While reading this article it has brought to light some of the issues that ex-felons face when returning to the "real world." The truth is that people who were previously convicted of a crime, no matter how big or small, have a tough time making it back into the daily routine of society. Who is to blame them though? We expect these men and women who have committed a crime and spent our taxpayer dollars by serving time and being punished, to pay us back when they get out, yet they have no money to do so. It used to be okay for a business to not hire someone just because they had a criminal record. That may not be quite the case today, as we have made some progress; however, there are still businesses that do it today. Of course, they do not openly say it for fear of being sued, but they still do it nonetheless. Back to the expectations of people wanting the ex-felons to pay back their debts, I was at work one night and my boss and I were talking about some stuff when a coworker walked over to us and asked, "Hey did you guys know that the new guy we hired just got out of prison?" We both said yes. He then asked, "Why did we hire him then?!" Mind you this coworker hates when people live off welfare and do not work. I then replied, "Dude, you make no sense whatsoever. You go on and on about how people live off welfare and waste taxpayer dollars, yet you are complaining about this new guy who is trying to make money by actually working." He did not have anything to say after that. That is why I do not understand why it has not happened sooner to give ex-felons jobs, because if they get jobs, the majority of them will actually contribute to society. Rayder004
I totally agree with you that we as a country need to stop treating felons the way we do. They have served their time for the crimes they committed and upon release are unable to get jobs, housing, and sometimes food. Then we are surprised we then reoffend because that is their only means of survival. Just because someone is a felon doesn't mean they are bad people. Maybe they just need someone to give them a chance so that they are able to be successful members of society. mommy004
An ex-inmate, now full supporter of ex-inmate rights, Tara Simmons has outlined her ideas on how to improve life for inmates outside of prison or after release. Simmons was incarcerated for 20 months and since, has not been able to volunteer at her children's school or find a job. She has now started working for the Seattle's Public Defenders Office. Simmons argues that there are over 48,000 legal restrictions on ex-inmates nation wide. This number is alarming because the whole objective of corrections is to punish criminals and try to reform them into productive members of society. That is a double standard when we place so many restrictions on inmates once released. However, people like Simmons are beginning to cause a substantial change by helping push states to lift some of these regulations and even help ex-inmates, who show potential, get jobs. Not all states are jumping on board however, but Simmons and advocates of the programs such as the Clean State Clearinghouse have begun impacting those states as well. I agree with Simmons, I believe we handicap inmates as soon as they get out, and it's a moral issue when you don't let people have second chances, especially in a land based of freedom and liberty for all. Ghost004
It is true; people need to stop trying to limit ex-felons because otherwise they will just feel like the only way to make a living is by reverting back to what they know best. Rayder004
I agree with you that we handicap inmates once they get out, and you brought up a good point that everyone deserves second chances. Some inmates have a lot of potential; they just made bad choices in the past and are ready to change their lives for the better. States who do not agree with programs similar to what Simmons recommends are setting their ex-felons up for failure. Simmons had the resources to be able to overcome all of those obstacles in her way, but many ex-felons are not fortunate to have the resources to be able to do that. I am glad that she is able to make a much needed change. Scuba004
I agree that inmates have less rights when they get out. Not all ex inmates are really bad. They have made a mistake in their life and it should not handicap them for the rest of it. It's good that some states are starting to lift some restrictions. I feel as if an ex inmate wants to try to turn their life around for the better, then they should be able to. Hopefully Simmons can keep working with states to help people out. Not all ex inmates are bad, they don't have much freedom once they are back out on the streets. Mustang004
The United States of America is a country that is really based on the failure of anyone who is convicted of a felony. It is nearly impossible for them to obtain jobs upon returning to society. All that is doing is costing taxpayers more money in the end because felons that are not able to gain employment are forced back into life's of crime to merely survive. I understand some jobs require background checks and certain felonies should eliminate the felon from that job. Obviously sex offenders should not be working directly with kids. But why can't they stock shelves in a grocery store or work in a restaurant in the kitchen? If they can't find jobs how does society expect them to survive? Many people make mistakes but that doesn't mean they can't turn their lives around and be productive members of society. We can not continue to judge people on past mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes it's part of being human, so we have to give felons a second chance and give them decent paying jobs to support themselves and their families. The entire system we have in place is geared towards failure and it shows in the mass incarceration rates here in our country. If we continue to treat felons this way incarceration will remain high, which cost's the taxpayer a ton of money. Their debt has been paid after serving their sentence we must stop punishing them upon their release. mommy004
