The problem with the conclusion is that it is based on a series of false premises.

In fact, the conclusions display a striking amount of ignorance about the subject matter.

This is not bad, in and of, itself. Ignorance can be ended with education. However, stupidness, the kind I run into on a daily basis in the criminal justice system, is often fueled by the atomic power of denial: The stupid refuse to learn despite the option to do so.

Recidivism is caused by a very simple math formula, as is most crime:

Your Brain = Your Behavior.

Healthy brain, healthy behavior. Unhealthy brain, unhealthy behavior.

Thus, the solution is a diagnostic evaluation upon pretrial release screening, treatment as a condition of bond, and consideration for treatment at sentencing.

The unfortunate side effect of this effective crime reduction method is . . . that it actually works. Most people would rather stick with preconceived nonsensical notions rather than admit they might be wrong. Science and reason rarely win against raw emotion.

http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com

First, let me get this out. I am totally against ANY form of abuse to any human being. And I believe anyone who murders another human being should be in prison for the rest of their life (until they die). I do not believe in the death penalty for anyone. Also, I believe that once a person has been in and out of prison and has served their probation and parole, done everything required of them, and what was signed on the “contract” when they took the plea, none of this should be required of them, none of it. The state cannot tear up a contract like this, which they are basically doing, it’s unconstitutional. Many people, if they had known they would be faced with all this, they would have NOT taken a plea deal. And the courts are very aware of this and this is why they made it retroactive; thus violating ex-post facto laws! They should be allowed to get on with their life as if nothing happened. I’m not saying for it to be removed from their record, but, the crime should be removed from public view and background checks, they should not have any more restrictions, shaming, etc. If they commit another crime, then they face a lot more punishment, like everything else is treated.

When are we going to move away from being “TOUGH ON CRIME” and move to being “SMART ON CRIME?” If you locked every single s*x offender up, at this moment, or killed every one of them, do you think the problem is over? No, more will follow.

I’ve heard many people say “If these laws protect one child, then they are worth it!” And at the same time, if millions are tortured, it’s ok. Offenders are losing their homes, jobs, families, and children and cannot find new jobs or homes due to the insanity of these laws. The families are also made into outcasts for associating with or being related to an ex-offender and their own children are harassed and bullied at schools due to a family member being an ex-offender.

I know these laws are a sensitive issue, but as all issues, they must be discussed and we must come up with a valid solution that will work. The laws, as they exist now, DO NOT WORK! People are always saying they cause unintended consequences. These laws have been on the books for years now, so nothing is unintended anymore. When are we going to set aside fear, hate, rage and anger and come up with a real solution? History has proven that these feelings NEVER get good laws passed but only create bad ones that punish and torture many people. These knee-jerk reactions to a slim number of high-profile crimes, like Adam Walsh and Jessica Lunsford, MUST STOP!

When an ex-offender is forced to move from his/her home, thus having to sell it, cannot find another home within the law due to the residency “buffer” zones, get fired from their jobs due to being on the registry, cannot find a new job due to being on the registry, their husband/wife lose their jobs due to a significant other being on the registry, their children lose their friends and are harassed and bullied in school due to a family member being on the registry, thus destroying the children’s lives, ex-offenders are forced into homelessness and to live under bridges, harassed by police, neighbors and probation/parole officers, have to wear “I’m a s*x offender T-shirt” or have a neon green license plate on ALL their cars, have “s*x offender” on their drivers license and forced to renew their licenses every year, forced from shelters during tornadoes or hurricanes, cannot give blood at some places due to being discriminated against for being on the s*x offender registry, denied housing due to being on the registry, signs placed in their yards inviting harassment and ridicule from the neighbors, forced to move when the neighbors start picketing outside the ex-offenders home, the list is endless.

I THINK THIS IS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT, BEYOND THE EXTREME!

Stephen,
The conclusion here is that this is one reason why recidivism occurs, not that it is the only reason. There are certainly a number of other issues that play a large part in this ranging from upbringing to chemical imbalances and further. Also, I agree that we need comprehensive diagnostics and required treatment as part of sentencing. I’m sorry if I didn’t make that clear.

More recidivism studies here:

http://sexoffenderstudies.blogspot.com/search/label/Recidivism

http://sexoffenderstudies.blogspot.com/2008/10/state-specific-recidivism-studies.html

I don’t think this would work well. We’re already letting people go far ahead of their scheduled sentences because the system is too full. I don’t think that the penalty of not being able to get a job is a problem since a very high percentage of people commiting felonies know what they’re doing and accept the risk. Being an outcast for violence should be a good deterient against the crime. Perhaps in the case of felonies that we’re premeditated this system would work but so many criminals know the choice they’re making and its outcome but make that choice anyway.

