For my Unit 2 project, I am planning on analyzing the shifting perception of felons following their reimplementation into society, tracing the shifts that have occurred before and during the war on drugs, and the reforms of the 2010s. This is a paradigm that involves both the shift of public perception, and public policy. This recent shift is in response to perhaps the most polarizing paradigm shift within the US criminal Justice system : The War on Drugs and the get Tough on Crime initiative. I am not focusing on the structure of prisons as a whole, but rather showing how a new perspective is beginning to allow ex-offenders a true second chance rather than always having to wear that “Scarlet Letter” even after release.
Previously denied Healthcare/Welfare
The concept of welfare being denied to felons following release is one that involves itself with policy rather than societal perception. This represents a shift because states have begun to lift this ban of welfare, recognizing that the denial of welfare to those who may arguably need it most may bolster recidivism rates. This denial of welfare was implemented during the War on Drugs, which was a paradigm shift in itself.
Felon Voting Rights
One of the most basic violations of a felon’s rights are denying them the right to vote. The US is currently in the midst of changing their stance on ex-offenders ability to use their political voice. Some contend that denying felons the right to vote is another injustice to minority communities, because a majority of felons are not white. 14 states now allow felons to vote after their release from prison, and in a recent “Future of the courts” survey, 248 out of 293 respondents thought that courts will restore voting rights to felons within the next ten years
Employment Issues for Felons
Lack of employment and opportunity fosters recidivism. Employment is an issue both because of policy and stereotypes. The “Ban the Box” movement is gaining increased traction across the nation, symbolizing a shift in the way people want felons to be viewed. The federal gov. now offers incentives to employers that hire felons. Both of these concepts would have been unheard of during the height of the War on Drugs.
Education
One sign of a shift in terms of education is the effort to make prisons focused on rehab instead of detainment. Trump imposed the “First Step Act”, which puts in place various workshops that prisoners must complete before reentering society, better preparing them for work and school. The recent bipartisanship in terms of prisoner education and reform is a major step in the right direction for reducing recidivism and allowing prisoners a second chance once they leave the system.
This is such an important topic in contemporary discourse. You often still hear about how awful the post-prison life is like, so I am really interested in learning more about how this is changing! I can’t wait to read more.
I think this topic is really interesting and you have a lot of information to offer! I think what you said about the criminologists organizing the shift into 5 sections will really help with your timeline. I think you have a strong thesis and I like that you included how the shift is relevant in both public policy and public perception.
The allusion of post-felon life to being a “Scarlett Letter” was very (unfortunately…) fitting. Organizing your ted talk topically by the different restrictions in post felon life will really help your presentation to flow smoothly and stay organized. I can’t wait to see how your presentation turns out!