35+ Former Inmates Spoke About The Harsh Realities They Faced Upon Release
Being sentenced to prison is something that has a significant impact on anyone who does it, regardless of the circumstances that led to their incarceration in the first place. This is primarily attributable to the fact that being incarcerated is a completely different world than being a member of the public society; everything is different, and not in positive ways. When someone is eventually released from jail, you might be surprised to learn what aspects of their lives in the outside world actually take them by surprise for the very first time. This is because they have been isolated from those things for so long. The purpose of this list is to provide answers to the following questions: what did they forget, what did they forget to remember, and what surprised them the most?
Colorless
Many individuals, until they have been separated from the outside world by means of incarceration, are unable to fully appreciate how vibrantly colored the world actually is. People don’t realize how colorless prison really is; everything is a muted shade of gray, or white at best. People don’t realize how colorless prison really is. You fail to take into account the various shades of red, blue, green, yellow, and orange. You are completely unaware of the fact that a place as mundane as the supermarket stocks nearly every color that can be found anywhere in the world. Any person who had been living under a rock for those years would be taken aback or stunned by something like that.
Mobile Phones
Being locked up for even a few years can put an individual year behind in terms of culture and technology because of the rapid pace at which these fields advance. In comparison to how ubiquitous they are today, mobile phones were not nearly as widespread even a few short years ago, despite the fact that they are now practically indispensable.
Mobile Phones
Imagine the shock that someone would feel who entered the building when mobile phones were just starting to hit their stride and exited the building when mobile phones had become an integral part of almost every aspect of society. After missing everything while you were in jail, you probably shouldn’t expect to make that kind of cultural progress when you get out.
A Taste Of The Future
It’s an odd way to think about prison, but for those who are locked up, it really is kind of like being able to travel through time. You enter the workforce at a time when the Atari is enjoying tremendous success, and you leave the workforce when the PlayStation 2 is becoming widespread. That would represent a significant advance in technological capability for you, one that you would never have anticipated.
A Taste Of The Future
Jump to the Future
Of course, it’s a really slow form of time travel: maybe it’s more akin to being in a time capsule. Things change in the real world much faster than people realize, mostly because they aren’t removed from that constant change enough to notice it.
Talking Appliances
You enter jail when televisions are still large boxes, and you exit when they are large, flat, and you can have conversations with them. Some of them are even capable of responding to your questions and comments! It’s just another step into the future that a person who’s been incarcerated would take when they finally got their freedom.
Talking Appliances
You’ll find many people on this list who was the most shocked by the way technology advanced while they were incarcerated, and you’ll encounter them throughout this list. It really does advance at a rate that is significantly faster than the majority of people realize. After all, a new smartphone is released somewhere around once a year. Even newer automobiles!
Rollercoaster Ride
When you drive a fair amount, 15 miles per hour might not seem like all that much of a rush, but if you’ve spent a significant amount of time locked up and haven’t had access to a car in a while, even going 15 mph might seem like quite an accomplishment. It would be an exhilarating experience to move at any speed that is faster than a human being can run.
Rollercoaster Ride
At the very least, for a short period of time, it will be something that you have missed and that excites you. Of course, once you get used to it again, it might not last very long, but in the meantime, it will be something that excites you. Because you should always make the most of your freedoms once you get out, there isn’t much wrong with what you’re doing there.
Missing Water
When you haven’t spent time in jail, it’s difficult to imagine the kinds of things you’d miss about your typical life outside of the facility. You may not have given swimming a great deal of thought, but swimming is not permitted in correctional facility. No pools, no lakes, no oceans, nothing. Not even baths. Nothing but rain the whole time.
Missing Water
It is easy to comprehend why inmates would long to be able to immerse themselves in water and bask in the sense of liberation that doing so would bestow upon them. It’s one of those things that, if it weren’t for the fact that you couldn’t do it, you probably wouldn’t even realize how much you missed it. There are a lot of things in life that are similar to that.
No More Walls
Okay, so one thing about prison that is common knowledge is that it is enclosed by a great deal of wall space. However, until you are finally free of those walls, you won’t fully comprehend the extent to which those walls have influenced your viewpoint. You become almost accustomed to those walls, to the point where it feels strange not to have them around any longer.