I'm not sure what you mean by the United States being based on the failures of our convicted felons. This is a very alarming problem I agree. However, I truly believe that are a magnitude of other great things America is centralized on. What about freedom or liberty? We are known for our mass incarceration rates and the problems caused to those ex-inmates after their time in the correctional system, but I don't think we can simply say we are based and defined by that issue alone. Ghost004
I think it is crazy how hard it is for ex-felons to get a job, especially Simmons who is highly educated and qualified for those jobs. Simmons was not even a violent offender. I am glad to see that it is being recognized the poor amount of rights ex-felons have. It is logically not right for nonviolent offenders, especially nonviolent drug offenders, to be put in prison, later released, have very little rights, and not be able to create a legally functioning lifestyle. Ex-felons need to have the resources to be able to get back on their feet and become productive citizens. Ex-felons deserve the rights of housing, food, etc as long they prove they are productive. The system is poorly set up right now because ex-felons have a difficult time living a civilian life and they have to turn back to illegal activities just so they can live. I cannot imagine being sent to prison and then getting out and having nowhere to go without anything to do. Ex-felons need support and help to treat the underlying issues of their behaviors. Prison is not going to fix drug offenders addiction, but effective rehab will. The criminal justice system needs to set up rehab programs to fix the flaws of the system. It will be costly to set up these programs, but in the long run will save money because of the reduction of people in prison, parole, and probation. I also think prisons should offer trade skills for prisoners to learn and be able to use once they get out of prison. Many prisoners do not have the education Simmons had; they most likely will not find a job once they return to civilian life. By allowing prisoners to work in the trade industry, prisoners will find productivity in their lives. Scuba004
I knew that ex-felons did have a hard time getting a job but I wasn't sure how hard it would be for them to get a job. I know some of their rights can still be taken away but it depends on the type of crimes that they have been charged with. I do know that all of jails need some type of way to help people with their drug problems. Pie004
I agree with this. Whenever felons are released from incarceration, they are left with virtually little to no employment opportunity when they are released. Yet, we still expect them to be able to pay their debt back to society. It's almost like when they are released, they are set up to fail, not to move on from their mistake and go back to a life of normalcy. CAE004.
We make it so hard for ex-inmates to get the help they need when they get out. Job and housing applications just ask if a person has been incarcerated, not the context of the conviction, which leaves many people who may have made a bad mistake in the past with little to no options other than reverting back to what they were doing before they were incarcerated. EKT004
The article helps explain how hard it for formerly incarcerated people to now get a job, housing, etc. In the article tells us about Tara Simmons who with her qualifications as a licensed registered nurse and a bachelor’s degree is having a very hard time finding a job because she was convicted of a felony. The higher up authority wants the inmates to stay out of the jails/ prisons but once they get out it they can’t get anywhere since they are felons. If they can’t get a job then they can’t pay for a house but end up in the same area they should be staying away from. If they stay around these areas where they were first got into trouble then that’s when they end up back into the system. Pie004
People that are convicted of a felony have their lives changed forever. They are stuck with that label for the rest of their lives, which unfortunately means they will have a hard time reintegrating back into society. The reason for this is so many jobs will ask if you have a criminal background or have ever been convicted of a felony. For ex-felons, this virtually eliminates most occupational opportunity that they have. In the article, Tara Simmons is mentioned as being an outspoken supporter in a push to expand Washington’s Certification of Restoration of Opportunity law. The Washington’s Certification of Restoration of Opportunity law is a legislation that removes workplace, housing, and hiring barriers so that formerly incarcerated people can have a better chance at regaining normalcy in their lives. This article also states that Madeline Neighly is implementing the development of the Clean Slate Clearinghouse. Scheduled to be put into action in the summer of 2017, the ultimate goal of this program is to have specific criminal convictions erased from the public eye so that the offenders can find decent paying jobs, have housing and have lowered chances of re-offending. This is great because this will offer a ‘second chance’ for the offender. They already served their time in prison, so why are we going to make them suffer even further when they are released from incarceration? Neighly also went on to mention that incarcerated people who are able to get their hands on occupational licenses such as plumbing or carpentry, they will have a much better way of paying their own way and, in turn, greatly lower their risk of recidivating. CAE004.
