What Are Felons Be Role Models

Throughout the years, many citizens have fought for the right to vote. Immigrants that are in our country view this as being lucky just to have the opportunity to make a change. Felons have taken the privilege for granted. Many of the supporters of a felons right to vote believe it’s unfair to punish from taking their vote. But the real question is if you can trust the felon for making the right call.

What once was used as a means of rehabilitation has now became a corrupted institution based upon the societal norms of the 21st century. In the novel, “Are Prisons Obsolete” by Angela Davis, she emphasizes the underlining problems faced within modern day prisons. More specifically on how the reformation of these prisons have ultimately backfired causing the number of imprisonments to sky rocket drastically. Which results in the concept of the prison system being a lot more harmful than helpful to the prison-based communities nationwide.

The first problem that can be solved with giving felons their rights back is giving them a way back out of trouble ,and away to be a modeled citizen. For example, in this article Vikki Hankins a convicted felonies tells of her quest to get her rights back. She has tried multiple times with no positive outcome. Her dream is to become a lawyer but because of her record she can’t take the bar exam (Penaloza 1). This here leads to some individuals going back to life they know better such as crime. Since they can no longer progress at a scholarly level into a professional level people tend to settle for less or even reform to crime(Penaloza 1).

Mass incarceration has been an issue in the United States since the start of the War on Drugs, because of the political agenda attached to the “tough on crime” regimen thousands of people have suffered as a consequence. The solution to this is one that can only be possibly solved by approaching through several angles. The ten steps presented by Michael Tonry, are an innovative and have merit to some extent. However, mass incarceration results from more than unjust sentencing laws, which is his main focus. If ever we are to resolve the issue, society and the criminal justice system must come together to completely reevaluate what we consider to be “tough on crime” and redefine the purpose of prisons, strictly punishment or rehabilitation. The focus has to shift from harsh sentencing, stigma, racial discrimination to a basic form of rehabilitation and reduction of the prison system in general. The criminal justice system has to do what they are actually meant to do and focus on rehabilitation measures, and when possible completely stop interaction with the prison system all together.

MK Asante, in his book Buck: The Memoir, highlights the devastation of mass incarceration on the family structure and on individuals, particularly young individuals, who are incarcerated. Asante utilizes an informal tone and jargon the way in which the penal and justice systems dehumanizes those it is meant to reform. Asante’s informal approach and use of jargon turns the issue of mass incarceration into a conversation that engages readers. His feelings about the penal system and justice system are spelled out in the form of a narrative, thus making it easier for the reader to remain engaged. Brian Stevenson focuses on a variety of factors and their contribution to mass incarceration such as a lack of knowledge about mental health and the deterioration of one 's well being as a result of imprisonment. He utilizes anecdotes

As a country, we should care about all of our citizens and work toward bettering them, because we are only as strong as our weakest link. When it concerns the issue of corrections it should not be a discussion of punishment or rehabilitation. Instead, it should be a balance of both that puts the spotlight on rehabilitating offenders that are capable and willing to change their lives for the better. Through rehabilitation a number of issues in the corrections field can be solved from mental health to overcrowding. More importantly, it allows offenders the chance to do and be better once released from prison. This paper analyzes what both rehabilitation and punishment are as well as how they play a part in corrections. It also discusses the current reasons that punishment as the dominant model of corrections is not as effective as rehabilitation. After explaining rehabilitation and punishment, then breaking down the issues with punishment, I will recommend a plan for balance. A plan that will lower incarceration rates and give offenders a second chance.

As the imprisoned population in the United States grows and American culture changes, rehabilitation is becoming popular among these alternatives to a standard prison system. Rehabilitation when referring to criminal justice are programs and methods used to assist prisoners in reforming themselves in order to avoid the habits that placed them in prison in the first place. These programs are becoming more popular due to the high cost of imprisonment and a change in American culture. Each prisoner costs forty thousand dollars each year to keep in prison(Weissmueller). This is money that is coming out of the taxes paid by United States citizens who aren’t even in the prison system. Alongside this, American culture is changing to be supporting of rehabilitation efforts as Americans see the effectiveness of criminal justice systems that include it. This was seen on a trip to Europe by U.S. prison officials; once they had seen the effectiveness of German and Dutch prison rehabilitation, they wanted to bring similar programs to their prisons (“People, not prisoners”). A rehabilitation based criminal justice system in the United States is gaining popularity, and as it does so it is earning the attention it needs and deserves.

