World We Dare to Imagine post 3

 Penmate - The Free Help The Trapped

The unfortunate reality of today's world is that incarcerated people are ostracized from society. They are meant to feel like second class citizens. An former inmate might garner bad looks from those around them. They have a harder time adjusting to the world they left behind. What's worse is that through this constant judging and negativity that they are subjected to, former inmates are left to fend for themselves in a world that makes them feel that they do not belong there. In such circumstances, an inmate ends up falling back into the cycle of crime and punishment that got them there in the first place. In fact, over 60% of violent inmates recidivated for a new crime or violating their parole terms. This cycle keeps them trapped and what exacerbates this situation is that the US has for profit prisions. 

Penmate hopes to combat this endless cycle of incarceration by connecting violent criminals who turned away from a life of crime to those that are still stuck in the cycle. The mission of Penmate is to rehabilitate violent criminals by allowing them to connect with someone who has walked a mile in their shoes and makes them feel as if they belong in the world rather than shunning them away.

I got the idea for Penmate because of the justice system's treatment of inmates. They are held in a constant cycle because it is profitable for prison owners. The system does not focus on rehabilitation and instead chooses to punish the offender harder. The harsher punishment only causes the inmate to lash out more which worsens their situation. 

I believe that through a sense of connection with someone who has experienced what an inmate has, the offender has a lower chance of committing a crime because they will have someone they can go to and rely on in their time of need. In actual rehabilitation facilities, you are typically paired up with a sponsor. Someone you trust who can help you get through the process and make you feel as if you are not alone. I think by applying this same process to inmates might lower their chances of offending again. 

What makes this program unique is that it helps an inmate connect with someone they might never have crossed paths with. Crime, poverty, and all the other socioeconomic issues do not discriminate which means that a person who might not have interacted with another former inmate due to being in different social circles get the chance to speak to each other and share their experiences. By connecting on what brought them to committing the crime, the program helps inmates adjust better to society and tear down any preconceived notions or biases they may hold. 

This program can benefit from serious funding because prisons in the United States are overflowing because incarceration is easier than rehabilitation. But doing the hard thing makes life easier for those that are suffering. By investing in Penmate, AMDP will make a positive impact in this world which is one of its core beliefs in the 3 P's model. Making a better world for someone else is the first step in making the world better for everyone, including yourself. 

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