Convicted Felons Essay

Everyday someone is released from prisons and jails, but what happens to them afterwards? These people are now view as convicted felons and a threat to society. This image can present difficulties with getting a job. Convicted Felons should have the same rights to social welfare and food stamps like the rest of society with no restrictions.Many people believe that convicted criminals should not have help from the government after being released from jail or prison. However, if they do not get the help they need they will probably go back to doing the same things they were doing to go to prison in the first place. When in reality they simply are trying to support themselves and their family. Convicted felons that have been released should be

eligible for government welfare and food stamps without having restrictions placed on them based on the crime they committed.
When convicted felons are released from prison they should have access to social welfare and food stamps in order to help them get back on their feet and ultimately avoid ending up back in prison.

According to Roberta Meyers a member of the Legal Action Center ‘People who have been incarcerated need a leg up to successfully re-enter the community’”(Wiltz). Convicted felons that have been released from jail often have little money and family support, therefore they need the government’s help to put their life back together. Meyers also added, “Most have a hard time getting a job and initially need to rely on public assistance. And food is a basic primary way they need help”(Wiltz). One of the primary needs of survival is food. Food stamps and other government programs help meet this crucial need. It is difficult to focus on getting a job and supporting yourself when you are worried where your next meal is coming

from.
Therefore the individual’s crime should have no impact on someone being eligible to receive government assistance. Regardless of the crime the individual committed, they received their punishment and served their sentence, therefore they deserve to have a clean slate and return to society (Andrus). The individual’s sentence was aligned with the crime. The support and resources available to the felon should not be impacted by the specific crime. “‘If we want people to stay out of trouble we’ve got to give them a hand up, not a foot down,’ said state Rep. Senfronia Thompson” (Beitsch). The individual has already served their sentence, instead of keeping a burden on their shoulders the government should try to help them return to living a successful life. By not providing support and programs to these people the government is limiting their chances to benefit society and holding them back from their potential.
The jail system is designed to help inmates rehabilitate themselves with the hope of being contributing members of society when they are released.There are resources, training and programs available to inmates while in prison to help rehabilitate them.

The programs are designed to help address their problems; anger and addiction. This is the initial step of preparing inmates to succeed when they are released. Once an inmate is released from prison there should be resources available as part of their “transition” back to society. The resources should be financial, emotional, and focused on job training. The goal should be to help prevent prisoners released from prison from returning to prison. “Most ex-felons say that their greatest desire ...is to be released and given a fair chance to succeed in America. When businesses close their doors to ex-felons refuse to allow ex-felons a chance to work..”

(Andrus).

The ability to earn an income to provide food and shelter is essential for released inmates becoming contributing members of society. The programs available to help with job training, mental health and financial assistance are important resources to assist released prisoners. The costs associated with these assistance programs should be compared with the costs of keeping inmates incarcerated repeatedly. If it is “much more expensive” to provide assistance rather than the consequences and lack of help in the “inconvenience” the state should establish funds to help with rehabilitation of ex criminals. (Marc).
The costs of the various support programs are expensive for the states and federal government. How do these costs compare with the costs of a criminal being processed through the judicial system and being imprisoned multiple times as well. There should be measurements to determine the effectiveness of the assistance programs. The benefits provided should be measured relative to alternatives that might be available.Are there benefits to providing these programs with incentives to meet certain criteria to maintain the benefits.
Successful stories of rehabilitation can serve as a model for others in the community.
“ there are many ex-felons whose only wish is to be given another chance. A chance to a better education, a chance to working career , and a chance to a better life ” (Andrus). Providing examples of successful transitions will provide hope to others. Encouraging ex-felons comes in both financial and emotional support. Both are necessary for successful outcomes. The success of these programs will encourage additional funding and support from the government and local communities. The costs of these programs are substantial. Demonstrated success will incent communities the continue to invest in the dollars necessary to expand the programs. Most individuals are inclined to help people success and overcome their obstacles. The success of the assistance and rehabilitation programs will be a success for the entire community.
Some people think that convicted felons should not have access to government funded programs because of the damage they have done to society, and the possibility of them committing another crime. Matt Rinaldi, a Texas state representative stated that “Expanding welfare benefits to convicted drug dealers and drug felons is a giant leap in the wrong direction” (Wiltz). These individuals have placed a huge burden on society and therefore do not deserve to reap the benefits the government provides. In regards to what Matt Rinaldi was addressing, Providing drug felons with financial assistance can cause them to have the funds to buy more drugs. “Policymakers believed that the ban on benefits would deter [drug] use” (Mauer). Policymakers believed that by banning convicted felons from access to government assistance programs they would be less likely to use drugs.
Although some people believe that convicted felons do not deserve access to government supported assistance they do not take into account the fact that these individuals desperately need this help to get back on their feet. Convicted felons are also less likely to use drugs when they are given this assistance. “The welfare ban applies to many people convicted of a drug crime who do not use drugs, but does not apply to drug users who have been convicted of larceny, theft, robbery, and a host of other felonies” (Mauer). Some lawmakers support the welfare ban because they think it will decrease the chance of people using drugs. In reality many of the convicted felons do not use drugs themselves, but instead sell the drugs for money. This proves that the individuals could greatly benefit from the financial assistance.
Banning people from getting food stamps runs contrary to policies designed to ease inmates’ reentry to society and to curb recidivism.“By not allowing felons to have access to food stamps we are making their reentry into society harder, and possibly causing them to commit more crimes” (Beitsch).
Convicted felons that have served their time in jail deserve to have access to social welfare and food stamps. Convicted felons should have access to government funded programs to assist them in getting back on their feet and becoming contributing members of society. The felons have served their time and deserve the opportunity to move on with their life. With this assistance they can get their life on track and serve as role models in the community. In the long run the programs will jail expenses and the cycle of these individuals and their families returning to jail.