Mike is gone

The Alternative to Incarceration program I work in is based on will to change, and personal efforts from our residents. We trust them, as much as possible. They are here on their free will, and they have been offered an alternative. Even if most of the time the "alternative" is jail...
On these principles we control our guys, but we also give them some freedom.
Freedom to get a job, or a formation. To receive family visit, or to go visit them after some time in the program. Freedom to go out and get paperwork done, to go visit a doctor.
They plan all those events with an individual counselor, and mark the times in and out in a big register at the entrance.

Yesterday Mike didn't come back.

Sometimes one of our guys is late. But when he was 2 hours late I started worrying and warned the "boss". She said she was sadly only half surprised...
9PM is the curfew, we must send letter to Court if anyone is out after that time.
Mike called at 8:55PM. He said he had a family emergency upstate.
We called his father. They don't have family upstate... One more lie.

I don't know what will happen to him.
A warrant should be out for him by now.
He'll probably get back to jail, with increased sentence...

I feel sorry for him. Not that he left. Not that he will go to jail. These are his choices.
I feel sorry that he didn't try more. That he doesn't have more respect for himself, or for those (very few) who care for him. I feel sorry to see someone stuck in destructive behavior. As if he was wondering how bad it can get...