--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I spent my life behind bars, and what…" description: "\"I spent my life behind bars, and what people don't know is getting out of prison is really nerve-racking - you're not used to society; you're not used ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/richard-cabral-15527_crime_i-spent-my-life-behind-bars-and-what-peo_1060271.jpg" --- # I spent my life behind bars, and what people don't know is… ![“I spent my life behind bars, and what people don't know is getting out of prison is really nerve-racking - you're not used to society; you're not used to the world going by so fast - so to step on that lot was quite overwhelming.” quote by Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/richard-cabral-15527_crime_i-spent-my-life-behind-bars-and-what-peo_1060271.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/richard-cabral-15527_crime_i-spent-my-life-behind-bars-and-what-peo_1060271.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/richard-cabral-15527_crime_i-spent-my-life-behind-bars-and-what-peo_1060271.jpg) > “I spent my life behind bars, and what people don't know is getting out of prison is really nerve-racking - you're not used to society; you're not used to the world going by so fast - so to step on that lot was quite overwhelming.” [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reentering society after prison feels disorienting and overwhelming due to rapid change. **In simple terms:** Life after prison is shocking and hard to adjust to. Key Takeaway Seek support and gradual reintegration. Themes reintegration shock adjustment Mood empathetic somber Type personal social When to use this quote - employment - housing - community support - mental health services Key Concepts psychology social work Questions to Reflect On - What resources help ex‑inmates adjust? - How can society ease this transition? A Different Perspective Stigma can hinder reintegration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Anytime you have a family member getting out of prison, there's always drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-jones/anytime-you-have-a-family-member-getting-out-of-prison-there-s-always/) [Orlando Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-jones/) > [To be honest, I would probably rather spend, like, a month in prison than spend a month rehearsing with some musicians, metalheads. I pick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/to-be-honest-i-would-probably-rather-spend-like-a-month-in-prison/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [Prison is what really radicalized me most deeply. I remember thinking, my God, these people did things that were no worse than what other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dellinger/prison-is-what-really-radicalized-me-most-deeply-i-remember-thinking/) [David Dellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dellinger/) > [I mean, what is prison, really, except a good bar without the liquor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-mean-what-is-prison-really-except-a-good-bar-without-the-liquor/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [People always think about what prison is. 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It's certainly nerve-racking. The process was as hard as I thought it would be - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-viall/as-the-bachelor-all-eyes-are-on-you-it-s-certainly-nerve-racking-the/) [Nick Viall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-viall/) > [It's definitely nerve-racking to be the center of attention. I'm not the kind of an actor that just craves attention 24-7 - but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/it-s-definitely-nerve-racking-to-be-the-center-of-attention-i-m-not/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [I made my career off posing in swimsuits and doing all the swimsuit issues and posters, but I will tell you that that little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-margolis/i-made-my-career-off-posing-in-swimsuits-and-doing-all-the-swimsuit/) [Cindy Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-margolis/) ## More by Richard Cabral > [In society, you are taught to belong. You have to belong to something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/in-society-you-are-taught-to-belong-you-have-to-belong-to-something/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [My family had been involved in gangs since the 1970s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/my-family-had-been-involved-in-gangs-since-the-1970s/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [There's comes a point when people who have lived a life of crime get tired and want to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/there-s-comes-a-point-when-people-who-have-lived-a-life-of-crime-get/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [The agricultural fields throughout the Southwest, those jobs needed to be filled, and who were the ones to do it? It was the Mexicans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/the-agricultural-fields-throughout-the-southwest-those-jobs-needed-to/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [I think 98% of gang members in Los Angeles would agree that being a gang is just like being part of a community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-think-98-of-gang-members-in-los-angeles-would-agree-that-being-a/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [My father figures were all gang members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/my-father-figures-were-all-gang-members/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [When you're in a gang, you go through life like any other individual. You have certain obligations, but you are not forced to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/when-you-re-in-a-gang-you-go-through-life-like-any-other-individual/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [The true meaning of an artist/actor is opening my heart to the audience and, at the same time, opening their heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/the-true-meaning-of-an-artist-actor-is-opening-my-heart-to-the/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [Homeboy Industries is a healing center for broken children. I was a broken child, and they showed me how to put all those pieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/homeboy-industries-is-a-healing-center-for-broken-children-i-was-a/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [The power of belief, of God is beyond what mere mortals can Imagine. There is no restrictions in my Life. If I do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/the-power-of-belief-of-god-is-beyond-what-mere-mortals-can-imagine/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [There are many things in common with my life and my character in 'American Crime.' My upbringing has definitely helped me out in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/there-are-many-things-in-common-with-my-life-and-my-character-in/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [Your only true obligation in a gang is to be committed and be there when your brothers need you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/your-only-true-obligation-in-a-gang-is-to-be-committed-and-be-there/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [I feel that in all kids that I've came across, that at the age of 12-13 is a big transition . They begin forming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-feel-that-in-all-kids-that-i-ve-came-across-that-at-the-age-of-12/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [In this society, you have to belong to something, I feel, and all we have in the neighborhood is a gang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/in-this-society-you-have-to-belong-to-something-i-feel-and-all-we/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [If we grow up in these communities where we have gangs, well, what do you think we're going to belong to? That's what happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/if-we-grow-up-in-these-communities-where-we-have-gangs-well-what-do/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) [Explore all 43 Richard Cabral quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) ## More Crime quotes > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [Taking notes while watching Forensic Files and Snapped. I don't want to make the same mistakes the criminals do! ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/taking-notes-while-watching-forensic-files-and-snapped-i-don-t-want/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Nations sometimes flourish by denying the crimes that brought them into being. Only when the original invasion, occupation, extermination or usurpation has been safely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/nations-sometimes-flourish-by-denying-the-crimes-that-brought-them/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [“a crime to fell a tree and light it on fire, where coals of hardened shit warmed and stunk up homes,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/a-crime-to-fell-a-tree-and-light-it-on-fire-where-coals-of-hardened/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [History is the study of the world's crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-the-study-of-the-world-s-crime/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Too much virtue can be criminal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/too-much-virtue-can-be-criminal/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [The federal prison population increased by almost 800 percent between 1980 and 2013, often at a far faster rate than the Bureau of Prisons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-yates/the-federal-prison-population-increased-by-almost-800-percent-between/) [Sally Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-yates/) > [ \[P\]rogress, however, has not sufficiently infiltrated the Interior Ministry, affording protection to those who participated in the Bytyqi murders and other egregious Milosevic-era crimes. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avis-bohlen/p-rogress-however-has-not-sufficiently-infiltrated-the-interior/) Avis Bohlen [Browse all 8,359 Crime quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I spent my life behind bars, and what people don't know is getting out of prison is really nerve-racking - you're not used to society; you're not used to the world going by so fast - so to step on that lot was quite overwhelming.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Cabral" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-spent-my-life-behind-bars-and-what-people-don-t-know-is-getting-out/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crime" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-spent-my-life-behind-bars-and-what-people-don-t-know-is-getting-out/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/richard-cabral-15527_crime_i-spent-my-life-behind-bars-and-what-peo_1060271.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/richard-cabral-15527_crime_i-spent-my-life-behind-bars-and-what-peo_1060271.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/richard-cabral-15527_crime_i-spent-my-life-behind-bars-and-what-peo_1060271.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I spent my life behind bars, and what people don't know is getting out of prison is really nerve-racking…” — Richard Cabral", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard Cabral", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I spent my life behind bars,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-spent-my-life-behind-bars-and-what-people-don-t-know-is-getting-out/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-spent-my-life-behind-bars-and-what-people-don-t-know-is-getting-out/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```