25 Long-Term Prisoners Who Were Released Reveal What Shocked Them Most On Their Return To Society
Societal changes that shocked people who were released from a long-term prison sentence.
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Reintegrating into society after a period of incarceration is rarely easy. Being confined to a limited environment can profoundly affect a person’s perspective, mental capacity, and adaptability.
An online thread recently delved into this topic when a Redditor asked, “People who served a long time in prison, what shocked you when you got out?” While we can predict some of the challenges that come with returning to freedom after a long-term sentence, many are difficult to imagine. Former prisoners shared the societal changes that stunned them most upon release. Here are some of the most striking culture shocks they described while adjusting to life outside.
Image source: OvechkinCrosby, Mengliu Di
I had an uncle who was in for a long time. I didn’t know him before. I asked him this question and he said the stars and gone are it’s never night anymore.
Image source: Turnips4evr, Ammy K
I worked in community corrections in the past. I had one client who was released after 65 years' incarceration. He thought cars were hideous, especially the dashboards, and would not shut up about this. He said he felt naked walking around in public without a hat, and was shocked that no-one wore suits any more. He had forgotten about mosquitoes and was also mad about that. He did eventually buy a modern pickup and a smartphone, and immediately got into Candy Crush and Slots.
Image source: NoPoet3982, Ron Lach
Oh! Oh oh! I've never been in prison but I interviewed a guy who had been there for 40 years. He was struck by the kindness of people outside the prison.
He didn't have any idea how to work a cellphone and had to ask someone to dial the number for him. He'd seen them on TV but didn't know how they worked. He'd never heard of Facebook, but his daughter got him on there. He didn't know what a podcast was.
They gave him a lousy apartment next to the freeway and he told me that he loved just listening to the freeway sounds. He had an appreciation for life that was beyond anything I've ever witnessed.
Image source: Bhr4nd_Dawn, Ravi Kant
My family was playing “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” when I arrived home. It hit me hard, I felt very disappointed in myself for what I’ve done yet at the same time I felt incredibly grateful for the gift of a family that hadn’t given up on me.
Image source: MiserlyOutpost, Murat IŞIK
How fast everything moved, especially the cars. And everyone staring at their phones, like another world.
Image source: madnhain, MART PRODUCTION
I was out maybe 2 days. At Home Depot getting tools to start work. I was walking to the register and a theft sensor went off. I hit the floor, looking around to see where the fight was.
Image source: ftmech, cottonbro studio
I got out 2008 shortly after the first iPhone was released and Facebook was picking up steam. Also there was an Ed Hardy fad which I didn't understand.
The idea that you can do everything, watch TV and movies on your tiny phone blew my mind.
Then people want to post up their photos of their lives for the world to see blew my introverted mind.
Driving again for the first time gave me anxiety because I wasn't used to being around so many people. Being in crowds gave me anxiety. I did not like people standing behind me. Prison made my introversion worse. I didnt remember it being so bad.
Image source: EffectiveOld7960, Alexander Buzurnyuk
I did just under 2 years, I remember grass and trees being like over the top green. Everything has more color when you stare at cinderblock walls all day.
Image source: Additional_Mine_9099, Edmond Dantès
There was a few things that really caught me off guard, but I think this one thing really has me messed up, back in the days no one spoke of what side of the fence they were on or who they voted for, now the wear their parties proudly and get tattoos to rep them. Its so funny and hella weird at the same time. I can't explain it.
Image source: Tiggbitt, Ketut Subiyanto
I work in the prison system in NC and work with inmates all day every day, and I've heard some crazy stories from a lot of these guys and most of them don't know how to function on the outside after being locked up for so long, they literally become institutionalized. I know one guy who's getting out in about 5 months and he's been locked up since 1985. The guy has never been in a Walmart that's how long he's been locked up. He's genuinely scared of getting out but he's got some support on the outside and already a job lined up so hopefully he makes it. But it makes sense because you've been told when to eat when to wake up for 20+ years and then one day you have freedom and almost don't know how to act.