Ex inmates have less rights that a person who has never been convicted. Thats pretty easy to see when you're both going for a job. If you have a criminal record more than likely you will not get the job. You can barely get back on your feet to make a living. That why recidivism rates and incarceration rates are high. Inmates who are finally back on the streets don't have the liberty and freedom we do. Tara Simmons was incarcerated for a while couldn't find a job or even volunteer at places. Life for her has been changed. Simmons however has been by getting states to lift some ease on ex inmates. This is a really good things. Not every person that was incarcerated at one point is a menace to society. People make mistakes, everyone does. Your whole life should not be affected by it. Especially if you're trying to get back on your feet and find work. This helps out the prisons by saving funds too. Rather than have people come back to prison and spend money on keeping them there, help them find a job and then they won't want to come back. Non violent offenders especially should have some help once they're out. They are not a harm to the public and can change their life for the better. The criminal justice system today has just set up ex inmates for failure. This needs to be changed and i'm glad Simmons is staring to help with that. Mustang004
This article really focuses on an important problem that many former incarcerated people face on a daily basis. That problem is not being able to find a job because of their criminal background. I do believe that there are some jobs that felons and former incarcerated people shouldn’t have, but I think there are many jobs out there that they could have that they are not even considered for. The one lady had the issue where she would pass through the interview and be told that they would hire her after they did a background check, and then when she told them her history they would immediately take back their offer. Or the situation where they woman who had a bachelors degree and was a registered nurse who could getting a nursing job anywhere and couldn’t even get hired to answer phones for a cell phone company. Finding a way to fix this situation would improve the lives of many former incarcerated people throughout the United States. Providing jobs to these people would help them to be able to support their families and to also help them from going back to jail in the future. By having the women and other people who are out their advocating for changes to allow former incarcerated people to be able to get jobs, we could prevent many people from committing future crimes help keep many people from going back to jail. Hawkshockey004
Tara Simmons, who is an ex-inmate and now a supporter of ex-inmate rights, has outlined her ideas on how to improve life for incarcerated individuals outside of prison or after release. Simmons was incarcerated for 20 months and has not been able to volunteer at her children's school or find a job since her release because of her prison term, but she has started working for the Seattle's Public Defenders Office. Simmons argues that there are over 48,000 legal restrictions on ex-inmates across the nation, and this number is alarming because the whole objective of corrections is to reform prisoners into productive members of society, and it is a double standard to place so many restrictions on inmates once released. However, people like Simmons are beginning to cause a substantial change by helping push legislators to lift some of these regulations and even help ex-inmates. Not all states are jumping on board however, but Simmons and advocates of the programs such as the Clean State Clearinghouse have also been impacting states as well. I agree with Simmons; we handicap inmates as soon as they are released and it's a moral issue when you don't let people have second chances, especially in a country that places such a high value on freedom. EKT004
The fact that someone who messed up once at a young age or even part way through their lives and can't even get a decent job is wrong. Especially for non violent offenders who have gone through treatment and have even tried to finish schooling or had degrees before they went into prison. Its like having any criminal record disqualifies you from having any back up plan for when you do get released from prison. This woman obviously made a simple mistake but had plenty of schooling beforehand and couldn't find anything for her to get back on her feet. I think that it should be a little easier because it makes their only option going back to what they were doing before they got put into prison. HS004
While reading this article it has brought to light some of the issues that ex-felons face when returning to the "real world." The truth is that people who were previously convicted of a crime, no matter how big or small, have a tough time making it back into the daily routine of society. Who is to blame them though? We expect these men and women who have committed a crime and spent our taxpayer dollars by serving time and being punished, to pay us back when they get out, yet they have no money to do so. It used to be okay for a business to not hire someone just because they had a criminal record. That may not be quite the case today, as we have made some progress; however, there are still businesses that do it today. Of course, they do not openly say it for fear of being sued, but they still do it nonetheless. Back to the expectations of people wanting the ex-felons to pay back their debts, I was at work one night and my boss and I were talking about some stuff when a coworker walked over to us and asked, "Hey did you guys know that the new guy we hired just got out of prison?" We both said yes. He then asked, "Why did we hire him then?!" Mind you this coworker hates when people live off welfare and do not work. I then replied, "Dude, you make no sense whatsoever. You go on and on about how people live off welfare and waste taxpayer dollars, yet you are complaining about this new guy who is trying to make money by actually working." He did not have anything to say after that. That is why I do not understand why it has not happened sooner to give ex-felons jobs, because if they get jobs, the majority of them will actually contribute to society. Rayder004
