FIRSTHAND: LIFE AFTER PRISON Launches Monday, February 13, 2023
Beginning on February 13 and throughout 2023, Chicago’s WTTW’s FIRSTHAND: LIFE AFTER PRISON will look at the challenges facing returning citizens as they try to reintegrate back into society while carrying the stigma of a criminal record.
This 5-part documentary will focus on the firsthand perspectives of people facing critical issues in Chicago.
People can visit wttw.com/firsthand on February 13, 2023, to find more information on the project.
This series will follow five Chicagoans facing life after prison, one of which will be Paul S. who served a 15-and-a-half-years’ prison sentence for aggravated child molestation. According to the Chicagoan Defender, Paul had many challenges trying to reintegrate back into society with “challenges including the prohibitions placed on sex offenders, and the stigma that ‘once a sex offender, always a sex offender.’ Determined to move forward with his life, Paul has found religion and true love.”
I don’t mean to be a Grumpy Gus, but I don’t see the relevance to our cause here in Floriduh with this Chicago documentary. When getting out of prison, people need local, specific help and support, not distant, generic advice. I also couldn’t help but notice in the article that Paul is the only releasee with his crime annotated. At least they didn’t print his last name.
Perhaps it would be more helpful for this website to research and publish articles more related to what’s happening in Floriduh and the associated court districts, than other areas which will have no bearing on new legislation here. This website seems to be a duty of the Media Committee:
https://floridaactioncommittee.org/press/
If they are overtasked, more volunteers need to be actively solicited. Or perhaps the Outreach Committee could take this on? The OC doesn’t seem to have any mission or duties at present:
https://floridaactioncommittee.org/outreach-committee/
I saw a video on YouTube yesterday where DeSatanist is advocating the death penalty for “child rapists.” He also repeats his campaign speech opinion “they will reoffend.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QbvmJtn9ko
Specifically watch from 14:05-16:25.
JZ, this article was posted in hopes that some of the things that Paul learned about reintegrating back into society, regardless of how small they might be, could possibly help our population in Florida, particularly those recently released and desperately needing helpful advice.
FAC is always looking for people who can help with writing content. Will you be able to help us in the area of writing content for the court findings and new legislation that you mentioned?
If so, please contact us.
I don’t think anyone disagrees with JZ’s ideas, it’s just a matter of volunteer capacity and prioritizing our ideas among available volunteers. But as far as I can tell, everyone who DOES volunteer, often in anonymity. Including the Legislative Committee, which has helped put the brakes on bad legislation.
The Media Committee has done a good job getting information in the hands of journalists, sheriffs, and other influencers. Call them the Media Outreach Committee, if you will. They probably do additional things that I’m not even aware of. Probably every committee has a wishlist of things they’d like to do, if they just had the volunteers.
Not sure I agree that we’re missing crucial stories pertaining to Florida. The governor’s child rape proposal was posted on this site by individual members and may be an issue that FAC needs to handle delicately and with care.
I am interested in this from the standpoint that no matter where we are located our basic challenges are the same and hopefully this helps to change a few minds. I do wish, though, that when presenting these documentaries they would show more than one case of a sex offender that have different charges because of the wide scope of what can get a person in the registry.
Most activists wish their issue got more exposure rather than less. Our movement is no different. We just need to volunteer and/or donate all we can.
If you find true love, most of your problems are solved not matter what. That’s only if you and your spouse are each other’s favorite.
Where can i view life after prison?