My Brother-in-law was Released in October

by Micheyle
(Utah)

I believe that one of the biggest contributors to success after release is to distance yourself from what got you in jail to begin with.

My brother-in-law has been in jail several times and he usually ends up in jail under very similar circumstances. He and his sister are alcoholics and they live together. When they drink, they love to fight and most of the time that ends up with the police being called by either my sister-in-law or concerned and bothered neighbors.

The mistake that my brother-in-law makes each time is that he always goes back to living with her and drinking with her. He doesn't get out of jail and try to figure out how he can make his life better and stay out. He gets out and does what's easiest - he goes to live with his sister because she gets housing help and he doesn't have to pay rent. I know that if he would just apply himself, get a good job that kept him busy, help with his drinking problem, and even some counseling because he's been an alcoholic for a long time, he'd do well.

There was one time, about two years ago that he was released from jail, and he moved away from the state, entered into a treatment program, started going to school, stopped drinking completely, got a job, and things went so well for him for about one year. Then, something triggered him and he left EVERYTHING and went back to his sister's.

Not two days after he got to his sister's house he ended up in jail. Obviously this shows that a person needs to change their lives and continue to work at it constantly - always being mindful of how they're living their lives and find ways to deal with things effectively if they feel triggered to repeat bad behaviors that put them in jail.