Image source: dhoo8450, Timur Weber
Never been but have worked with (as in, have had clients) plenty of people who have. Had a fella last year share with me that he had been in prison for around 10 of the 12 years betweens ages 19-31. Thing that stood out most from that conversation was him saying that he feels constantly paralyzed by all of the decisions he needed to make when out of prison. Basic things like deciding what to eat for dinner were completely overwhelming for him because he didn't have to make any of those decisions whilst inside. He was back in prison a very short time after that conversation .
Image source: glorious_fruitloop, Çağrı KANMAZ
There are interviews with Charlie Manson on this subject referring to times before he was permanently incarcerated where he says the thing that stood out to him the most was the level of environmental destruction that increased with each of his releases from prison.
Image source: PocketOos, Sanket Mishra
Been out nearly 1 years from an 11 years sentence,and i struggle just leaving the house,like a kind of pending doom feeling.
Image source: Sweet-Ad9366, Andrea Bova
The variety. I went into a store and when I went over to the ice cream section and saw 100 different flavors I was like hell yeah! Obviously I know there are a ton of flavors but seeing all the variety was still shocking. We ate the same cookies for 10 years.
Image source: hottie-tiny, Ketut Subiyanto
My unc server 15 years. When he got out, he was shocked by how many new faces he's seeing in our area not knowing it was the little kids that on the block that grew up.
Image source: whatyouneed, Helena Lopes
I haven't been in prison but one of my friends was in for almost 30 years. He didn't understand computer basics. He couldn't write an email, couldn't open a word document. Probably stuff we all consider second nature. What always made me the most sad was how he never fully understood how easy it is to get your information ( banking, identity, etc) stolen.
Image source: Sparkledreamsz, Tuğba Sarıtaş
I miss newspapers.
Image source: SerialChiller0809, Marcia Salido
A coworker of mine, her brother was in prison for the past 10 years and recently got out - he was stunned when he saw how many different coffee creamers there are now. He lost his mind when he saw the Snickers flavor.
Image source: barefoot_yank, Krista
I watched a news show that followed a guy that had just gotten out of prison after a multi decade stay inside. When asked this very question he replied "they have peanut butter with jelly in the same jar". Apparently this blew his mind.
Image source: CreativeArgument4792, RDNE Stock project
The way people are just so casually disrespectful to random people. I did almost 10 years in the Canadian federal system most of it before cameras were a thing. And you know what just like kids didn't talk back when spanking was a thing, q punch in the mouth will make a grown man respect his neighbour's quickly. Still trying to unlearn that response.
Image source: cristeaeric, Kindel Media
I didn’t do a super long stretch, but even a few years felt wild coming back. Phones shocked me the most, everyone staring at screens nonstop and barely making eye contact. Prices too, like everything cost way more than my brain remembered. That adjustment part stuck with me longer than I expected.
Image source: CockroachLate8068, Gustavo Fring
Star Trek and tv sci-fi. I was a fan of The Next Generation and it's peers, DS9, Voyager, Babylon 5. I went in soon after and now the new stuff I got no idea what is going on anymore. I can't watch any of it.
Image source: Superb_Newspaper_121, Guillaume Meurice
Not me, but my uncle did 14 years. He said the most shocking thing wasn't the iPhones or the prices—it was how careless everyone is.
He told me, 'In there, if you stop looking around for 5 seconds, you get hurt. Out here, people walk down the street staring at glowing screens, completely blind to the world. They walk like they are invincible.'
Even after being out for a year, he still can't sit with his back to a door, and watching people walk blindly into traffic while texting gives him genuine anxiety.
Image source: AdhesivenessOk5194, Keira Burton
I didn’t do a “long time” compared to others I met along the way, but 2019-2022.
What made it crazier was Covid happened during this time. So i left the world one way and came back and some things were drastically different.
