Improving society through hiring ex convicts

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What is one way the United States government can lower the unemployment rate, reduce crime, and improve the economy? The underlying issue with these problems lies within our country’s ex convicts. An article from the Huffington Post outlines the reasons why hiring ex convicts not only helps businesses but can improve society as a whole. Businesses often overlook this area of employment and are missing out on key benefits that could help them greatly. The government offers several incentives for businesses to hire ex convicts. The benefits often extend past the tax breaks. The public may be encouraged to shop at certain places knowing that the company is trying to help the community by giving the ex convicts job and getting them out of trouble. By hiring ex convicts it can send a positive message to the public and can make a considerable difference in changing these former criminals into something the whole community benefits from.

Why should these former convicts be given so little after they are released from prison? It is very difficult for someone to get back on their feet when they have nothing. A job and proper government programs are the tools someone who was recently released needs so they can start contributing to society. The odds of someone going back to prison has been rising in recent years. In a study done by the Bureau of Justice Statistic, they found that “inmates released from state prisons have a five-year recidivism rate of 76.6%, and the USSC study calculated comparable federal prisoners released have a 44.7% re-arrest rate after five years”. During someone’s prison sentence the goal needs to be focused on rehabilitating them into people who can not only learn from their mistakes but join the workforce. Businesses who hire these ex convicts can have a positive impact on both the community and economy. If businesses hire more of the ex convicts, the recidivism rates will drop and we will see a less crowded prison system.

The positives from hiring the ex convicts far outweigh the negative from a business standpoint. They are not only saving the company money through tax breaks but they are hiring people who going to be more willing to stay loyal to the company. For the ex convicts who want to get back on their feet, they are going to be forever grateful to the people who gave them a job which creates loyalty between the employers and employees. These companies who hire the ex convicts would be benefiting much more than just themselves. As long as these former convicts are on the street, it does nothing but hurt our economy. “The longer that former inmates remain unemployed following release, the greater the risk they will seek income through alternative means. Their fate impacts the fate of families, communities and ultimately society at large." This leads to another important question to look at regarding the unemployment. How much is the government doing while these men and women are in prisons to get them a job when they are released?