No More Walls
It is easy to comprehend why a person who has been incarcerated would be taken aback by the absence of those walls, as well as by the absence of any other kind of barrier that prevents you from doing what you want when you want to do it. When one gives it a great deal of thought, one may come to the conclusion that it is rather depressing.
Prices Of Burgers
If there is one thing that is constantly shifting, it is the prices at which goods are sold. The cost of things consistently goes up. When you’re locked up, you won’t have access to any information like that. When you first enter, the prices are significantly lower than when you leave. You could even be tempted to believe that there is an error hidden away somewhere.
Prices Of Burgers
Another one of those things is that, when you are still engaged in the activities of society, you simply do not notice. Because of the slow and steady nature of the increase, you might not even notice the rising inflation rates. When you’ve been locked up and cut off from everything, you don’t have the luxury of doing things like that anymore.
Shampoo Choices
When you are locked up, you don’t have a lot of options to choose from. Everyone is aware of that fact. On the other hand, in many respects, there is actually no choice at all, particularly with regard to shampoo. You make do with what you have, and that’s pretty much it. When you put some thought into it, you realize that it sounds pretty rough.
Shampoo Choices
You were only used to having access to a limited number of options, but once you get out of jail, you realize that there are a lot more options available to you than you were previously aware of. There are times when that option actually presents a lot more challenges than you might anticipate it would.
Need A Company
Do you enjoy spending the night in the dark? Sleeping alone? It’s possible that you wouldn’t if you’d spent a good portion of your life sleeping with the light on and in close proximity to other people. If you haven’t tried sleeping in total darkness in a very long time, it’s possible that you’ll find it more challenging than usual.
Need A Company
Obviously, this is something that one could become accustomed to over the course of time, but in the beginning, it might be a little bit of a hassle to deal with it. No matter where you are, at least it shouldn’t be too difficult to locate a place to sleep that has some kind of illumination.
Adjusting
Even though it doesn’t change nearly as quickly as technological advancements or cultural norms, the landscape is also something that shifts over the course of time. If you are incarcerated for a significant amount of time, the environment to which you were accustomed prior to entering the facility may no longer be there when you are released. Everything evolves, from wooded areas to grassy plains to winding roads.
Adjusting
It has the potential to be a wake-up call. After all, when the landscape of your past is obliterated, you stand to lose a great deal. You never know when things will change, and you’ll miss something you used to have, so make the most of the opportunities you have right now to take in the world around you.
Waiting Patiently
You don’t take a lot of things with you when you go to jail or prison. Obviously, your loved ones and your friends, but also your vehicle. When you go away for an extended period of time, what happens to your car? It all depends on how faithful that vehicle is to you, I guess. In this instance, a car managed to cling on for an additional six years.
Waiting Patiently
It not only survived, but it also preserved its relatively good condition throughout the entire ordeal. To tell you the truth, that is pretty remarkable when you consider how frequently automobiles require maintenance to stay in good shape. Even more impressive is the fact that no one attempted to steal it or break into it.
Available Music
We have already covered topics such as streaming video and other similar topics, but not many people think about how much music has evolved over the years. People who were not accustomed to using music streaming services like Spotify and similar services would find them to be quite revolutionary.
Available Music
As was mentioned earlier, catching up on several years’ worth of technological development can leave many people bewildered by the rapid pace of change. Even if it’s in something as straightforward as music or entertainment, it’s still important. Before they were incarcerated, a significant number of people did not have access to Spotify.
Internet Became More Accessible For Everyone
What else shifts very quickly as a result of the passage of time? Of course, I’m talking about the internet. Very few people are aware that services such as AOL and Hotmail, along with others like them, were once extremely popular on the internet. It goes without saying that those sorts of things do not enjoy the same level of popularity on the internet as they once did.
Internet Became More Accessible For Everyone
Therefore, returning from incarceration at a time when companies like Google and Bing, along with who knows what else, are prominent would be quite the adjustment. As you might expect, the same goes for everything else that is associated with technological advancements. It would appear that prison desperately requires additional technological resources.