I’m also still to this day shocked by how much social anxiety that time created in me. It’s very difficult for me to get out of a cell mentality sometimes.
Image source: DramaticEar7488, Kampus Production
Grocery stores and how close people stood behind me, even someone from a different race.
#1
Image source: OvechkinCrosby, Mengliu Di
I had an uncle who was in for a long time. I didn’t know him before. I asked him this question and he said the stars and gone are it’s never night anymore.
#2
Image source: Turnips4evr, Ammy K
I worked in community corrections in the past. I had one client who was released after 65 years' incarceration. He thought cars were hideous, especially the dashboards, and would not shut up about this. He said he felt naked walking around in public without a hat, and was shocked that no-one wore suits any more. He had forgotten about mosquitoes and was also mad about that. He did eventually buy a modern pickup and a smartphone, and immediately got into Candy Crush and Slots.
#3
Image source: NoPoet3982, Ron Lach
Oh! Oh oh! I've never been in prison but I interviewed a guy who had been there for 40 years. He was struck by the kindness of people outside the prison.
He didn't have any idea how to work a cellphone and had to ask someone to dial the number for him. He'd seen them on TV but didn't know how they worked. He'd never heard of Facebook, but his daughter got him on there. He didn't know what a podcast was.
They gave him a lousy apartment next to the freeway and he told me that he loved just listening to the freeway sounds. He had an appreciation for life that was beyond anything I've ever witnessed.
#4
Image source: Bhr4nd_Dawn, Ravi Kant
My family was playing “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” when I arrived home. It hit me hard, I felt very disappointed in myself for what I’ve done yet at the same time I felt incredibly grateful for the gift of a family that hadn’t given up on me.
#5
Image source: MiserlyOutpost, Murat IŞIK
How fast everything moved, especially the cars. And everyone staring at their phones, like another world.
#6
Image source: madnhain, MART PRODUCTION
I was out maybe 2 days. At Home Depot getting tools to start work. I was walking to the register and a theft sensor went off. I hit the floor, looking around to see where the fight was.
#7
Image source: ftmech, cottonbro studio
I got out 2008 shortly after the first iPhone was released and Facebook was picking up steam. Also there was an Ed Hardy fad which I didn't understand.
The idea that you can do everything, watch TV and movies on your tiny phone blew my mind.
Then people want to post up their photos of their lives for the world to see blew my introverted mind.
Driving again for the first time gave me anxiety because I wasn't used to being around so many people. Being in crowds gave me anxiety. I did not like people standing behind me. Prison made my introversion worse. I didnt remember it being so bad.
#8
Image source: EffectiveOld7960, Alexander Buzurnyuk
I did just under 2 years, I remember grass and trees being like over the top green. Everything has more color when you stare at cinderblock walls all day.
#9
Image source: Additional_Mine_9099, Edmond Dantès
There was a few things that really caught me off guard, but I think this one thing really has me messed up, back in the days no one spoke of what side of the fence they were on or who they voted for, now the wear their parties proudly and get tattoos to rep them. Its so funny and hella weird at the same time. I can't explain it.
#10
Image source: Tiggbitt, Ketut Subiyanto
I work in the prison system in NC and work with inmates all day every day, and I've heard some crazy stories from a lot of these guys and most of them don't know how to function on the outside after being locked up for so long, they literally become institutionalized. I know one guy who's getting out in about 5 months and he's been locked up since 1985. The guy has never been in a Walmart that's how long he's been locked up. He's genuinely scared of getting out but he's got some support on the outside and already a job lined up so hopefully he makes it. But it makes sense because you've been told when to eat when to wake up for 20+ years and then one day you have freedom and almost don't know how to act.
#11
Image source: dhoo8450, Timur Weber
Never been but have worked with (as in, have had clients) plenty of people who have. Had a fella last year share with me that he had been in prison for around 10 of the 12 years betweens ages 19-31. Thing that stood out most from that conversation was him saying that he feels constantly paralyzed by all of the decisions he needed to make when out of prison. Basic things like deciding what to eat for dinner were completely overwhelming for him because he didn't have to make any of those decisions whilst inside. He was back in prison a very short time after that conversation .
