My experience proved this to be very true. At least half a dozen people getting on the bus with me in eastern Colorado had just been let out of prison--literally. The prison guards dropped them off.

Hey , but one of the former prisoners actually saved my arse. In a busy and rediculously small bus station in Pueblo, where everyone had to change busses and all was bedlam, I inadvertently left my wallet containing all my money and credit cards on the counter, walked away, and then sat down waiting for the announcement that my bus had arrived. Suddenly, a former prisoner walked over to me with my wallet in his hand, held it out to me, and said, "Sir. You left this on the counter."

I thanked him profusely. It scared me almost losing my wallet, but the experienced was enlightening, further demonstating not to judge anyone by outward appearance.

Actually, during the course of my long, two-day bus ride, many of the former prisoners proved to have more class and demonstrate more politeness than many of the other bus passengers.

David in FL