hahnscratch

Loud, barking dogs. Loud, external burglar alarms. And very bright motion lights that are not within arm's reach (I would often just unscrew them or knock them out).

Another deterrent. Don't put your garage door opener in a car that is sitting in the driveway.

I presume you're talking about the more felonious theft. Because I did steal little things here and there as a kid.

I started stealing mostly as a way to pay for drugs. But then the stealing became a drug of its own, an addiction in its own right. The stealing also progressed from 'soft' theft to 'hard' theft, in much the same way one might progress in drug use.

I suppose I should explain 'soft' versus 'hard' theft. This may or may not make sense to people who haven't experienced something similar.

So, when I first started stealing, I told myself I wouldn't steal from individuals, from homes, from cars, stuff like that. So, I only stole from stores or businesses. Then, I crossed that line and stole from a construction site. My new boundary was that I wouldn't steal from any place where people currently lived. Then, I crossed that line, so my new boundary was that I would steal from cars or garages but that I wouldn't enter a house. Eventually, I crossed that line, too.

I went to UC Berkeley after paroling, studying anthropology. Then, I joined an electricians union where I'm finishing up a 5 year apprenticeship.

I spend my free time doing photography, speaking with students about my story, lecturing on Indian history and philosophy, and traveling (mostly to Asia).

That's a really complex topic that is hard to answer without it being more specific. My experience, however, was that my rehabilitation was generated from within. It wasn't something the prison system fostered for me.