Sunday, September 15, 2013

Murder, Love, Life after Prison

With thanks to Will Storr

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/15/ben-gunn-murder-love-life-after-prison

8 comments:

  1. Great article. Obviously horrid to hear the trauma going on in your personal life. At the time of, and before your release you were very confident of you ability to adapt into the outside world. I would guess that the classes you took before you left on how to adapt to life after prison weren't ideal. Do you think they could be altered to help ex-cons come to a more clearer understanding ? Its probably something one just has to experience and there is no easy answer.

    ps Better with the shorter beard me thinks

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    1. JAmes S: I thought it was rather sweet that you imagined that there were "classes" to help Ben cope with release. Ha Ha. The article highlighted the damaging effect of long term imprisonment, I think, especially one that started in childhood. Unlikely to happen today. I thought it showed how ill prepared Lifers are for the real world - survival, life, relationships - and how little support there is out here for them post release. It is a testament to Ben's inner strength that he is still standing and starting to take control; take the reins of his life at last. Long term imprisonment is damaging as it deprives people of that opportunity, but Ben hung on to a certain amount of control by his non-compliance and this helped see get him through it and keep him sane.

      I agree about the beard!

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  2. I hope that in time you will be able to leave the 14-year-old behind, as well as the person prison forced you to be. You obviously have enormous strength. But it does take time and patience, and self-forgiveness. You aren't the child you once were. Classes about rehabilitating yourself can only go so far -- for anyone. The real work goes on inside you. Believe it or not, even people you see on the street, who appear to you to have it all together, may be going through the same slow, painful process, for their own reasons. Welcome to a very flawed human race.

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  3. Looks like some of the 'usual suspects' have turned up in the comments there; and showing no more reading comprehension ability than they show here.

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    1. Why do you need to imply as you do that you have a higher reading ability than the other two contributors? Seems sad to me.

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  4. I suggest you try reading what I wrote again. *Carefully*...

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  5. Really good article - and you may not realise it but it helps others (like me) to understand what happened to our family following the release of our family member from a prison sentence. We have spent time adjusting to a new life and our ex-prisoner member is taking longer to adjust. Keep going Ben, listen to the advice from Catana above - you have done much to help others and must make sure that you look after yourself too.

    Society has a duty to help you (and all other ex-prisoners) to live a fulfilling life and be a positive member of our society so do not be put off by 'anonymous remarks' - I sometimes wonder if all these anonymous people are so perfect that they are entitled to criticise/belittle others.

    Keep strong Ben and please let us know how you really are. xx



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  6. "I'm imploding"? I'm worried about you, Ben. We've never met,
    but your blog has moved me to tears more than once.

    You're an inspiration.

    As Mary says: "Keep strong."

    - First-time commenter, long-time reader

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