Local jails and prisons are releasing men and women, many of whom were convicted of less serious crimes. But they come out with a record as detrimental as if they had committed a more serious crime.
The released man or woman knows they have to have money to survive. Optimistically, they hit the streets looking for a job. It has always been difficult to find a job after incarceration. Today, it’s nearly impossible. There are too many unemployed folks in the Wabash Valley and too few jobs. Millions of people in the United States are looking for a job. Employers will hire those folks before “former inmates.”
Picture this scenario. The ex-inmate is completing one more job application. The app’s all ask the same question: “Have you ever been arrested or incarcerated.” Answer “Yes” or “No.” If the job seeker answers “yes,” that stops the interview. Not telling the truth carries a severe penalty. A big problem is that the application offers no opportunity to enter any details about the arrest. Or reasons why they would be good employees in spite of a record.
While in prison, alcohol and drug addictions can be overcome. The prisoner swears they will never deal again or repeat their crime, but the job application has no place to add that information.
Desperate for a job, a released person may decide to take a chance and not admit their former incarceration. Someone I know did that and was hired as a stock person in a large chain store, and in a short time was promoted to cashier, to customer service, and to assistant manager.
When the incarceration records surfaced, the supervisor asked, “Why didn’t you tell us about this incarceration on the application?” My friend answered, “Would you have hired me if I’d have said ‘yes?’” The answer was, “Of course not.” Strike number one.
Coming out of prison with only the clothes on your back, a few bucks and a bus ticket home, make rehabilitation very difficult. Well-meaning relatives sometimes take in released persons for a while. But their lack of training to deal with the issues of rehabilitation can do more harm than good. Without money or a job we see persons returning to crimes that put them back in prison. They are judged as habitual offenders. The truth is, the cards were stacked against them from the moment they were released.
When released they must find a place to sleep, to bathe, and to find food and clothes. Potential landlords ask where they have been living and for the name of their previous landlord. Strike number two. Facing up to having been in prison closes many doors to shelter.
In prison, people feel very much alone, scared and hopeless. Seeking a way to survive, they may find comfort and peace by becoming closer to God. They sincerely commit their lives to serving the Lord with every intention of staying out of trouble when they are released. However, back on the streets with no money, no job, no friends and no home, they soon see their only choice is to go back to whatever caused the original arrest … or worse. Strike three, you’re out.
These people need employment to become a positive part of the community. Unemployment results in dismal times and ruined lives for their children and spouses, too. Employers need to change the job application process and get serious about hiring people even though they have served time. Many would become good citizens and assets to society. That would be a home run.
— Pat Creasey
Terre Haute
Rising debt leading America toward ruin
In the 1950s the popular mantra was, “as goes General Motors, so goes the nation.”
General Motors fell into bankruptcy during 2008. The federal government’s debt ceiling is $12.4 trillion, and soon will grow by another $1.9 trillion as a spineless Congress in this election year merely will increase the limit rather than taking the substantive actionable steps necessary to deal with and to pare down this debt in 2010.
At this rate, with anticipated federal fiscal deficits in excess of $1.3 trillion annually until 2013, with $700 billion deficits each year thereafter, by 2019, the federal government’s debt will be over $20 trillion. This amount does not include Medicare’s unfunded liabilities by 2013, nor Social Security Trust Fund bonds due for payment in 2018. Furthermore, the economy will not dramatically grow as it did in a post-World War II environment given both employment and housing markets will remain soft for the next 10 years.
The future for America is this: Federal and various state governments’ bankruptcies will prevail with a vengeance as China rises to the position of the world’s new and only superpower within 10 years.
America, the once great power of the world, will be nothing more by the year 2020 than a second-rate, bankrupt nation having defaulted on its debt obligation to international and domestic interests with a hyper-inflationary problem equal to that of Germany’s Weimer Republic prior to the rise of Adolf Hitler.
— Earl Beal
Terre Haute
Raw Video: Kim Jong Il Statue Unveiled
Authorities: Houston Found Underwater in Tub
Raw Video: Hearse Arrives at N.J. Funeral Home
Arm Wrestler Not Guilty Plea in Wife's Death
Trial Opens for Ala. Man in Bride's Diving Death
Baltimore's 'Crime Stopper' Is a Basketball Star
Raw Video: Houston Body Flown From L.A. to N.J.
First Person: Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Bacteria Keep Swimmers Off Some Fla. Beaches
Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance
Obama's New Budget: The Winners and Losers
Police: Houston Found Under Water, Unconscious
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
Gregoire: Marriage Equality Is Right for Wash.
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked
Israeli Diplomats Targeted in India, Georgia
Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet
ShowBiz Minute: Houston, Grammys, BAFTAs
Sandusky Can See Grandkids, Have Local Jury
Attempted Bomb Attack Stopped in Georgia
Watch: Whitney Houston's Golden Hearse
Kate Upton MLB 2K12 Commercial
Olympic Swimmer Proposes on Podium After Big Win
Scarlett Johansson's Bikini P-D-A
Man Allegedly Drowns Wife While Scuba Diving
Sports Illustrated Cover Leaked
Wash. becomes 7th state to okay same-sex marriage
Romijn's 60 Pound Weight Loss
The 'Celebrity Apprentice' Cast Meets Donald Trump
Kissing contest heats up
Hugh Hefner's Son Arrested
Jacqueline Kennedy's personal papers released
Did Tyler Perry Have a Secret Wedding?
Iran denies Israeli embassy bombings
'Bachelor' Free Falls into the Ocean
Facebook Parenting: Father Posts Video Responding to Daughter's Post
Bobby Brown on Houston's Death
