Contemporary Problems
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Contemporary Problems
Sharon Shewmake
HSM/210
December 21, 2014
Terri Colbert
Contemporary Problems
The population I have chosen to focus on is the criminals and ex-offenders. More specifically, I am focusing on the difficult journey that is involved in reentering society. It is no secret that obtaining employment is difficult for a convicted felon. It is also difficult for persons who have merely been arrested and not convicted. The stigma is lifelong. It is becoming a bigger problem because, unfortunately, the numbers of incarcerated individuals is substantial. The numbers continue to rise year after year. “ Each year, there are almost 13 million people admitted to — and released from — local jails and more than 700,000 admitted to/released from state and federal prisons. Incarceration rates in the United States are higher than in any other country in the world. The United States has less than 5 percent of the world's population but almost a quarter of the world's prisoners” (“National Institute of Justice”, n.d.). If a society continues to stigmatize ex-offenders and punish them indefinitely, who are we hurting? It is a known fact that the ability to obtain stable employment upon release is directly connected to the recidivism rate. “Incarceration rates are high and nearly everyone in prison will eventually be released. When re-entry fails, the costs — both societal and economic — are high….. High rates of recidivism mean more crime, more victims and more pressure on federal, state and municipal budgets. In the past 20 years, state spending on corrections has grown at a faster rate than nearly any other state budget item” (“National Institute of Justice”, n.d.). People that are putting forth effort and determination to turn their lives around deserve the chance to do so. After all, the majority of these people will one day be released and must have a way to support themselves and their families to make redemption even possible. There are several human...
Sharon Shewmake
HSM/210
December 21, 2014
Terri Colbert
Contemporary Problems
The population I have chosen to focus on is the criminals and ex-offenders. More specifically, I am focusing on the difficult journey that is involved in reentering society. It is no secret that obtaining employment is difficult for a convicted felon. It is also difficult for persons who have merely been arrested and not convicted. The stigma is lifelong. It is becoming a bigger problem because, unfortunately, the numbers of incarcerated individuals is substantial. The numbers continue to rise year after year. “ Each year, there are almost 13 million people admitted to — and released from — local jails and more than 700,000 admitted to/released from state and federal prisons. Incarceration rates in the United States are higher than in any other country in the world. The United States has less than 5 percent of the world's population but almost a quarter of the world's prisoners” (“National Institute of Justice”, n.d.). If a society continues to stigmatize ex-offenders and punish them indefinitely, who are we hurting? It is a known fact that the ability to obtain stable employment upon release is directly connected to the recidivism rate. “Incarceration rates are high and nearly everyone in prison will eventually be released. When re-entry fails, the costs — both societal and economic — are high….. High rates of recidivism mean more crime, more victims and more pressure on federal, state and municipal budgets. In the past 20 years, state spending on corrections has grown at a faster rate than nearly any other state budget item” (“National Institute of Justice”, n.d.). People that are putting forth effort and determination to turn their lives around deserve the chance to do so. After all, the majority of these people will one day be released and must have a way to support themselves and their families to make redemption even possible. There are several human...