ReplyDeleteRight on!!! FeeingYou004
DeleteI totally agree with you that we as a country need to stop treating felons the way we do. They have served their time for the crimes they committed and upon release are unable to get jobs, housing, and sometimes food. Then we are surprised we then reoffend because that is their only means of survival. Just because someone is a felon doesn't mean they are bad people. Maybe they just need someone to give them a chance so that they are able to be successful members of society. mommy004
DeleteAn ex-inmate, now full supporter of ex-inmate rights, Tara Simmons has outlined her ideas on how to improve life for inmates outside of prison or after release. Simmons was incarcerated for 20 months and since, has not been able to volunteer at her children's school or find a job. She has now started working for the Seattle's Public Defenders Office. Simmons argues that there are over 48,000 legal restrictions on ex-inmates nation wide. This number is alarming because the whole objective of corrections is to punish criminals and try to reform them into productive members of society. That is a double standard when we place so many restrictions on inmates once released. However, people like Simmons are beginning to cause a substantial change by helping push states to lift some of these regulations and even help ex-inmates, who show potential, get jobs. Not all states are jumping on board however, but Simmons and advocates of the programs such as the Clean State Clearinghouse have begun impacting those states as well. I agree with Simmons, I believe we handicap inmates as soon as they get out, and it's a moral issue when you don't let people have second chances, especially in a land based of freedom and liberty for all. Ghost004
ReplyDeleteIt is true; people need to stop trying to limit ex-felons because otherwise they will just feel like the only way to make a living is by reverting back to what they know best. Rayder004
DeleteI agree with you that we handicap inmates once they get out, and you brought up a good point that everyone deserves second chances. Some inmates have a lot of potential; they just made bad choices in the past and are ready to change their lives for the better. States who do not agree with programs similar to what Simmons recommends are setting their ex-felons up for failure. Simmons had the resources to be able to overcome all of those obstacles in her way, but many ex-felons are not fortunate to have the resources to be able to do that. I am glad that she is able to make a much needed change. Scuba004
DeleteI agree that inmates have less rights when they get out. Not all ex inmates are really bad. They have made a mistake in their life and it should not handicap them for the rest of it. It's good that some states are starting to lift some restrictions. I feel as if an ex inmate wants to try to turn their life around for the better, then they should be able to. Hopefully Simmons can keep working with states to help people out. Not all ex inmates are bad, they don't have much freedom once they are back out on the streets. Mustang004
DeleteThe United States of America is a country that is really based on the failure of anyone who is convicted of a felony. It is nearly impossible for them to obtain jobs upon returning to society. All that is doing is costing taxpayers more money in the end because felons that are not able to gain employment are forced back into life's of crime to merely survive. I understand some jobs require background checks and certain felonies should eliminate the felon from that job. Obviously sex offenders should not be working directly with kids. But why can't they stock shelves in a grocery store or work in a restaurant in the kitchen? If they can't find jobs how does society expect them to survive? Many people make mistakes but that doesn't mean they can't turn their lives around and be productive members of society. We can not continue to judge people on past mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes it's part of being human, so we have to give felons a second chance and give them decent paying jobs to support themselves and their families. The entire system we have in place is geared towards failure and it shows in the mass incarceration rates here in our country. If we continue to treat felons this way incarceration will remain high, which cost's the taxpayer a ton of money. Their debt has been paid after serving their sentence we must stop punishing them upon their release. mommy004
