The text is a transcript of a segment from the show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, where he talks about the challenges that ex-prisoners face when they re-enter society. He uses humor, facts, and examples to show how ex-prisoners are often denied access to basic needs like food, housing, education, and employment, and how they are at a high risk of going back to prison for minor parole violations. He also interviews an ex-prisoner who managed to overcome the obstacles and find a stable job, but who still fears being judged for his past. He argues that it is in everyone's interest to give ex-prisoners a better chance at success, and that we should not define them by their worst mistakes.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. 6,000 mostly low-level drug offenders were released from federal prisons in the largest one-time release in history.
2. Many ex-prisoners face obstacles such as bans from public housing, food benefits, student aid, and certain jobs.
3. Parole and probation services can be costly and difficult to comply with, and many parolees end up back in prison for minor violations.
4. Bilal Chatman is an example of an ex-prisoner who managed to overcome the challenges and find a stable job as a supervisor.
5. The text is a transcript of a segment from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, a comedy news show that covers various social and political issues.