Ex-offenders are largely stigmatized in almost every society. They are looked down upon even after completing their sentence and trying to return back to a normal life. The reason why this happens is because people are adamant on believing that a person who once commits a crime can never redeem their former selves and become sincere members of society like the rest of the people. Moreover, others fear that they cannot be trusted as they will redo their crime if they get the chance. This makes them avoid ex-offenders, and this discrimination persists for quite some time which makes it difficult for these people to get rid of their labels as ex-convicts. However, ex-offenders should be allowed to get rid of their label as ex-convicts because like every other human being, they deserve a second chance at life. They need to be accepted in social circles, provided with jobs and be given the chance to redeem their former selves because they are human too, and when they have included in society again, they can turn into better human beings and serve society usefully.
Firstly, everyone needs to realize that ex-offenders are human just like anyone else. They do make mistakes for which they are legally questioned however they go through their sentence, and they only do so because they wish to purge themselves and then return to a normal life. Realizing this is the first step in acceptance and helping ex-offenders remove their labels as convicts (Andrus). There are so many people convicted and imprisoned for various crimes all the time that the amount of people returning back to a normal life is huge as well. This means that not allowing a large number of people live normal lives will actually affect the well-being of the society. This is especially true for those people who have been sentenced at an early age and then are released within a few years. Therefore they need to earn and make a living (Andrus). Giving such people a second chance can be a real boost of self-esteem and help these people remove the labels of ex-convicts from them.
Ex-offenders need to be given a second chance because they are more determined than ever to work and get back to normal. Employers actually need to hire more ex-convicts because of the output these people can generate. Many employers are reluctant to hire former felons because they fear the stigma attached to them. A survey in 2003 discovered that only 12.5 percent of employers were willing to accept employment applications from ex-offenders (Hawkins). Hiring them was another predicament. What employers should consider is that ex-offenders have limited work opportunities hence they are hungry for work. Provided they get a job, they will be willing to work hard and diligently because they need the money and sustain a good life (Hawkins). Not only is this beneficial for the ex-convicts but it is beneficial for the employer, his company and the society because the ex-convict will be able to earn a decent living by lawful means. The person will only return to delinquency once they are deprived of work options and have no other way to get some money. About 50% of the ex-convicts are left unemployed. When a person takes a chance on them and helps them narrow the possibility of returning back to crime and offense (Hawkins).
What people fear the most in ex-offenders is the kind of crime they committed. However, when people commit a crime in the past, the crime is no longer a threat to the well-being of people in the present. According to a study conducted by Carnegie University, there is no evidence that relates how much danger an ex-offender poses to the society than the general population. The amount of threat that people arrested for the first time in a robbery is the same as someone who has never committed a crime before (Hawkins). It is also true that many ex-offenders have committed crimes foolishly in their youth but after their stay in prison and the long time they have spent away from their family and loved ones, they need to be given the chance to redeem themselves and return to a normal life because they will definitely perform better.
No ex-offender deserves to be punished for life. Forgiveness and acceptance make the world a much better place, and they help the society in improving its overall position. People will become more tolerant of one another in this manner. If they are included in society, for example being given the right to vote, then they can add to the political outcomes of the country (Andrus). There are about 25 million ex-offenders in America and about 100,000 are convicted each year (Andrus). With this large sum of individuals, it is actually easy to include them in the voting rights and allowing them to change the outcome of the elections. A better and fairer system of voting can be implemented when ex-convicts are allowed to indulge in the system and become one with the society again. Moreover, since America is the land of the free, then helping ex-offenders become a normal part of society will be beneficial for the country to improve the image of ex-offenders and remove this label from them as well (Andrus).
In conclusion, I believe that ex-offenders should be allowed to remove the label of ex-convicts from them because they are just like other people who make mistakes and have paid for them as well. This label can be removed by allowing them to work and hiring them so they can earn legally and not return to their former ways of life. Moreover, they can vote and provide a better and fairer political decision. Hence, including them back in society only helps the society and creates balance and fairness.
Works cited
Andrus, Tracy. Characteristics of successful ex-felons: A Microanalysis. Corrections.com. 2012.
Web. 17 May 2016.
http://www.corrections.com/news/article/31405-characteristics-of-successful-ex-felons-a-microanalysis
Hawkins, Kathryn. Why should you consider hiring ex-convicts? Quick Books. 2016.
Web. 17 May 2016.
http://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/employees/why-you-should-consider-hiring-ex-convicts/