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what you mean by the United States being based on the failures of our convicted felons. This is a very alarming problem I agree. However, I truly believe that are a magnitude of other great things America is centralized on. What about freedom or liberty? We are known for our mass incarceration rates and the problems caused to those ex-inmates after their time in the correctional system, but I don't think we can simply say we are based and defined by that issue alone. Ghost004
DeleteI think it is crazy how hard it is for ex-felons to get a job, especially Simmons who is highly educated and qualified for those jobs. Simmons was not even a violent offender. I am glad to see that it is being recognized the poor amount of rights ex-felons have. It is logically not right for nonviolent offenders, especially nonviolent drug offenders, to be put in prison, later released, have very little rights, and not be able to create a legally functioning lifestyle. Ex-felons need to have the resources to be able to get back on their feet and become productive citizens. Ex-felons deserve the rights of housing, food, etc as long they prove they are productive. The system is poorly set up right now because ex-felons have a difficult time living a civilian life and they have to turn back to illegal activities just so they can live. I cannot imagine being sent to prison and then getting out and having nowhere to go without anything to do. Ex-felons need support and help to treat the underlying issues of their behaviors. Prison is not going to fix drug offenders addiction, but effective rehab will. The criminal justice system needs to set up rehab programs to fix the flaws of the system. It will be costly to set up these programs, but in the long run will save money because of the reduction of people in prison, parole, and probation. I also think prisons should offer trade skills for prisoners to learn and be able to use once they get out of prison. Many prisoners do not have the education Simmons had; they most likely will not find a job once they return to civilian life. By allowing prisoners to work in the trade industry, prisoners will find productivity in their lives. Scuba004
ReplyDeleteI knew that ex-felons did have a hard time getting a job but I wasn't sure how hard it would be for them to get a job. I know some of their rights can still be taken away but it depends on the type of crimes that they have been charged with. I do know that all of jails need some type of way to help people with their drug problems. Pie004
DeleteI agree with this. Whenever felons are released from incarceration, they are left with virtually little to no employment opportunity when they are released. Yet, we still expect them to be able to pay their debt back to society. It's almost like when they are released, they are set up to fail, not to move on from their mistake and go back to a life of normalcy. CAE004.
DeleteWe make it so hard for ex-inmates to get the help they need when they get out. Job and housing applications just ask if a person has been incarcerated, not the context of the conviction, which leaves many people who may have made a bad mistake in the past with little to no options other than reverting back to what they were doing before they were incarcerated. EKT004
DeleteThe article helps explain how hard it for formerly incarcerated people to now get a job, housing, etc. In the article tells us about Tara Simmons who with her qualifications as a licensed registered nurse and a bachelor’s degree is having a very hard time finding a job because she was convicted of a felony. The higher up authority wants the inmates to stay out of the jails/ prisons but once they get out it they can’t get anywhere since they are felons. If they can’t get a job then they can’t pay for a house but end up in the same area they should be staying away from. If they stay around these areas where they were first got into trouble then that’s when they end up back into the system. Pie004
ReplyDeletePeople that are convicted of a felony have their lives changed forever. They are stuck with that label for the rest of their lives, which unfortunately means they will have a hard time reintegrating back into society. The reason for this is so many jobs will ask if you have a criminal background or have ever been convicted of a felony. For ex-felons, this virtually eliminates most occupational opportunity that they have. In the article, Tara Simmons is mentioned as being an outspoken supporter in a push to expand Washington’s Certification of Restoration of Opportunity law. The Washington’s Certification of Restoration of Opportunity law is a legislation that removes workplace, housing, and hiring barriers so that formerly incarcerated people can have a better chance at regaining normalcy in their lives. This article also states that Madeline Neighly is implementing the development of the Clean Slate Clearinghouse. Scheduled to be put into action in the summer of 2017, the ultimate goal of this program is to have specific criminal convictions erased from the public eye so that the offenders can find decent paying jobs, have housing and have lowered chances of re-offending. This is great because this will offer a ‘second chance’ for the offender. They already served their time in prison, so why are we going to make them suffer even further when they are released from incarceration? Neighly also went on to mention that incarcerated people who are able to get their hands on occupational licenses such as plumbing or carpentry, they will have a much better way of paying their own way and, in turn, greatly lower their risk of recidivating. CAE004.
