Life After Prison
Challenges that former inmates face when reintegrating and looking at the new Jim Crow.
According to The Sentencing Project, the U.S has the largest incarceration rates in the world. Data collected showed that for every 100,000 people, there were 655 sent to imprisonment. Not only did policies change, but also the way the criminal justice system was run spiked the numbers for those being sent to jail. For inmates that have completed their time were being released, but had a difficult time readjusting to being civilians again. The road to reintegration for many of these ex-inmates faced common challenges that made it hard to thrive out in the world. Because of such difficulties such as housing and job opportunities, they look towards recidivism, where many would go back into the system for repeating or violating terms once released. But, in order to better understand the problems many of these inmates endure after being released, we must dive into the types of facilities that house inmates and the new Jim Crow laws that affect these ex-prisoners trying to reintegrate.
Prison vs Jail and the Correctional System Defined
Prison systems, jails, and correctional facilities are common when relating to sentencing those for their crimes. However, each differs from one another and can easily be mistaken. The National Institute of Justice defines these holding facilities as follows. In prison, they are operated by the government and relate to inmates serving a longer sentence for a higher crime. Depending on the severity of the crime, the level of security will be established. As a result, inmates in a lesser security will be given the opportunity to join programs nearing their time served. On the other hand, jails are operated by the local law enforcement withholding inmates for a shorter period of time. Inmates landing in jail are often charged with misdemeanors and would spend up to a year there. But, in jail inmates are already offered with the resources and programs that would help benefit them for when they are released. Lastly, correctional facilities are referring to both prison and jails that have inmates for committing a felony.
New Jim Crow Laws
Prison systems and the challenges that ex-prisoners face when reintegrating are very much affected by its deep history. The book, Jim Crow Laws written by Leslie Tischauser discusses its meaning and role during the Civil Rights Movement and states, “Jim Crow refers to a series of laws and ordinances passed by Southern states and municipalities between 1877 and 1965 legalizing segregation”(1). Though these laws were established back then and legalized segregation, a new form of discriminatory racial acts blossomed and became a part of the new Jim Crow as it addresses the War on Drugs, mandatory minimum sentences, and other inhibitors that make it almost impossible amongst prisoners trying to reintegrate back into society.
The War on Drugs, known for its government run operation to stop the usage of illegal drugs by increasing sentences for both the seller and the user is still a prominent problem today. In 1971, former president, Richard Nixon declared the War on Drugs and made it known that it was a major crisis that needed to be fixed. The article, The Unwinnable War says that the, “Current prison population of some 2–3 million, and more than half of those in federal prison are there because of drug offenses.” Since the declaration to stop all drug activity, young black men were patronized and were at fault and were seen as the problem to drug addiction. According to The Sentencing Project, “African Americans are incarcerated in state prisons at a rate that is 5.1 times the imprisonment of whites’’ and found that “In twelve states, more than half of the prison population is black… whose prison population is 72% African American.” Due to such racial disproportion, these numbers will only continue to increase until we stop profiling minority groups. Its effects will then take their course once they are released and find it difficult to be able to thrive and have the same rights as any citizen in society.
To find out more about the statistics on the racial disparities click here. https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/color-of-justice-racial-and-ethnic-disparity-in-state-prisons/
Mandatory minimum sentences is another factor in the new Jim Crow laws and takes its toll on those in their re-entry to society. Families Against Mandatory Minimums(FAMM) in their paper, Mandatory Minimums In A Nutshell, defines it as “A sentence, created by Congress or a state legislature, which the court must give to a person convicted of a crime, no matter what the unique circumstances of the offender or the offense are.” Though the punished pertain more towards drugs and weapons, judges are forced to give a sentence even if it’s quite harsh. In Laura Finly’s book, Crime and Punishment In America: An Encyclopedia of Trends and Controversies In The Justice System, discusses the many flaws within the criminal justice system and highlights mandatory minimum sentences as one of them. Finly writes, “Mandatory arrests creates a one-size-fits all approach”(323) thus limiting how the punishment will tailor the convicted. Regardless if it’s a first time offense or any other minute contributors, those sentenced will have to serve an unreasonable time. Creating a “one-size-fits all” does those who are innocent or those slightly involved in a crime an injustice as it gives them a sentence that doesn’t fit the punishment.
Though the War on Drugs and mandatory minimum sentences are only a few flaws from the criminal justice system which stem from discriminatory racial acts, its effects ricochet as they are released from prison. Once released, these ex-offenders are at an extreme disadvantage as they don’t obtain the same rights as normal citizens and find it more difficult to thrive in a free world as opposed to prison.
Housing Challenges
A roof over our heads is one of the major necessities that many often take for granted. Unfortunately, those being released from prison are quickly hit with reality and find it difficult in obtaining a home. In the article, Housing Ex-Prisoners: The Role of the Third Sector, investigates the predicaments when looking for a place to live outside from their former cell homes and how third sector organizations(TSO) helps to limit the number for re-offending. During Mills’ piece there was, “Links between homelessness after prison and re-offending.” Through this discovery, there were a number of reasons that proved to be a hurdle in housing such as, “Deemed to be in priority need, must be considered unintentionally homeless, prove they have a local connection to the area in which they wish to live, and the impact of the prevention agenda.” To an average citizen, these problems may seem insignificant, however for these ex-inmates, these are challenges that hold them back from obtaining an essential need. Ex-prisoners may find it hard to obtain proof for housing and often aren’t well counseled as to what they can do, and therefore end up homeless or going back into the system.
Job Opportunities
Work is an essential part of a human’s life as it serves many purposes and is a way to make money. Without money, buying things such as clothes, food, and even a home can pose a problem. For ex-inmates securing a job, it is difficult as companies aren’t looking to hire those with a criminal record. According to the article, Employer Reservation and Ex-Offender Employment Opportunities, instigates the high unemployment rates for ex-prisoners and the possible solutions for employer willingness. The reason why many jobs prefer not to hire those with a criminal record is because they have a, “Variety of characteristics that limit their employment potential, including convictions affecting work opportunities, substance abuse challenges, limited work experiences, insufficient education and cognitive skills, and perceptions the public has about prisoners.” In result to these stifling circumstances, it hinders a number of ex-offenders from working as well as their progress back into reintegration. If jobs don’t expect to hire these people because of said challenges, they will never receive the opportunities to gain more work experience, have the ability to get a better education, and increased employment potential because of it.
Ex-inmates are under incredible pressure after they are released. Though they are free from the lifestyle in prison, they are still bound by restrictions that make it harder to live back into society. Though many want to do good, problems such as low employment rates and housing opportunities make it problematic to live like a normal citizen. They are already at a disadvantage coming out of prison with a following criminal record, so why make it harder for these people that are trying to change.