In this essay, I shall be focusing on the whether or Prisons rehabilitate offenders. I will

Every civilization in history has had rules, and citizens who break them. To this day governments struggle to figure out the best way to deal with their criminals in ways that help both society and those that commit the crimes. Imprisonment has historically been the popular solution. However, there are many instances in which people are sent to prison that would be better served for community service, rehab, or some other form of punishment. Prison affects more than just the prisoner; the families, friends, employers, and communities of the incarcerated also pay a price. Prison as a punishment has its pros and cons; although it may be necessary for some, it can be harmful for those who would be better suited for alternative means

Within this paper, you will find a comprehensive review of the United States prison system, and why it needs to analyzed to better support and reform the people of this country. I plan to persuade the other side (politicians and society) into seeing that the way the prison system is now, is not ethical nor economical and it must change. We have one of the world’s largest prison population, but also a very high rate of recidivism. Recidivism is when the prisoners continuously return to prison without being reformed. They return for the same things that they were doing before. So, this leads us to ask what exactly are we doing wrong? When this happens, we as a nation must continuously pay to house and feed these inmates. The purpose of a prison needs to be examined so we can decide if we really are reforming our inmates, or just continuing a vicious cycle. What is the true purpose of prison besides just holding them in a cell? There must be more we can do for these hopeless members of society.

Fear of jails and prisons is instilled in us from a young age. We are supposed to learn the common sense between right and wrong behaviours to avoid living our lives incarcerated. Throughout this paper, I will discuss several aspects of our criminal institutions. With the help of the documentaries Miami Mega Jail and Behind Bars in San Quentin both by Louis Theroux, I will go into details about the remove, punish and rehabilitate method, the details of the inmate society and if the public is safe from these criminals once they are released.

Prison reform is a significant issue that the United States government should enforce. It would aid in creating a more organized system of incarceration. Prison reform is an attempt to improve, change, or eliminate certain conditions in prisons. It is believed that it should be enforced due to the cases of overcrowding, lack of proper education, and the lack of rehabilitation that could inform prisoners of societal values. Prison reform would increase the self-esteem that was diminished in the prisoner’s personal history. Prison reform is significantly important as it will heighten the amount of self-worth in the prisoner and cause a decrease in the population of prisoners who return to a life of crime. Recidivism, or chance of recommitting a crime, will therefore be reduced. Prisoner who are released will not have all the negative ideals or influence from the prison that is usually spread until their release. Prison reform will help society if the increase in education and decrease in overcrowding is ensued upon the prison system with this policy.

The lack of cocaine on the street generates less drug crimes on the streets surrounding that drug. Because of these five factors, and several others, crime rates have declined over the past few decades. Even though crime rates have been declining, this poses many new problems and questions. Decreasing crime rates is only half of the battle; the other half is how we deal with the criminals that we catch. Specifically, the method that the Criminal Justice System uses to prosecute people. An individual is a suspect in a crime and then is prosecuted if there is enough evidence to do so. After this prosecution, the individual is sent to jail in hopes of rehabilitating. In America alone, sixty-eight percent of criminals who were released got caught for a second crime within three years of getting out. Seventy-seven percent of criminals were caught after five years of being released (AmericaNet, 2010). The point being, that despite the fact that crime rates are going down, society seem unable to rehabilitate the criminals they catch. The question coming out of this paper becomes: How can society successfully rehabilitate

That is why it is time for a change. That is why it is time for qualified people and people who want to be role models to be given a chance to be role models. Athletes such as Charles Barkley have recognized this need for a change. Dave Winfield, a former major- league baseball player with such teams as the New York Yankees and the former California Angels, recognizes this need for a change. He believes that athletes should not be the primary role models in a child's life. Instead parents, not athletes, entertainers or politicians, should claim the position of being a role model (Berlow 31). This statement not only speaks for itself, but it also poses an interesting question. If athletes themselves continue to declare themselves ineligible to be a role model, then why do people continually allow their children to admire these athletes for more than his/her sports abilities? At this point in time, the parents should know better. Parents would not allow their kids to admire some hoodlum on the street, but because sports are in a controlled atmosphere, they do not see the dangers in athletes being role models. As Charles Barkley puts it, "There are a million guys in jail who can play ball. Should they be role models? Of course not" (Berlow 35). Yet, many parents do not realize or do not want to admit that many athletes have a good amount of time on the "other" side of the law. The big message here is that being a

There is need of changing people’s mind from the old system of retribution to the modern world of rehabilitation reformation, and reintegration of the once upon a time offenders back into