More Choices
When you are put in prison, you do not have a lot of options available to you. The majority of your time spent behind bars is governed by rules and regulations that have been established for you, and you are expected to follow them. When you finally get out, your capacity to make your own decisions may be impaired as a result. When it’s been years since you’ve picked out anything for yourself…
More Choices
…you are completely unaware of how many options are available to them in everyday life, which makes it all the more astounding. When you’ve gone for such a long period of time without having any options to choose from, it can be very challenging to make a decision when you have so many options available to you.
Finally Seeing Clearly
It’s probably safe to assume that the healthcare system in a jail or prison isn’t exactly the best there is. Having said that, a significant number of people either are unaware that they have issues or simply lack the financial means to address them while they are incarcerated. In most cases, there is nothing that can be done to help you if the issue is related to your eyesight.
Finally Seeing Clearly
Until you are out, of course. When you finally have the financial means to purchase a real pair of eyeglasses, you will be able to see clearly just how much you have been missing out on up until this point. We can only imagine how shocking it would be to suddenly have perfect vision after having been blind for such a long time.
No Longer Exists
There is no cap on the number of things that can develop in your absence when you are incarcerated for a significant amount of time—decades, even. In the case of this unfortunate individual, what shifted was his identity, or more accurately, the lack of identity he possessed on the advanced network of today. It’s almost as if he never existed thanks to the missing documents and severed ties to his family.
No Longer Exists
This goes to show that the passage of time is truly unstoppable when it comes to changing things, and it’s a terrible thing that could happen to any human being. Even your identity is not completely protected. Even your existence could be called into question.
Shocking Cityscape
When you are isolated from any sort of civilized location for an extended period of time, it is only natural that new buildings will begin to appear. You do not, however, really anticipate that an entire skyline will suddenly appear out of nowhere, do you? This is something that is possible if you are absent for more than 25 years.
Shocking Cityscape
And yet, while some locations experience significant amounts of change, others experience very little or no change at all. Some locations simply do not move at the same pace as other locations, either because they are unable to do so or because they simply do not want to. To tell you the truth, I don’t think that’s such a terrible thing to happen.
Something Must Be Wrong
Although we have touched on inflation in the past, you won’t have a good idea of how much things have changed until you evaluate current prices in relation to past levels. When this particular individual went to Burger King, he was shocked to discover that the price of his meal had increased to such an extreme degree that he thought there must be some kind of error.
Something Must Be Wrong
Having said that, it is important to realize that the value of a single dollar is significantly lower than it was in the past. This is the primary reason why prices have increased. Because of this, it is referred to as inflation rather than a term that is significantly more pejorative. Do you remember Grandad telling you all those stories about how much milk used to cost back in the day?
Missed The Shower
You are allowed to take showers while you are incarcerated. It’s pretty much the only way to maintain your personal hygiene in that area. If you haven’t been able to take a shower by yourself for a few years or more, the experience of finally being able to do so on your own might feel a little bit surreal at first.
Missed The Shower
And this is not even mentioning the carpet at all. You won’t truly appreciate the comfort of a carpet until you’ve lived in an apartment with only concrete floors for a few years. That can’t be easy on the feet, whether you’re wearing shoes or not! We can imagine that it would be difficult to maintain the cleanliness of the carpet in a prison, but jeez.
The Advanced Technology
To say that smartphones have become an indispensable component of modern life would be grossly understating the situation. They are put to use for a wide variety of purposes, including communication, entertainment, and the collection of information. It’s not that you can’t get by without one, but having one makes things a lot simpler and less stressful overall.
The Advanced Technology
If you went to prison before any of this became the norm, then getting out of prison would undoubtedly come as a surprise to you. When an individual returns to the real world and finds everyone staring at a screen, it must feel very unsettling to them because they just described the experience.
Riding Cars
It is simple to become accustomed to things that you go through on a daily basis. When you are away from something for an extended period of time, it is also simple to lose the familiarity that you once had with it. Consider cars: when you stop to think about it, being transported around in a metal box is kind of an unnatural way to move about.
