Both states that I have lived in as an adult (CA & CO) have a myriad of programs available to prisoners ranging from education (both GED and college level), occupational training, etc. Unfortunately most of them choose to not take advantage of those programs. Prisoners who make the choice to turn their lives around and succeed upon their release typically do, but most of them choose to return to their former lives because they don't want to deal with the hastle of being responsible upstanding citizens.
I do agree that it is more difficult (not impossible) for ex-cons to find work, but those who are determined to succeed usually do. I work for a company that has employed countless ex-cons over the years, many of them hired while they were in a halfway house, but by far the majority of them haven't worked out for long because they chose to fall back into old life patterns that got them into trouble in the first place.
I'm not saying you can't do any of that, I got my G.E.D, then got a little time back tutoring others.. But once home, on parole, we don't have the same opportunities, so you not only have to do the time, but have to drag this with you the rest of your life. I wouldn't mind the government keeping record, but after ten years or so, it should be dropped from public, but hey, if I knew Clinton as governor I could be pardoned right ? It's all a crabs in a barrel, I've had jobs worked 60 hr weeks 20hr overtime, after the job was done though, they tried moving me even further out over a hour, when I was already waking up at 5:30, for the same money, some people get home and have a brother or father, or friend to get them connected .. All depends on what God puts in front of them, and what's on their mind, I was still dealing, nothing really bothered me, had money, since being saved though, I'm not going to say I've tried everything, but go wake up at 5am to sit at a temp service for people to start packing in and then watch them all leave to go on a job, because they've been there longer... The struggle is real.. I've had plenty of wild situation though in between, almost went in and bought a place that spins blood, numbers weren't right, fell through, almost went in on car biz with a friend, who already owns a collision center, didn't work out, a lot of strange stuff, my life's anything but normal at this point, I eat good though, I know something will happen good, it's in Gods hands, I know what I'm not going to do though, and that's return to my vomit. I could have money, that's not important to me anymore, I don't live my life to make money, I live to survive and make sure ends are met, I'm not selling who I am for nobody, and I'm not conforming to this world, I've got what money can't buy, I've been approached and I know who I am, God will work it out, it is as it's supposed to be,
As for Mike here though, it's over... and that's just the way it is.