While it may not seem like it is, the basis for the prison system in the United States of America is supposed to be rehabilitation of those who commit criminal acts into law-abiding, productive citizens. I could write volumes on the injustices perpetuated by our justice and correctional systems. While the ideal of the modern prison system was reform, it has more often than not fallen far short of that ideal. In fact, our so-called correctional facilities are really no more than brutal warehouses for people.
That being said, often, after someone who has been incarcerated has paid their “debt to society,” we as a society continue to punish them. We pass laws that cause them to lose their right to vote; and the odds of someone with a criminal record obtaining gainful employment are astronomical, with those formerly incarcerated seeing an unemployment rate of over 25%. The website Employment Screening Resources reports,
The Prison Policy Initiative has released a report entitled “Out of Prison & Out of Work” that calculates the unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated ex-offenders to be 27 percent, meaning that more than one out of four people who served time in prison and were released are looking for work but cannot find a job.
The 27 percent ex-offender unemployment rate – which even surpasses the 25 percent unemployment rate that all Americans experienced during the height of the Great Depression in the 1930s – is especially striking given that the report revealed ex-offenders are more likely to want to find work than the average American.
On the left, we have fought to restore the voting rights of former felons and have worked to pass laws preventing discrimination against the formerly incarcerated, often called the “Ban the Box,” movement. Yet we still often fall short of the goal of reintegrating reformed criminals back into society. They are often denied housing, and jobs other than menial labor. Wrote The New York Times in 2015,
The reluctance of employers to hire people with criminal records, combined with laws that place broad categories of jobs off-limits, is not just a frustration for men like Mr. Mirsky; it is also taking a toll on the broader economy. It is preventing millions of American men from becoming, in that old phrase, productive members of society.
At the other end of the spectrum, even after a prison sentence has been served, the crime is never forgotten and never forgiven, even when the person has been reformed and has tried to make amends for their crime. One example of this is the case of Michael Vick. As a star athlete he did have a leg up on other reformed criminals. He had fame, notoriety, and unparalleled athleticism, which allowed him to be reinstated by the NFL after his prison sentence.
As a dog parent, I can understand hatred and anger towards Mr. Vick and his crimes, which included running dog-fighting events. Next to abusing children, abusing animals is one of the worst things a person can do. I can and do understand the passions involved in defending those that cannot defend themselves. When I think of all the dogs I have had in my life—Cindy, Pixie, Andy, Duke, Gus, Buzz, and Sally—it makes me cringe to think of any of them being abused, especially Buzz, as I rescued him from an abusive situation.
Michael Vick has recently been named as an honorary Pro Bowl captain. Animal rights activists have reacted with petitions asking for his removal from what is an honorary position. The Los Angeles Times reports,
At least three different petitions appear on Change.org that look to prevent Vick from being honored at the Pro Bowl, which airs Jan. 26 on ESPN. They had accumulated nearly 740,000 signatures as of Monday morning.gng Pro Bowl Captain,” one of the petitions states. “He is a convicted felon and a known animal abuser, is this who we want our children to look up to? Disney, how could you condone this?? There are so many players that have made amazing contribution to society, however Michael Vick is not one of them.”
Since Michael Vick served his sentence, he has spoken out against animal cruelty, he has apologized (I understand that some feel his apology did not go far enough), and he has made public service videos for the Humane Society. In 2012 he became a dog owner again, with ESPN reporting,
"I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family's decision to care for a pet," Vick said in a statement. "As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals. I want to ensure that my children establish a loving bond and treat all of God's creatures with kindness and respect. Our pet is well cared for and loved as a member of our family."
Now, I am only using Michael Vick as an example. He was and is a celebrity, which puts a spotlight on his crimes, his rehabilitation, and his subsequent reintegration into society. At every turn he has run into resistance, rejoining the NFL, working for Fox Sports, and being named an honorary captain in the one game most football fans don’t care about. Imagine what it must be like for a guy without Michael Vick’s celebrity to reintegrate back into society.
So the question remains: At what point can we consider a debt to society paid? When can we allow reformed criminals to reintegrate into society?