We are aware that in the United States the recidivism rate for ex-offenders is approximately 65 percent. This means that people getting out of prison are going back, either on a parole or probation violation, or by committing a new crime. If someone bothered to ask a newly released person if they planned on going back to prison, the answer would most likely be a resounding “NO!”. Ask the same person two, six, twelve months later, and if they haven’t been rearrested they might not be that certain that they won’t be re-incarcerated. Most former prisoners get caught back up in criminal behavior for financial reasons. Like millions of other people, they have to buy food, pay rent, support their children and survive. Those who have a criminal conviction indisputably have a hard time finding employment. An employer often looks at the “Yes” answer to the job application question “Have you ever been convicted of a crime”, and automatically rejects that person’s application.
Some ask the question “Why should former criminals be hired when so many other “worthy” people are looking for a job?“ The answer is simple: Providing a job to an ex-offender can reduce recidivism, and therefore promote public safety. By keeping people out of prisons millions of taxpayer dollars are saved. The saved money can then be spent on job development, training and education for ALL people.
Those who attend reentry initiatives are struck by the genuine concern of the multiple agencies, businesses and coalitions that attend. Sub-committees are formed to address the issues facing reentering citizens. The sincerity is real, but the solutions are not. If every one of the agencies or businesses that attend these reentry initiatives would hire a qualified formerly incarcerated person a genuine solution would be created. Budgets have been cut, and economic constraints are real, but if the next time a job is available those employers, for they do employ, would hire someone who is reentering the community a positive impact can be produced.
Incentives for hiring a formerly incarcerated person are available. Tax cuts are given, and most states have a program where the state will pay the employee’s salary for up to six weeks while he or she is bring trained for a job. Not all hirelings will be a perfect fit, but with state Department of Labor employee counselors working with employers, selected candidates often exceed the employer’s expectations. Being afforded the opportunity to reinvent oneself as a productive member of society gives an individual self-respect and the confidence to succeed. The community benefits by having another stable citizen contributing to its growth, and by saving taxpayers dollars for necessary programs rather than for re-incarceration costs. Hiring people when they reenter society is still a novel topic. Most people do not realize that in doing so public safety can be revolutionized, and huge amounts of money will fill state and city coffers. And sadly, most people do not care. But for those involved in reentry initiatives, every effort to employ qualified ex-offenders should be made. Otherwise, hypocrisy overshadows all of the intended good work of good people.
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