Riding Cars
After being removed from that environment for such a significant amount of time, it is easy to understand how riding in a car could cause an individual to experience feelings of nausea or unease for a number of years after their release from prison. Being confined in such an atmosphere strips you of a great deal of your freedom and dignity.
Walmart Experience
It would not be an overstatement to say that the majority of people enjoy shopping at Walmart. After all, it’s a pretty normal part of society to do things like that. But try to picture yourself being ill at ease and uncomfortable there. Someone who hadn’t been in a large Walmart for a number of years could find themselves in a situation that doesn’t seem all that unbelievable.
Walmart Experience
Someone who has been compelled to live without it for an extended period of time will undoubtedly feel the burden of having access to that much space as well as that much possessions. At the very least, we have every reason to believe that this is the case after hearing the account of it from the person who was actually there.
Jaw-dropping Games
People may still play Minecraft a lot, but for the most part, they’ve moved on from the initial excitement and obsession with the game that it inspired back in the day. Of course, if you had never seen it before because you had been locked up for approximately sixteen years, it would probably be pretty mind-blowing for you to see it for the first time.
Jaw-dropping Games
When someone is finally released from prison, their knowledge of general culture and technology is almost certainly quite a bit behind what is currently applicable. This is something that we’ve mentioned before, but it bears repeating: prison is kind of like a time capsule. It is likely that correctional facilities could do a better job of educating their inmates on current events.
Time Doesn’t Stop
It may come as a complete surprise to you to see how different the people you knew before your time behind bars have become, depending on how much contact you had with the outside world while you were incarcerated. Some have moved to a different state, while others may no longer be alive at all, and everyone has undoubtedly grown older.
Time Doesn’t Stop
Heading back to your kids, your friends, or even acquaintances and seeing each of them having to live significantly different lives than when you left would be difficult for anyone to swallow. Coming back to your kids, your friends or even acquaintances would be especially difficult. Maintaining open lines of communication with the rest of the world is absolutely necessary in order to avoid scenarios like this one.
A Bit Rude
When someone behind bars believes that people in the outside world are more impolite than those they encounter every day, you know that things are in a bad place. If those who are behind bars can improve their behavior, then perhaps there is a problem with the way the rest of society interacts with one another that needs to be addressed.
A Bit Rude
The majority of people probably aren’t even aware of how rude everyday life truly is, which is the sole reason why reading this story is a little bit shocking. This is not to imply that everyone is rude, but even so, it is still a bit shocking. A little bit of self-reflection could go a long way toward solving that problem.
It’s All Different
The rules of the game in a prison setting are significantly distinct from those that apply in the outside world. Therefore, it is understandable that you would forget just how different things are on the outside if you were imprisoned in that environment for such a long period of time. Everything from what is considered acceptable behavior and communication to the things that can and cannot be said aloud varies.
It’s All Different
No matter what anyone says, reintegrating into society is a process that unquestionably involves a steep learning curve. People who have never been in that situation probably won’t be able to understand how challenging it can be to come to terms with even the most insignificant of issues at first.
What Is That Site?
YouTube is now an integral part of the general experience of using the internet. However, it did not occur in 1995. Someone who didn’t know about YouTube in 1995 would probably be astounded by how massive it is and how popular it is today, not to mention how much content can be found on YouTube in general. It’s absurd to see how the internet has developed over the past few years.
What Is That Site?
To those of us who have been here to witness it all unfold, it may seem like nothing out of the ordinary; however, for those who have been locked up for more than a decade, the change is likely to be quite monumental and extremely challenging to comprehend, taking everything into consideration.
No Payphones
In the not-too-distant past, it was possible to fill up your gas tank without having to pay for the fuel until after the fact. It’s been a long time since we could put our faith in other people to behave morally, but someone who spent a significant amount of time behind bars is probably going to be surprised to hear that.
No Payphones
And all of this is without even mentioning the actual cost of gas. Since those days, they have significantly increased, which is probably something that would come as a surprise to a formerly incarcerated person who has only recently been released from their sentence. It’s a shame that the cost of gas is only going to go up from here on out.
