I took it upon myself to reach out to what he refers himself to as an "Ex-Con" he wears his label proudly because he feels his life as an intimate is only a smidgen of who he was v. who he will become. He stressed to me the importance of understanding we're all humans, and we all make mistakes. There's reform after punishment it's just a very difficult challenge of getting grated it. He wants other convicts to know that upon release you will feel low, you will feel discouraged, and most importantly, you will feel left out. He expressed to me how he had to work twice as hard to get half of what an citizen who wasn't incarcerated has. His reform came from family push, and support that was unconditional. "Change is inevitable, you can treat your past like water under a bridge because what is good for the goose, is great for the gander". This man now owns a club, several houses, and car dealerships in his state. "The goal never changes just the road to get there, and that's how I kept my faith" He was incarcerated when he was only 17 years old, and released when he was 27. As one would imagine that's a significant difference and there's entire different life given to an innocent 17 year old in America v. an 27 year old ex-con.
What do you see when you look on application and a potential qualified employer has an past? Do you judge, if so why? Most Americans would agree that the conclusions is, there are somethings in our justice system that must change in order to achieve a reform system that not only protects but also enhances the respect for human dignity. What needs to be at the top of prison reform list is creating an constructive culture, reducing the number of rearrest and providing programs whether it be educational, social, or political could and should make a significant difference in the livelihood of released prisoners. I think we're running out of time faith wise, we're stripping these previously convicted women and men of a fair life. If they have in fact done the crime yet also done the time that should be equally notable and respected for we have no idea what it's really like; Youth are growing up in an unstable time where rebelling and crime for fun is all they have to run to, something as simple as providing a platform that demonstrates to both young women and men they still have a chance is pivotal for the face of an greater America.
References
J. M. (n.d.). Why Prison Reform Matters in America. Retrieved from https://www.charleskochinstitute.org/issue-areas/criminal-justice-policing-reform/why-prison-reform-matters/
Kadvany, E. (2012, December 07). Education is essential to prison reform. Retrieved from https://dailytrojan.com/2012/12/05/education-is-essential-to-prison-reform/
Erford, B. T. (Ed.). (2018). Orientation to the counseling profession: Advocacy, ethics, and essential professional foundations (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education
