What’s a disabled, homeless ex-con to do?

By Michael R. Langbehn

I am writing because I am an inmate at Phillips State Prison in Buford. I read the Atlanta Journal-Constitution daily. I read an article a month or so ago dealing with inmate transitions back into society.

Before I go any further, please let me apologize for this paper I’m writing on. It’s actually a store list. But I’m an indigent inmate and I can’t afford to get indigent supplies because if I got indigent paper, it would (the cost) be deducted from my funds upon release, which is August 20, 2009.

Now back to why I’m writing. I’m 39 and I suffer from mental illnesses. I take medication daily. In fact, I take 900 mg. of Benedryl and 600 mg. of Dilantin (for seizures).

On Aug. 20, I will discharge my sentence. I will be given a bus ticket back to Columbus, a set of clothing to wear out of prison and a check in the amount of $25.

Please let me point out to you that I don’t have family to help me transition back into society, so therefore once I step off the bus in Columbus, I will be considered a homeless ex-con.

I hope to be able to find a shelter that will allow me to live there until my first Supplemental Security Income disability check is received, which will take six to eight weeks.

What scares me is that I have 13 years to be on probation and I have to report to the probation office within 24 hours of my release.

Let’s look at this. I’m mentally disabled, have no family nor home, will have $25 upon release and take medication daily.

Where is any available help for folk like myself?

Believe this, there are many just like me. Being a mental health inmate, we’re not allowed to go to a transitional center, halfway house or work-release program.

It’s pretty much when your sentence is over, you’re just put out to fend for yourself. Where is all the money that is allotted for the mentally ill from the government, state and federal and the taxpayers?

Myself, I never want to return to prison. I want to live the remainder of my life in society. I will live as a law-abiding citizen.

Is the public aware that as I, or people like myself, walk into a probation office and we tell them we’re homeless, we can be sent right back to jail and/or prison?

I seek help. I’ve been in and out of trouble the vast majority of my life. I’m tired. I used to live with self pride, which always landed me to get into trouble with the law.

Now, as I reach out for help that is told is available, I get no response. What does one do?

I hope you will consider publishing this. I also ask that you publish my name and address so that if anyone can tell me how to contact resources, or point me in the right direction, they can write me. I am allowed to receive mail from anyone.

With a lot of hope and determination to make it as a law-abiding citizen, Michael R. Langbehn.

Michael R. Langbehn is serving a seven-year sentence — for false imprisonment, credit card theft and impersonating an officer — at Phillips State Prison in Buford.