Where Are The Payphones
Payphones have been virtually extinct for a significant number of years at this point. On the other hand, if you went to jail before the payphones were replaced, entering a facility where there were suddenly no payphones anywhere would most likely be quite surreal for you. Even just a little bit creepy. This does raise some concerns regarding the length of typical prison sentences.
Where Are The Payphones
Of course, there are offenses that call for severe punishments, but you’d think there’d be some way to make sure inmates could keep up with the way the world around them is evolving. After all, being cut off from people and events for such an extended period of time can’t be good for your health.
DIY
These days, we do not give much thought to the existence of self-checkout lanes in retail establishments. Although they have only been used in a widespread manner for a relatively short period of time, we all find that we cannot live without them despite their relatively recent introduction. Having said that, a person who was not around during their initial implementation is likely to find them absolutely fascinating.
DIY
It is easy to forget how much progress our society has made in terms of convenience and technology at times, but this is something that should not be forgotten. A relatively short time ago, things were significantly different, and there was significantly less utility for each of us as citizens. This was not too distant in the past. Time moves quickly.
Smart Phones
You know, the concept of touching a screen has only gained any value or merit within the past few years, and that was only within the last decade or so. In the past, people would be perplexed by the concept of touching a screen in order to accomplish anything other than whacking it in order to get it to work. Today, however, people are accustomed to this concept.
Smart Phones
After serving one’s sentence, one discovers that touch screens have become an essential component of technology in almost every industry. It would come as quite a shock to learn that you didn’t need buttons or remotes for things nearly as frequently as you did in the past, but such would be the case.
Just One Wave
Do you ever stop to consider the fact that modern conveniences such as automatic sinks and paper towel dispensers might appear quite futuristic and cutting edge to people of a previous generation? The same can be said for people who have been incarcerated for an extended period of time. Something so straightforward might appear to be very cutting edge.
Just One Wave
Of course, you may very well be able to discover something similar in some correctional facilities, but if those facilities have insufficient funding, then it is highly unlikely that you will. There is a good chance that underfunded prisons are unaware of many technological advancements that are being made at other facilities.
Me Time
Do you have any idea what people really consider to be a given? the possibility of using the restroom in complete and utter seclusion at one’s own leisure. When you no longer have access to something, you won’t realize how much you value it until you no longer have it. Imagine for a moment that you are unable to use the restroom for as long or as privately as you would like when you do so.
Me Time
It goes without saying that the prospect of some inmates regaining access to that would likely excite and delight a great number of them. They probably wouldn’t even realize how much they missed it until they actually had the chance to do it again, and even then, they might not realize how much they missed it. Learn to be grateful for what you have.
Siri
Someone who went to prison during the time when phones were large, indestructible bricks must think it is the stuff of science fiction to have a small, sleek phone with a robotic female voice that can answer your questions and direct you around the web.
Siri
When we consider what phones are really capable of doing today, it is easy for even us to be amazed by what they can do and how much more they will be able to do in the future. In fact, some modern smartphones can fold in half, screen and all. Isn’t that absolutely bonkers?
Outside World Is Scary
When people who are incarcerated believe that the outside world is scarier than where they are, you should probably think about some of the problems that society faces. We are all aware that the news reports on terrifying events, but the reality is that this serves as a sobering reminder of just how terrifying and terrible things can actually be.
Outside World Is Scary
When everything is taken into account, we cannot fault anyone for the desire to seclude themselves in their own homes. Even if they spent a significant amount of time behind bars, it may have seemed like a better idea and a more reasonable course of action at the time than actually venturing out into the free world.
What’s The Arrow For?
The arrows that are displayed on stoplights are something that appears to be everywhere. There are some people who, despite having been incarcerated for a significant amount of time, claim to remember a time when stoplights did not have those arrows on them. We actually do not know when they first became the standard.
What’s Arrow For?
Taking all of this into consideration, we are genuinely interested in locating the time at which the majority of traffic lights began incorporating those arrows into their designs. Perhaps the unfortunate individual had been incarcerated for a particularly extended period of time. It’s the most logical explanation we can come up with right now.
Technology Is Surprising
These days, it’s possible to start cars without having to physically turn the key in the ignition. If you have the key fob with you and the vehicle, it is usually possible to start the vehicle by simply pressing a button. It is possible that someone who is used to the more traditional method of starting a car will find this method confusing.
