Life Under Observation: The Hidden Struggles of Coming Home
Observation. It’s a simple word, yet it underpins so much of our daily lives. From the moment we step into a shop, board a bus, or even walk down the street, we’re under the eyes of others, whether we realise it or not. This is a reality we’ve all come to accept, a necessary part of navigating the world.
But for some, observation takes on a far more intense and stressful form. Imagine you’re fresh out of prison, ready to rebuild your life, but with release comes a slew of license conditions that rule your every move. While these conditions are put in place for risk management, for those under such scrutiny, observation is not just a part of life – it’s a road they must tread carefully to avoid instantly going back to prison.
Most people in the communities around us don’t have to give this a second thought, and if asked about people being released from prison often reply with some variation of “well, I just hope they’ve learned their lesson and are willing to be a better person from now on”. In reality though, it’s not about willingness to be a better person, I think it can be closer to desperation. Desperation not to break the rules, and for help on understanding the rules they’ve not to break.
Take, for example, an everyday task such as buying milk for your tea or coffee. To the average person, this is a simple errand. Yet, for someone with a license condition prohibiting entry into any licensed premises – such as shops that sell alcohol – this task could mean the difference between freedom and a return to prison. If the shop you enter happens to sell alcohol, you’re in violation. This harsh reality highlights a crucial issue: those who are released from prison often face a daunting maze of regulations.
There’s a challenge in understanding these rules. But there’s also a significant challenge of feeling constantly under a magnifying glass. When every action is monitored, and every misstep could be catastrophic, the chance to rebuild and reintegrate into society diminishes. The very systems designed to support individuals often exacerbate their struggles, creating an environment where second chances are fraught with anxiety and fear.
Earlier this year, a small group of us came together over four weeks to explore these issues more deeply. We were a diverse lot: some with firsthand and ongoing experience of the challenges of post-release life, others had never been directly involved with the criminal justice system, and some fell somewhere in between. Supported by musician Louise McCraw, our thoughts were pulled together into a song titled “Life Under Observation”.
As a society, it’s crucial we recognise the weight of observation and its impact on individuals striving to rebuild their lives. Some of this is captured in this reflection by one of the collaborators in this song. If we truly want people to thrive after prison, we need to offer more than just hope. ‘Life Under Observation’ is more than just a song; it’s a call to action. It urges us to reconsider how we view and treat those who are trying to make a fresh start. It’s about acknowledging the hidden struggles and offering a more compassionate path forward.
We would also recommend listening to this poem, ‘License’. This features in a collection of poetry written by members of our Unbound community alongside poet Pádraig Ó Tuama. This collection was released as a book, titled ‘A Casual Kindness’ – which you can find out more information on here.