Ex-Offenders
of the World
The Point
As soon as an ex-offender admits their past, their chances of getting a job, getting good housing, and being recognized by a community are nearly destroyed. The few employers who do hire ex-offenders report that they are more hardworking, because that have a better perspective than the other workers. They have felt consequences, so most ex-offenders will actually be better workers. Society views them as untrustworthy troublemakers, but the fact is they will usually be so grateful to have gotten a job that they won’t risk messing that up by goofing off. They are defined by one act, which results in less qualified people getting jobs.
After prison ex-offenders, mental health can suffer and the stigmas pile on and can make prison seem like a better option. In prison, they felt more secure, but outside it’s almost worse. People with mental health issues come in contact with police for factors related to their mental health problems, which causes them to commit crimes to get back in. In fact, 75% of ex-offenders return to prison. A criminal record keeps people for other benefits such as financial aid for college which would make it nearly impossible to go to college. Their prison sentence may have been temporarily, but the stigmas they face, and the consequences of those stigmas are a life sentence. To prevent incarceration, we must begin early and support students in schools. Students who are suspended or expelled are almost 3 times more likely to be involved with the juvenile system within the year. Investing in mental health and substance use services for all people will reduce the likelihood that individuals will ever face incarceration.