ReplyDeleteEx inmates have less rights that a person who has never been convicted. Thats pretty easy to see when you're both going for a job. If you have a criminal record more than likely you will not get the job. You can barely get back on your feet to make a living. That why recidivism rates and incarceration rates are high. Inmates who are finally back on the streets don't have the liberty and freedom we do. Tara Simmons was incarcerated for a while couldn't find a job or even volunteer at places. Life for her has been changed. Simmons however has been by getting states to lift some ease on ex inmates. This is a really good things. Not every person that was incarcerated at one point is a menace to society. People make mistakes, everyone does. Your whole life should not be affected by it. Especially if you're trying to get back on your feet and find work. This helps out the prisons by saving funds too. Rather than have people come back to prison and spend money on keeping them there, help them find a job and then they won't want to come back. Non violent offenders especially should have some help once they're out. They are not a harm to the public and can change their life for the better. The criminal justice system today has just set up ex inmates for failure. This needs to be changed and i'm glad Simmons is staring to help with that. Mustang004
ReplyDeleteThis article really focuses on an important problem that many former incarcerated people face on a daily basis. That problem is not being able to find a job because of their criminal background. I do believe that there are some jobs that felons and former incarcerated people shouldn’t have, but I think there are many jobs out there that they could have that they are not even considered for. The one lady had the issue where she would pass through the interview and be told that they would hire her after they did a background check, and then when she told them her history they would immediately take back their offer. Or the situation where they woman who had a bachelors degree and was a registered nurse who could getting a nursing job anywhere and couldn’t even get hired to answer phones for a cell phone company. Finding a way to fix this situation would improve the lives of many former incarcerated people throughout the United States. Providing jobs to these people would help them to be able to support their families and to also help them from going back to jail in the future. By having the women and other people who are out their advocating for changes to allow former incarcerated people to be able to get jobs, we could prevent many people from committing future crimes help keep many people from going back to jail. Hawkshockey004
ReplyDeleteTara Simmons, who is an ex-inmate and now a supporter of ex-inmate rights, has outlined her ideas on how to improve life for incarcerated individuals outside of prison or after release. Simmons was incarcerated for 20 months and has not been able to volunteer at her children's school or find a job since her release because of her prison term, but she has started working for the Seattle's Public Defenders Office. Simmons argues that there are over 48,000 legal restrictions on ex-inmates across the nation, and this number is alarming because the whole objective of corrections is to reform prisoners into productive members of society, and it is a double standard to place so many restrictions on inmates once released. However, people like Simmons are beginning to cause a substantial change by helping push legislators to lift some of these regulations and even help ex-inmates. Not all states are jumping on board however, but Simmons and advocates of the programs such as the Clean State Clearinghouse have also been impacting states as well. I agree with Simmons; we handicap inmates as soon as they are released and it's a moral issue when you don't let people have second chances, especially in a country that places such a high value on freedom. EKT004
ReplyDeleteThe fact that someone who messed up once at a young age or even part way through their lives and can't even get a decent job is wrong. Especially for non violent offenders who have gone through treatment and have even tried to finish schooling or had degrees before they went into prison. Its like having any criminal record disqualifies you from having any back up plan for when you do get released from prison. This woman obviously made a simple mistake but had plenty of schooling beforehand and couldn't find anything for her to get back on her feet. I think that it should be a little easier because it makes their only option going back to what they were doing before they got put into prison. HS004
ReplyDelete