Reflected Appraisals

One of the main barriers that inmates face when they are released from prison is limited cognitive skills, limited education and work experience, and substance abuse or other mental health problems. Substance abuse and other mental health problems limit employability because it limits the job readiness that is required for employment (Holzer, Raphael & Stoll, 2003). Another issue that is faced when inmates are released into society is that any skills that they did have prior to conviction has diminished greatly and they face lower pay due to their diminished or lack of skills, and the attitudes that have been developed during their time in prison deeply affects their attitude during their search for employment. Offenders also face another barrier when searching for employment. Many businesses can be held legally liable for any criminal action that their employees may cause (Holzer, Raphael & Stoll, 2003). These barriers that offenders face upon release is why solid solutions and planning must be implemented when considering the integration of ex-felons into society and preparation for reentry must begin well before the scheduled release date in order to successfully reintegrate an inmate into society and reduce the rate of recidivism.

Only forty percent of employers in one study reported that they would be willing to hire an applicant with a criminal record and applicants with a criminal record are only half as likely to receive a call back from an employer where they have submitted an application. Other analysis shows that only thirty to forty percent of those previously convicted of a crime are employed and earn an average of only $667 a month, with these numbers surprisingly decreasing as time since release increases. While juveniles adjudicated in juvenile court can expect a decrease in future earnings of nine percent, similar juveniles adjudicated in an adult court will see future reductions in earnings of fourteen percent. A more recent study conducted by Pew confirms such results and shows that incarceration leads to a reduction of eleven percent in subsequent wages, nine weeks of annual employment, and forty percent of yearly earnings. All of this data displays the barriers to employment created by placing juveniles in the adult correctional system. The longstanding classification of seventeen-year-olds in Texas as adults prohibits these young people from becoming hard-working members of society upon

Incarceration can sabotage a worker’s success in the working force by making them less productive, lack work experience, and impaired social interactions. Employers are less likely to hire an applicant with a criminal record because of the preconceived notion that by serving time in prison it makes inmates less productive. Also, time incarcerated and away from the labor force prevents inmates from earning work experience and job skills. According to Amanda Geller in The Effects of Incarceration on Employment and Wages “behavioral adaptations to the conditions of penal confinement may leave an inmate withdrawn, uncommunicative, and unable to accept

Employment is always an issue when it comes to an ex-offender. Not only is it hard for the everyday person in society to find employment due to a poor economy, but it is much harder for an ex-offender. While in prison, prisoners are usually made to work. Unlike other programs such as counseling, prison work programs can be justified for reasons other than rehabilitation of the individual offender. From the perspective of the policy maker in the criminal justice system, they can help manage the population by occupying the time of the prisoners, aid in the operation of the prison, create revenue (maybe), and provide a

From 1973 to 2000 the imprisonment rate in the U.S has increased by a multiple of four, while the actual crime rate saw no such increase over that period. (Visher and Travis, 2003, p. 89-90) Historically, the prison system in America had always been marred with inadequacies and failures, specifically in rehabilitating prisoners. The significant increase in incarceration rates have put an even greater burden on the already inefficient prison system. In reality, the prison system does not actually function as a means of rehabilitating prisoners, and real purpose of the institute is to basically keep the “deplorables” of society away from the public eye. It serves as a tool to degrade members of society to the bottom of the social ladder and strip them of their most basic rights. For many prisoners, rehabilitation comes in the form of “corrections” which is largely characterized by the humiliation, abuse, and subjugation of inmates by correction officers. This form of rehabilitation is largely malicious and ineffective in its procedures and outcomes. Often times inmates, leave prison more emotionally and physically damaged that they were upon entrance as a consequence of the dismal conditions they were subjugated to. The current high rates of recidivism have testified to the fact that our prisons have failed as a deterrent. As a result, it must be

Finding a job in today's labor force is difficult for those who have been incarcerated in their past. This issue must be addressed in the near future because it affects a significant portion of society. Those affected by this disfunction in the job market are at a great disadvantage. They have a much lower likelihood of finding a job because employers see a criminal background, but do not notice any of their redeeming actions. This is a big problem for ex-felons because they are unable to be employed after their release from correctional facilities. Their inability to find a job deprives them of a constant income in which they need to support themselves. This not only affects the ex-felon but his or her family as well leading to an increase

Many people living in poor neighborhoods might have been to prison, have had little to no education, or even health problems. There are over six million ex-convicts in the United States. Research proposes that the best way for them to stay out of prison again is to reintroduce them into the working world and finding them jobs, but most employers are hesitant in giving them a chance. With an unemployment rate approaching its highest, getting employed is challenging. If someone has been in prison, the chance of them getting a job decreases drastically. In chapter five of David K. Shipler’s The Working Poor: Invisible in America, Shipler emphasizes on attaining a job, maintaining a job, and living while employed to successfully construct his arguments

