transfer from up north in Colorado and so it may be that he’s on his way back there but, I can’t really say for sure. He looked to be sliding off the slippery slope of parole. Still, he knew what he had to do to keep standing and it not come to this. I’ve been in his shoes before, too. I know what it’s like to slip or lose your footing when things look to be getting away from you where parole is concerned. I know too, what it’s like to slide completely off of the slope back into prison and to do it for several years; not just a couple.

Later that day I learned that a friend of mine on SISP like me, was moved to the Avalon House here in Dallas or what used to be called the Wayback House this past Friday. He got out 6 months ago after pulling 20 + years on a robbery charge and he had as good of an attitude as anyone could want. He had been at his parents home here in Dallas and everything looked to be a real blessing in his life. At some point in the recent past though, he learned that the city condemned his folk’s house due to faulty electrical wiring which resulted in a fire occurring whereby the Fire Dept was called out. With the SISP condition requiring that a telephone line be installed where he stayed, it put him in jam that left him in a situation that by last Friday he was sent to the worst halfway house to be found in all of Dallas; it’s a state approved half way house and those tend to be the bad ones of the whole lot. You’re not allowed to have a cell phone or access to the Internet when you’re in one of those places and so….he is still standing on the slope of parole, but he’s slipped back down the hill just a bit. One day it’ll get better if he keeps on hanging in there, but at the moment he’s in a worse place than the one he knew and it’s not all that much different from being in prison on some days from what I’ve heard said about the Avalon House.

Another friend of mine was recently assigned a new parole officer a few days back. When they met the first time there at the parole office, the new P.O. came at him with that “pit bull” mentality of if you fail to do this or refuse to do that I’ll lock you up. Much like the guy who came home after pulling 20 + for a robbery, he’s kept a good attitude about him and done the right thing in the 5 months that he’s been home. He made the comment to me “These were the type of parole officers in the past that never would see me again if they talked to me like that. I just wouldn’t show up anymore, but I’m going to do the right thing no matter what, this time.” He’s standing the way he needs to on the slippery slope of parole here in Texas, but….some times when you wind up with a P.O. that looks to be the re-incarnation of Attila the Hun, it’s almost like someone is trying to shove you or intentionally cause you to fall down.

Those scare tactics used by some parole officers are enough to make you realize that freedom is just one bad decision away from a person being put back in jail, prison, or ISF. Some of us are truly afraid to consider that ever happening. Some of us have been though the revolving door that leads to prison and then back out here so much in the past that while the thought of going back is not a pleasant one, there are no more surprises. Still, others have no intention of doing anything where parole is concerned except to violate it when they get out. I know of one man that went on the run for 2 years while he lived in an apartment complex that was within 50 feet of the parole office he was supposed to report to. He used to see the parole officer he’d been assigned to across the way in the parking lot from time to time, but…the P.O. had only seen him once and had so many people on his case load that he never recognized him. So, go figure. He wound up getting caught anyway as is most often the case and ended up pulling 2 years his next trip down.

You often hear people say “well as hard as it is out here, it beats being locked up” and no one would ever deny that, ya know? Still, the comfort zone that some of us would like to have or assume that they will have where parole is concerned can be elusive on some days. Those 20 minute office visits where you’re quickly in and out, everyone is cheerful, and life is good are what we live for where parole is concerned. Still, there are other times, other people and other situations we deal with that are a reminder of just how much parole and the prison life can be closely related. Intimidation, unwarranted hostility, displays of power & authority on the part of parole officers, and changes in policy at the drop of a hat all have their place within the realm of parole. There are times when parole is like standing on a slippery slope where one minute the ground is stable and next time it’s all you can do to keep your footing. Many times, it’s a matter of a parolee being in the wrong that causes the situation to become bad. Some people also get a kick out of making other people sweat whom they have power over. Which ever the case may be, it’s the life we live out here and what we all see if we keep reporting long enough and keep our freedom.

Thoughts from Firebrand

[missmybebe]

Wow!!! I REALLY felt as if I were there w/ you! I understand!!! I'm on 4 yrs probation.. Feels like my own prison. I'm slowly narrowing my friends down to keep myself from trouble. Talk about serious mind control!!! Always good to hear I'm not alone..ya know! Again.... GREAT post!

[OnTheWater]

Thanks for sharing Firebrand!!