The “Cruel Hand” in the New Jim Crow and the film “A Hard Straight” reveal the cruel treatment meted against ex-felons. While the United States especially in the modern times has been striving to position the justice system as one hell-bent on reforming offenders, it seems little efforts are being directed towards integrating those released from prison in the society. Integrating ex-felons into the society is not only about talking to their former friends, relatives, neighbors or co-workers to accept them, but it means ensuring that the entire system allows ex-felons to move freely, access the necessary assistance and adjust smoothly. However, as it remains, ex-felons in the U.S seem to live in a separate world from other citizens because different federal and state agencies have mounted numerous barriers that hinder those released from prison to live a normal life and pursue various goals.
Stigma and Consequences of a Guilty Plea
The tribulations of an offender in the U.S begin with a guilty plea. Even so, simple arrests can cause stigma and being labeled as “unfit” to interact and associate with other citizens. From the “Cruel Hand”, an individual who pleads guilty to an offence is deemed unfit for jury service and is excluded from juries for the rest of his or her life. This means that one cannot get a proper hearing of their case and the “criminal” tag is immediately applied. Once released from prison, the society still stigmatizes ex-felons because they will not associate freely. From the film, “A Hard Straight”, Aaron “Shep” Shepard says that his friends are few and his world is cold. Even after reforming many ex-felons go through Shepard’s situation; people incessantly treat ex-felons with suspicion and apprehension. Once someone is arrested and convicted, he or she should be sure of losing trust and connection with the society. The society does not seem to give a second chance, and therefore, one has to deal with being condemned to solitude.
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Homelessness
Anyone released from prison will always have one question lingering from their minds: where to sleep that night and the subsequent days. Unfortunately, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, which was enacted by Congress as part of war on drugs advocated for stringent lease enforcement and eviction of public housing tenants who participate in criminal activity. This act gave public housing agencies the power to evict tenants engaged or associated with any criminal activity and deny them housing. In the film, Richard “Smiley” Salazar, spends his childhood bouncing between juvenile detentions and life on the streets. He spends life on the streets mostly due to lack of housing and has to associate with gangs to find solace and refuge. Ex-felons who lack housing will find it difficult to settle and work; being denied housing destabilizes one and can have a severe emotional toll.
Employment Challenges and Discrimination
Many job application forms require people to check boxes specifying whether they are ex-felons or not. Having such check boxes automatically means that most employers discriminate against ex-felons. Many adverts also require those prospecting for jobs to have a “spotless” history in relation to criminal history. Many ex-felons could easily find jobs in the manufacturing industry but with manufacturing on the decline, most ex-convicts cannot find jobs in the booming service industry. Discrimination from employing ex-convicts means that such people will find little help, find it difficult to survive and contemplate on reoffending. In the film, Regina Allen finds it difficult to survive outside prison and receives a second sentence for being in possession of stolen property. After her second release, she still struggles and is addicted to methamphetamine, which is probably supposed to help her cope with the outside world. The difficulty to cope with life outside prison is the main cause of friction between Regina and her daughter, Tera.
Welfare Bans
The requirement that people work to receive benefits and the law which states that people convicted of drug-related charges be banned permanently from receiving federally funded public assistance are obstacles to ex-felons. Considering that many employers discriminate against ex-felons, it is a daunting tax for these people to qualify for federal welfare benefits. Such laws must have been intended to prevent people from offending, but those who made them seem not to have looked at the results. If people released from prison cannot feed themselves and get shelter, then they will be left with little options and will likely reoffend. In the film, Regina and Richard reoffend and the main reason is that the outside world is like a cage to them; things do not seem to move for them.
Loss of Voting Rights
Ex-convicts are usually dubbed as a “silent minority”; they cannot vote until they meet strict and often unattainable conditions. Upon being convicted, they cease being “normal” citizens and seem to forfeit their civic duties and rights. This condemnation places ex-felons in the position of second-class citizens, who can only be seen but not heard. Therefore, they are inconsequential and not useful in civic life.
Conclusion
I believe among the developed countries, the U.S seems to be the only country that labels convicts and condemns them to eternal agony and struggle. This labeling does not help because it increases poverty as well as causes a burden on law enforcement agencies. People who cannot cope with life outside prison will reoffend and cause a toll on prison facilities. It is, therefore, important for the justice system to focus on integration efforts to help ex-felons cope with normal life. Government agencies should revise and remove barriers that place ex-felons in a cage.
