SEVERAL EX-CONVICTS RELATE THEIR THOUGHTS AND EXPERIENCES ON THEIR RELEASE FROM JAIL. BOTH VINNIE AND CHARLES WANTED TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF THEIR LIVES. THEY WANTED A FAMILY, A GOOD JOB, AND A NICE HOME. BUT IT WAS NOT THAT EASY FOR THEM. PRISON TAUGHT THEM HOW TO FUNCTION INSIDE OF A PRISON, BUT THEY WERE NOT GIVEN HELP TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. THEY WERE NOT ASKED IF THEY HAD A PLACE TO GO OR A FAMILY; THEY WERE NOT ASSISTED IN FINDING A JOB. BOTH VINNIE AND CHARLES WERE SCARED WHEN THEY WERE RELEASED. VINNIE'S PAROLE OFFICER WAS TOO BUSY TO HELP HIM FIND A ROOM, SO HE WENT BACK TO HIS OLD HANGOUTS. CHARLES TRIED LOOKING FOR A JOB, BUT HE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE AN INTERVIEW AND CONSQUNENTLY RECEIVED A NUMBER OF REJECTIONS. EVENTUALLY VINNIE FOUND A JOB AND MARRIED. BUT AFTER 2 YEARS, BOTH HIS JOB AND MARRIAGE WENT SOUR. CHARLES WAS SO NERVOUS THAT ALL HE DID WAS STAY IN HIS ROOM AND READ. FINALLY THE TWO OF THEM FOUND HELP AT A PLACE CALLED THE FORTUNE SOCIETY. THIS ORGANIZATION WAS DESIGNED TO HELP EX-CONVICTS BY PROVIDING COUNSELING AND PEOPLE TO TALK TO. FORTUNE MEMBERS DID NOT TALK ABOUT DRUGS OR STEALING; INSTEAD THEY WERE ABLE TO DISCUSS EDUCATION, SCHOOLS, AND JOBS. BOTH CHARLES AND VINNIE ARE NOW COUNSELORS AT FORTUNE SOCIETY, WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE HELP TO PEOPLE LIKE THEMSELVES. FOR RELATED DOCUMENTS, SEE NCJ 4865448656. (BAC)