As offenders are getting released from their prison and re-integrating into the community, the issue at hand now is how the judicial branch and/or community can keep them from reentering the correction system. This re-entry issue may be the effect of society labeling offenders as “dangerous individuals,” once they have committed a crime. In the criminal justice system, the focus is publicizing the criminals’ wrongdoings and punishing those behaviors. The defendants’ crime is then spread throughout the community from attorneys to the courts then to the media. As a result of this spreading, people’s attitudes change towards the offenders--treating them like they are not human--and people start to distance themselves from the offenders making them feel like outcasts in their communities. This societal isolation caused by labeling can result in re-entry.

This research paper is focused on released convicts and the struggles they face to become active, progressive members of society. Sadly, these released offenders regularly face discrimination in their job searches, in attempts to secure housing for themselves and their families, and to be accepted by their communities. Without the right support structures in place upon their release, these former prisoners may very well fall back into lives of crime. Without a suitable place to stay, these released offenders may become recidivists, falling back into their familiar roles as law breakers, if only to provide the basic necessities for themselves and their

Employers need to think before judging a qualified candidate for a position based solely on their past mistakes and felonies- but unfortunately many employers do. This also causes added negativity and stress not only on the ex-convict, but on the community as well. Negativity, not only affects the person it is directed at, but it affects people that the felon is around. This kind of treatment will develop the idea that anyone who makes a mistake will not be able to obtain employment. “The effect on the community also would become relevant, as we focus on the role that the person has played in the family, in the neighborhood, and at work” (Bill Ong Hing 2). Employers need to take into account that the applicant may have been rehabilitated and made up for their past mistakes both physically and emotionally. “By reinstating discretion to give such individuals a second chance, the positive benefits that such individuals bring to the community would be as salient” (Hing 2). As Hing states, it is imperative for the felon and his/her community if employers would genuinely give second chances and also the positivity created by this would illuminate the area. Numerous people believe that employers who discriminate against felons must not be supported. Andrus believes “Corporations who do not hire ex-felons based on their criminal records only,

Officer Lerma, this is your annual Employee Performance Appraisal. This appraisal reflects the observations made by myself as well as Sgt. Drake A9663 and Sgt. Camenisch B0467 from your Blue Team Supervisor Notes. During this period you have been assigned to Durango Jail on Shift 2.

I am requesting a Hardship Withdrawal for ten of the thirteen credits I took during the Autumn 2016 quarter due to the severe side effects I experienced when first put on the antidepressant Lexapro during the last two weeks of the Autumn 2016 quarter. In November 2016, I sought out help at the UW counseling center for the depression and anxiety symptoms I had been experiencing. At the counseling center, I was referred to Christina Chavez in the Mental Health Clinic in Hall Health for a psychological health evaluation and potential medication administration. On December 1st, 2016 (Thursday of week 8), I met with Christina Chavez for the first time and was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). During the appointment, she prescribed me the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) Escitalopram, commonly known

If there is no job, there is no money, and if there is no money desperation sets in and makes room for crime such as robbing, burglary, and drug trafficking. This is not to say that all inmates are unqualified to be released because of poor job readiness, but other inmates who are job ready lack responsibility and sane judgement because of poor rehabilitation programs short in duration, or not available. Screening is also poor because parole boards have not come up with a better way to verify the sincerity of the inmate when he goes before the panel. For example: there are plenty of inmates that have gone through the parole system before

After being asked to elaborate on the social contact with ex-convicts 40% of employers said they had no social contact with the ex-convicts. 60% of the employers said they had occasional contact with them. Out of the ones that responded that they did have social contact with the offers 57% said that the contact with the ex-offender was business related. It’s also important to get to know someone before judging because sometimes the stereotypes can be completely off on the real personality traits of a person. In addition, even if the employer had had prior business contact with the offender. They would prefer the contact occur in a social setting which is more effective in witnessing people skills.

Everyone deserves a second chance. You should never judge a book by its cover. These are some of the things that should be considered when an employer considers hiring an ex-offender reentering society after release from the prison system. Once a criminal, always a criminal is not always the case. Some ex-offenders have proven to be loyal and trustworthy employees. As well as tax-paying individual who open their own businesses. There are positives and negatives to hiring someone with a criminal background. There are many concerns by employers to hire an ex-offender, such as negligent hiring. An ex offender is a person who has been convicted of criminal offense. Over 600,000 people are being released from prisons