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English 1010 August 2, 2014

Professor: James Celestino
Student: Jeridiah Watson
Re: Conversation Summery

1) Flaws in the Laws and Social Oppression (Amended)

2) The arguments presented #1:

When an inmate is released from prison, finding employment with a living wage
is a key factor in preventing recidivism. You may ask yourself, what is recidivism? The
Merriam-Webster online Dictionary defines recidivism as: A tendency to relapse into a
previous condition or mode of behavior; especially to relapse into criminal behavior
Therefore it is thought that employment training, community integration, and public
assistance would ultimately cost less than paying for repeat criminals' jail times because
about half of released prisoners wind up back in jail within three years.
(Moore 2012)

Reentering society is a challenge for ex inmates, whose criminal records impair
their ability to find employment and to receive many opportunities and services most take
for granted. Access to housing and food assistance, educational loans, and other public
assistance is vital to breaking the cycle of criminal behavior that floods prisons and costs
governments and taxpayers billions of dollars each year, according to advocates for
reform. Local support programs that help ex-inmates reintegrate into society show a 20%
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to 60% decrease in recidivismbut reintegration programs are few and far between.
(Kingsbury 2007)




The arguments presented #2:
It is true that steady employment characteristic of those who have conformed to
societal norms, those who have turned their lives around or those who have otherwise
succeeded after release. It would seem that interventions designed to assist ex offenders
in securing and retaining employment must, therefore, be an evidence-based strategy to
reduce recidivism. However, based on the current research available, this is not
true. Securing and retaining employment may signal an individuals internal motivation
or a transition to a more conforming lifestyle. (Moses. 2012)
Given the scarcity and low capacity of ex-offender job placement programs, it is
most likely that studies finding that employed ex offenders have a greater probability of
success after release include large numbers of study subjects who have succeeded with an
unknown amount and type, if any, of program-delivered job assistance. Employment is
an individual characteristic of successful reentrants, just as advancing age; marriage and
family support are also characteristics of those making it on the outside. At the same
time, evidence supporting ex-offender job placement programs is almost nonexistent.
(Moses 2012)
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Descriptive studies exploring characteristics of successful reentrants do not
necessarily provide scientific support for characteristic-specific programs and services.
For example, a study that finds that a percentage of offenders have gotten married post
release does not provide scientific support for matchmaking services, premarital
counseling or access to a justice of the peace to perform a marriage ceremony as effective
recidivism reduction strategies. (Moses 2012)


Conclusion
In conclusion of the two arguments, both seem to agree on a few points. One of them
being that regardless of gender or ethnicity many of those released seem to already have some
cards stacked against them: Many have obvious prison ink, damaged physical features, such as
teeth missing, large gaps in their work history, addiction to drugs (sometimes picked up IN
prison), no job skills to speak of and not to mention a criminal record. This can be quite
detrimental to FORMER prisoners unless they happen to be fortunate enough to find an
employer that is willing to give them a chance.
One thing some former prisoners do have to their advantaged is that prison has produced
many resilient hard workers as well as deep thinkers who have read and fed on the wisdoms of
many books and headstrong survival experiences while inside living and developing real life
networking and people skills with others of all types. In the right environment these strengths can
be developed to a degree that has the potential to take them far in life. Sometimes certain
struggles in life have a way of developing character of a person and giving them an
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understanding of what they are truly made of. Many people seem to be heart wrenchingly aware
of personal weakness while seemingly oblivious to their many strengths and gifts. (Do we not all
have something?)
One could use certain analogies to put this in perspective. For instance, many people who
are gifted with sight have seen a Peacock right? A Peacock is one of the most beautiful birds in
the barnyard. A true barnyard pimp of sorts! Strutting around with their head held high and all
those beautiful colors of their feathers. How majestic and regal they look with all those feathers
spread out in fanlike form. Who cannot appreciate such a creature as that? There are some things
about a Peacock though that most do not think about. A Peacock has some ugly feet! Plus they
cannot fly except for very short distances at a time. An Eagle is no where near as beautiful as a
Peacock in some ways. However an Eagle has its own gifts. It has learned to fly above the storm
clouds when its raining, it actually mates in mid air, and it can spot a rat at 300 yards while
soaring. Nothing gets everythingeverything gets something in life. However; it is not always
an easy path to tread in life. Given this circumstance, it seems that there is a role for ex-
offender, job-seeker/employer intermediaries, like Chicagos Safer Foundation, which have built
strong and trusted relationships.
Programs or employment intermediaries may prove beneficial in helping ex-offenders
overcome employment barriers. However, the evidence of their role, to date, in reducing
recidivism is scant and is not understood. Beyond possible value to the client, well-established
programs with a solid track record of program delivery, large client volume, strong data
collection infrastructure and capacity, are national research and evaluation assets. They provide
researchers and program designers with the opportunity to set up learning laboratories where
various service modalities can be tested. Rigorous tests administered by independent evaluators
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at these laboratories could generate needed evidence, and hopefully answers. Further investment
in evidence generation will ultimately refine ex-offender job placement assistance, and perhaps,
establish a positive correlation between job placement programs and reduced recidivism a
link that does not currently exist. (Moses 2012)


Perspective #1) Local support programs that help ex-inmates reintegrate into society
show a 20% to 60% decrease in recidivismbut reintegration programs are few and far
between. (Moore. 2014)
Perspective #2) Programs or employment intermediaries may prove beneficial in
helping ex-offenders overcome employment barriers. However, the evidence of their role,
to date, in reducing recidivism is scant and is not understood. (Moses 2012)
Perspective # 3) Getting cons to stay ex-cons has long been one of the most vexing
challenges of the criminal justice system. One out of every 31 American adults is in jail,
on parole, or on probation, and the central reality is this: Nearly everyone who enters the
prison system eventually gets out. Today, ending the cycle of recidivism has become an
increasingly urgent problem as communities nationwide are forced to absorb record
numbers of prisoners who also often struggle with addiction and other illness.
(Kingsbury 2007)


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Works Cited
Kingsbury, Alex. The Ex-Con Next Door. U.S. News & World Report 143.21
(2007): 38. Middle Search Plus. Web. 2 Aug. 2014
Moore, Kenneth J. Investing In Ex-Cons. Futurist 46.5 (2012): 12-14. Business
Source Premier. Web. 2 Aug. 2014
Moses, Marilyn C. Ex-Offender Job Placement Programs Do Not Reduce
Recidivism. Corrections Today 74.4 (2012): 106. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 2