Why You Should Hire a Felon

This spurs questions in regards the effectiveness of the process in reacclimating and preparing criminals to become functioning members of society after their sentence, as well as the intense limitations that having a felony on record has on their success in the regular business world, as the competitive marketplace considers reforming felons generally undesirable for the workplace, pushing reforming criminals towards the world of illegal activities they know

If we thought that prisoners could not be rehabilitated, then they should not be released. If felons are released, we make a judgment that they are fit to live in society; therefore, they are capable of making trustworthy decisions.

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.

Society does not even provide inmates a chance to redeem themselves and America responds negatively and continues to handicap the poor; therefore, the “inability to find a job or steady legitimate income can lead to illicit means to self-sufficiency and debt repayment. This, in turn, may lead to higher recidivism rates that land more people back in jail” (Blanks). Many private employers will conduct background checks and choose not to hire felons: therefore, they cannot work in many fields such as, “the U.S Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies, teaching, child care professionals and many jobs that require a professional license”. Also, a felony conviction is a permanent stain on a person’s record that disables them from; “applying for federal or state grants, public housing, federal cash assistance, SSI and food stamps”. Felons are legally allowed to hold and use a U.S passport; however, there are certain travel restrictions that may prevent them from visiting other countries since a visa is a right and not a privilege (Hirby). So, a country can choose to deny admission to a convicted felon.

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

Their possibilities of getting jobs thereby making them responsible adults in paying their bills, providing housing for their families, and being good citizens are diminished. Their children are born and raised into the same sort of backgrounds the parents have had and have the same ideas and values as their parents. Because the parents are poor images to look up to, they end up just like their parents and spend time in jail or prison. It is like a never ending cycle. Having a felony on your record is often a detriment to getting a job. Hiring a black or other person of color ex-con carries a connotation of fear for one’s life and property. They are worried that the ex-con will steal from them or kill

Would-be employers frown heavily on felony convictions. Family members who are law abiding citizens may ostracize felons. Punishing offenders in these ways can ultimately slow recovery. All we seem to be providing is a continual revolving door for offenders. “Most drug prisoners will return to the community after a couple years away, and will then return to prison because we have not dealt with the complex set of core issues that lead to them ending up incarcerated in the first place” (McVay). We cannot simply arrest our way out of the nation’s drug problem. There must be programs developed which incorporate the structure of prison along with individualized rehabilitation.

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

I think America needs to change its policy. Felons are still American citizens who deserve the rights and liberties they are born with. Once they completed their sentences, they should receive all of their rights. Infringing on their right to vote creates the precedent that they are longer able to trusted in society. I believe felons deserve a second chance to become good citizens. Denying them of their rights can make less motivated to want to change.

In 2010 an estimated 5.85 million people in the United States could not vote due to a felony conviction ("Number of People”). My essay is on if felons should get government assistance. they would feel better about having little to no place that will allow them to work for them because the simple label of being a felon has been put on to them or how it could make it harder for people who really need it to get it and if it doesn't make it harder to get it might drastically increase the amount they get. This essay will examine whether or not convicted felons should get government assistance ex food stamps, unemployment.

I believe that there are felons out there who will never better themselves nor would they care to. These felons don’t care for a place to live or a place to call home. However, there are many people who end up with a criminal record for a very small incident, maybe an incident that was not their fault. There are many felons who can post bail and maybe do one day in jail. If you can post bail in one day I’m sure your crime was not life threatening. Therefore, why can’t this felon find a place to live? The reason is because any apartment complex you apply for will do a background check and will deny you. They don’t care if you are doing better or if you’re a changed person they will throw you out just as

Job opportunities for felons are often few and far between. To increase your chances of getting the best jobs for felons, you should choose an industry that is unrelated to your felony and where jobs are in high demand. It is also helpful to choose a profession, such as construction management jobs for felons, where you can be self-employed. Construction administration jobs for felons are also known as project management or construction project management. Managers in this field are trained to oversee the planning, design and actual building of construction projects.

He must have this job of course to maintain a healthy and crime free lifestyle and survive in our normal society. Along with finding a job I would make sure to find him a nice spot to live. The home environment he is in must be one that will only help him with his transition from prison to normal life. I would more than likely place him in a place with roommates. And these roommates must be ones who live similar lifestyles to the one he does. No drinking or drug usage and people who pride themselves on living clean and successful lives. Positive influences I feel are key for

With the highest incarcerated rate in the world, does the United States prison systems offer quality rehabilitation or just punishment? According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there was approximately 706 prisoners per 100,000 residents, or about 2.2 million prisoners in 2012 and within 3 years, almost 6 out of 10 released inmates will be rearrested and half will be back in prison. According to data from www.gpo.gov , the vast majority of prisoners are not rehabilitated. Two-thirds of released prisoners are re-arrested and one-half are re-incarcerated within three years of release from prison. Rates of recidivism rise to approximately 75%-85% of released prisoners are likely to be re-arrested within a decade of release. Successful rehabilitation is vital when releasing an inmate into the community as it produces a significant reduction in criminal recidivism. The purpose of incarceration is to protect the public and punish as well as rehabilitate the criminal. It is designed to change an inmate's view of life and alter their future behavior when re-entering society. Prisons offer education, labor, and other rehabilitation sources to inmates, so why is the recidivism rate so high with these programs in place?

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