#12
Image source: glorious_fruitloop, Çağrı KANMAZ
There are interviews with Charlie Manson on this subject referring to times before he was permanently incarcerated where he says the thing that stood out to him the most was the level of environmental destruction that increased with each of his releases from prison.
#13
Image source: PocketOos, Sanket Mishra
Been out nearly 1 years from an 11 years sentence,and i struggle just leaving the house,like a kind of pending doom feeling.
#14
Image source: Sweet-Ad9366, Andrea Bova
The variety. I went into a store and when I went over to the ice cream section and saw 100 different flavors I was like hell yeah! Obviously I know there are a ton of flavors but seeing all the variety was still shocking. We ate the same cookies for 10 years.
#15
Image source: hottie-tiny, Ketut Subiyanto
My unc server 15 years. When he got out, he was shocked by how many new faces he's seeing in our area not knowing it was the little kids that on the block that grew up.
#16
Image source: whatyouneed, Helena Lopes
I haven't been in prison but one of my friends was in for almost 30 years. He didn't understand computer basics. He couldn't write an email, couldn't open a word document. Probably stuff we all consider second nature. What always made me the most sad was how he never fully understood how easy it is to get your information ( banking, identity, etc) stolen.
#17
Image source: Sparkledreamsz, Tuğba Sarıtaş
I miss newspapers.
#18
Image source: SerialChiller0809, Marcia Salido
A coworker of mine, her brother was in prison for the past 10 years and recently got out - he was stunned when he saw how many different coffee creamers there are now. He lost his mind when he saw the Snickers flavor.
#19
Image source: barefoot_yank, Krista
I watched a news show that followed a guy that had just gotten out of prison after a multi decade stay inside. When asked this very question he replied "they have peanut butter with jelly in the same jar". Apparently this blew his mind.
#20
Image source: CreativeArgument4792, RDNE Stock project
The way people are just so casually disrespectful to random people. I did almost 10 years in the Canadian federal system most of it before cameras were a thing. And you know what just like kids didn't talk back when spanking was a thing, q punch in the mouth will make a grown man respect his neighbour's quickly. Still trying to unlearn that response.
#21
Image source: cristeaeric, Kindel Media
I didn’t do a super long stretch, but even a few years felt wild coming back. Phones shocked me the most, everyone staring at screens nonstop and barely making eye contact. Prices too, like everything cost way more than my brain remembered. That adjustment part stuck with me longer than I expected.
#22
Image source: CockroachLate8068, Gustavo Fring
Star Trek and tv sci-fi. I was a fan of The Next Generation and it's peers, DS9, Voyager, Babylon 5. I went in soon after and now the new stuff I got no idea what is going on anymore. I can't watch any of it.
#23
Image source: Superb_Newspaper_121, Guillaume Meurice
Not me, but my uncle did 14 years. He said the most shocking thing wasn't the iPhones or the prices—it was how careless everyone is.
He told me, 'In there, if you stop looking around for 5 seconds, you get hurt. Out here, people walk down the street staring at glowing screens, completely blind to the world. They walk like they are invincible.'
Even after being out for a year, he still can't sit with his back to a door, and watching people walk blindly into traffic while texting gives him genuine anxiety.
#24
Image source: AdhesivenessOk5194, Keira Burton
I didn’t do a “long time” compared to others I met along the way, but 2019-2022.
What made it crazier was Covid happened during this time. So i left the world one way and came back and some things were drastically different.
I’m also still to this day shocked by how much social anxiety that time created in me. It’s very difficult for me to get out of a cell mentality sometimes.
#25
Image source: DramaticEar7488, Kampus Production
Grocery stores and how close people stood behind me, even someone from a different race.DE
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