--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are released from prison so…" description: "\"People are released from prison so unprepared. They give you $200. We call it gate money. And you have to pay for a bus ticket back to L.A. You get off..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/susan-burton-16320_crime_people-are-released-from-prison-so-unpre_2856203.jpg" --- # People are released from prison so unprepared. They give… ![“People are released from prison so unprepared. They give you $200. We call it gate money. And you have to pay for a bus ticket back to L.A. You get off the Greyhound bus, downtown Skid Row, and you're supposed to make a life from that.” quote by Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/susan-burton-16320_crime_people-are-released-from-prison-so-unpre_2856203.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/susan-burton-16320_crime_people-are-released-from-prison-so-unpre_2856203.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c8/susan-burton-16320_crime_people-are-released-from-prison-so-unpre_2856203.jpg) > “People are released from prison so unprepared. They give you $200. We call it gate money. And you have to pay for a bus ticket back to L.A. You get off the Greyhound bus, downtown Skid Row, and you're supposed to make a life from that.” [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Former inmate highlights systemic gaps in reentry support, emphasizing financial and logistical hardships. **In simple terms:** Ex‑prisoners lack resources after release. Key Takeaway Advocate for comprehensive reentry programs. Themes justice rehabilitation poverty housing social services systemic failure Mood somber determined Type social advocacy When to use this quote - policy reform - community support - public speaking Key Concepts interview memoir Questions to Reflect On - What resources aid successful reentry? - How can society reduce recidivism? A Different Perspective Stigma may hinder reintegration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Greyhound bus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greyhound-bus/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Released](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-released-3193067/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Prison Unprepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison-unprepared-3828899/) [Released Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/released-prison-474972/) [Skid row](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skid-row/) [Ticket Greyhound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ticket-greyhound-2619313/) ## Related quotes > [“know whether to blush or get a ticket for a Greyhound bus and high tail it out of town. Jacqueline had clearly taken their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-a-richman/know-whether-to-blush-or-get-a-ticket-for-a-greyhound-bus-and-high/) [Julie A. Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-a-richman/) > [I had seen a lot of people who had been released from WWE, or asked for their release, and gone out into the wild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-rhodes/i-had-seen-a-lot-of-people-who-had-been-released-from-wwe-or-asked/) [Cody Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-rhodes/) > [A New Way of Life is a safe house that women can come to after they're released from prison in South Los Angeles. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/a-new-way-of-life-is-a-safe-house-that-women-can-come-to-after-they/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [Many times, I left the prison thinking, 'I'm smart. I can make it. I won't get caught up again.' But you get off downtown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/many-times-i-left-the-prison-thinking-i-m-smart-i-can-make-it-i-won-t/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [The employer is not going to choose the gang member who's just been released from prison: they're going to choose the person with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/the-employer-is-not-going-to-choose-the-gang-member-who-s-just-been/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [I think most people have a general sense that when you're released from prison, life is hard, but, you know, if you work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/i-think-most-people-have-a-general-sense-that-when-you-re-released/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [About 70% of those released from prison return within a few years, and the majority of those who return in some states do so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/about-70-of-those-released-from-prison-return-within-a-few-years-and/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [When I was released from prison 15 years ago, I was given a $25 check and a bus ticket and told to start my life over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-stanton-king/when-i-was-released-from-prison-15-years-ago-i-was-given-a-25-check/) [Angela Stanton-King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-stanton-king/) > [Feel like (I've been) released from prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoseob/feel-like-i-ve-been-released-from-prison/) [Yoseob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoseob/) > [I can confirm that I have been released from prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/i-can-confirm-that-i-have-been-released-from-prison/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [When I was released from prison everybody thought I'd go back to doing the same things I did before, but I had no desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-hosoi/when-i-was-released-from-prison-everybody-thought-i-d-go-back-to/) [Christian Hosoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-hosoi/) > [“Inner creativity is always there - it just has to be released from its prison.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-markham/inner-creativity-is-always-there-it-just-has-to-be-released-from-its/) [Ursula Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-markham/) > [“She was just released from prison and forgot what a man felt like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-jeanisse/she-was-just-released-from-prison-and-forgot-what-a-man-felt-like/) [Bella Jeanisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-jeanisse/) > [When I was released from prison, I didn't want to leave my house for the first three months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-walters/when-i-was-released-from-prison-i-didn-t-want-to-leave-my-house-for/) [Ashley Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-walters/) > [I always say that, for me, writing a book is like a wacky Greyhound bus trip - I know where I'm starting and where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/i-always-say-that-for-me-writing-a-book-is-like-a-wacky-greyhound-bus/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) ## More by Susan Burton > [Telling your story is transformative. For both the storyteller and their audience, a new bridge to understanding is created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/telling-your-story-is-transformative-for-both-the-storyteller-and/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [Insulin is a crisis medication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/insulin-is-a-crisis-medication/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [I can remember, as a child, the happy days of us all piling into the car and going to the drive-in. And that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/i-can-remember-as-a-child-the-happy-days-of-us-all-piling-into-the/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [I knew hundreds and hundreds of women like me, who had traveled in and out of prison in a revolving door. They needed support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/i-knew-hundreds-and-hundreds-of-women-like-me-who-had-traveled-in-and/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [Everyone needs a place to live. Everyone needs a place to come home to every night. I don't understand why our society, our government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/everyone-needs-a-place-to-live-everyone-needs-a-place-to-come-home-to/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [It's important the sheriff and the D.A. work with the community to realize real-world solutions. If they make decisions in silos, it will fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/it-s-important-the-sheriff-and-the-d-a-work-with-the-community-to/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [We all make mistakes. Sometimes people slip, but that doesn't mean they're not worthy of the support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/we-all-make-mistakes-sometimes-people-slip-but-that-doesn-t-mean-they/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [I knew I wasn't born to be caged and chained up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/i-knew-i-wasn-t-born-to-be-caged-and-chained-up/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [The person who has been convicted has served their time. Why would we continue to punish and exclude them from housing and jobs? Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/the-person-who-has-been-convicted-has-served-their-time-why-would-we/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [One of the things about incarceration is that you're deprived. You lose all of your identity, and then its given back one day, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/one-of-the-things-about-incarceration-is-that-you-re-deprived-you/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [We know that the environment and political information is important, and we expose and teach the women about some of the environmental factors that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/we-know-that-the-environment-and-political-information-is-important/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [If you don't have a new door to walk through, the only thing is the old door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/if-you-don-t-have-a-new-door-to-walk-through-the-only-thing-is-the/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [Most incarcerated women have stories that are similar to mine. They suffered great trauma as children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/most-incarcerated-women-have-stories-that-are-similar-to-mine-they/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [A New Way of Life is a safe house that women can come to after they're released from prison in South Los Angeles. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/a-new-way-of-life-is-a-safe-house-that-women-can-come-to-after-they/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [Many times, I left the prison thinking, 'I'm smart. I can make it. I won't get caught up again.' But you get off downtown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/many-times-i-left-the-prison-thinking-i-m-smart-i-can-make-it-i-won-t/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) [Explore all 40 Susan Burton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avis-bohlen/) [Browse all 8,359 Crime quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People are released from prison so unprepared. 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