Technology Is Surprising
At the very least, this is the kind of technology that can be quickly mastered by anyone provided they first familiarize themselves with it. A prisoner who has been isolated from the outside world for an extended period of time might be taken aback by the radical transformations that automobiles have undergone over the past few decades.
Stomach Got Weaker
When you go for an extended period of time eating food that isn’t particularly good, you might get the idea that the first thing you want to do when you get the chance is to eat something delicious as soon as you can. This is understandable given the circumstances. On the other hand, given what it is accustomed to, your stomach might not think that’s a good idea.
Stomach Got Weaker
If you truly want to be able to enjoy a particular kind of food, you are going to have to get used to eating it again first. When you have been fed improperly or with food of low quality for any significant amount of time, it may take some time, but that is the reality of the situation. Appreciate as much delicious food as you possibly can.
Dating Game
Sometimes the age you were when you entered prison is the single most important factor in determining what surprises you the most when you get out. If you start having significant relationships at a young age, you may not have had the opportunity to learn some important life skills first, such as how to date and maintain healthy relationships.
Dating Game
And as you might expect, since that is not the kind of subject that holds much weight in a correctional facility, it is not something that you will be taught there either. Coming out without knowing something that many people would consider to be common knowledge will undoubtedly come as a surprise to anyone.
Going To The Blockbuster
If you can remember what Blockbuster was like, then you’re getting up there in age. We’re going to tell you straight. In the context of today’s culture, you can be considered to be of an advanced age. Netflix is much closer to modern levels of streaming technology, despite the fact that the streaming service itself is technically quite old.
Going To The Blockbuster
It is likely going to come as a bit of a surprise to someone who went to jail before Blockbuster Video went out of business to discover that the business has been completely replaced by Netflix and other streaming services. Obviously, streaming is a lot less difficult and more practical, so this is a positive aspect.
What Happened To Legos?
When you spend a portion of your life behind bars, you never know what will come as a complete surprise to you. Even something as straightforward as Legos is a possibility in this scenario. Even Legos have evolved significantly over the years, becoming significantly more challenging to assemble than they were in the past. There may be some individuals who are taken aback by how much.
What Happened To Legos?
Having said that, we won’t be the least bit upset if, in the future, Legos become more sophisticated and enjoyable to play with. People with creativity can make fun things out of basic bricks, but having more interesting basic blocks really allows them to make even cooler things. Creativity can make fun things out of basic bricks.
Rules Changed
If you’ve been to jail before and been able to get out without getting caught, the chances are pretty good that you won’t want to go back there again. Having said that, you might be cautious about the things that have the potential to have that effect on you. Given everything that’s going on, we can’t say we blame anyone for being a little bit paranoid.
Rules Changed
It must be challenging to always have that constant reminder of one’s incarceration hanging over one’s head. On the other hand, it may be useful in convincing people that they should avoid getting into trouble whenever it is at all possible. It is not worth the risk to go to prison.
Futuristic Look
In the past, automobiles had a much more boxy and angular design. Just look at anything that was produced in the 1970s. However, the design of cars in general has undergone significant transformations since that time. Just look at anything that was produced after the year 2010. The important thing to remember is that somebody who isn’t accustomed to these kinds of designs might be taken aback by them.
Futuristic Look
After all, if you were to miss the gradual transition from one design philosophy to another, it is easy to understand why you would be taken aback by the sudden change. You would probably also wonder what else you had missed while you were disconnected from the outside world.
Exploring The Outdoors
People who are exposed to nature on a daily basis tend to have a poor appreciation for it. Imagine, however, that you were unable to view it for a period of many years. Imagine that the walls of the prison are visible to you. It is not surprising that some people would find nature to be the most startling aspect of their return, given that there are no mountains, no oceans, and no vast wilderness areas.
Exploring The Outdoors
All of these things—the hues, the sights, the sounds, and the odors—are things that anyone who has spent a significant amount of time confined in a jail or prison will be familiar with. People really ought to have a lot more gratitude for the things that they are able to experience on a daily basis.