Same reason I refuse to give money to panhandlers, they have tons of resources available to help them find a job (might not be that great but still a paying job) and a place to eat and sleep etc. But they’re choosing not to use those resources because they’ll be stretched or they’re lazy.

I don’t think we should give criminals a break on getting a job when they know the choice they’re making will end in disaster.

I don’t think his idea was really to let them go early. I think the idea was to keep them longer. They must be reformed before they get out.

I wouldn’t want to EVER let them out unless they were judged reformed by a jury, similar to the way in which they were convicted. Also, I’m not convinced that they all realize how bad the things will be after they have ‘repayed their debt to society’.

I agree with the writer of the original post. Possibly because I am a convicted felon. I am currently thirty years old, however at 18 I rented a car in my aunts name and wrecked it. My aunt did not want to press charges, however the car had to be paid for so the rental company pressed charges. At 18 years old, I was an A student and a felon. I did not understand the consequences until I tried to get a job after completing 4 years in college. I had gotten a degree, paid my debt to the car company and successfully completed my parole. I haven’t been able to get a job with my degree for eight years. Now at thirty I am unable to completely care for myself. Fortunately I have a wonderful family that is understanding and unbiased. Others are not as fortunate and end up depressed, addicted to drugs and repeat offenders. It is definitely a problem and this was the first good answer I have heard in 12 years. Thanks

I believe the system is fed by angry people that, like me, can not stand the thought of someone harming a child in a sexual manner. It’s a horrific thought to try and process. I believe that most people can not process such a thought rationally. Like myself, they get very angry by the very thought of such a terrible act.I was convicted of 4th degree sexual contact because the detective decided to pump up the charges on me as high as he could because I wouldn’t admit to something I just didn’t do. I was caught pleasing myself in my own vehicle while driving down the road. A school bus pulled up beside me without me realizing until it was too late. I new I was up high enough so nobody would see me. However, I didn’t consider or anticipate a school bus.I was taking Viagra to help with some sexual problems between me and my fiance at the time, and was experiencing uncontrolable erections due to the viagra. The prosecutor threw the book at me because I wouldn’t admit to intentionally following around school buses to show myself to children. Now I am labeled a sex offender even though they didn’t require me to register. Trying to find a job is almost completely impossible. I had a good job but was laid off because of the recession. My former employer knows about the charges against me and knows that I am a good person that made a stupid mistake. But it seems to me that the law allows no consideration for cases such as mine. I am treated almost the same as if I had went out and raped a child. If I was truely a sex offender, I would have absolutely no incentive to reform. What’s even worse is the background check indicates the orignal pumped up charge the detective sought from the grand jury. Sexual assault. Tell me how this is fair to someone who didn’t even approach anyone sexually, much less touch them. Our country’s judicial system is founded on the principles of punishment, fairness, and compassion for those who are truely aware and remorseful of there mistake. It should not be left up to individual prosecutors who can not control there own emotions well enough to deliver a fair and unbiased indictment. I made a mistake. I didn’t sexually abuse anyone, but I made a mistake. Why should someone like me have to spend the rest of thier lives trying to overcome it. Lets face it, we all have masterbated at times in our lives. It’s a natural human thing to do when we need to fulfill our very human needs. The only real crime I commited was doing so in an inappropriate place. My car. I will soon be forced to give up and take to the streets to live because I can not find gainful employment, mainly because I am considered a sex offender. I hope this country wakes up some day and realizes that when laws are created based on hate for a particulair act or group of imoral people, they can have detrimental circumstances for the people who are victims of the inappropriate actions of disgruntled law enforcement officials.

So ex-convicts are whining about not being able to find a job and registered pervs are scared about reprisals? Tough beans. They knew what they were doing before they committed the crime. They knew beforehand, the collateral consequences would be tremendous. They knew right from wrong, and they CHOSE to do WRONG. So they gotta live with it. To those who chose the RIGHT path, why should they have to make way for the wrongdoers? I won’t. And no ex-con is going to make me do a darn thing. Other than give him a quarter and tell him to call someone who gives a $%&*.

I have been looking for work for 18mon no luck the government don’t care so I find my own way bottom line do whatever u gotta to live comfortable if that means a life of crime then so be that’s what the government want why else would they alienate felons show no love I been gave up that false hope of someones gonna give me a job that’s bullshit n everyone knows so fuckit

For all of you sub-humans that want to keep punishing someone that has done wrong, remeber to keep beating your children for spilling milk, and for not picking up their clothes. Keep beating them daily because that is how you are thinking when you are saying stupid stuff like who cares if a felon is black-balled from society. Just remember for eveyone that has their back to the wall, hungry, cold, alone with no other chance, I hope you and your family is the ones they take it out on, because you chose to be mean and sub-human. I bet you a christian, great forgiveness!

What in your mind happens to people when their family, job, house and social life are taken away. A decade or more after prison/jail and probation. After all the new laws get passed when these felons are trying to live a honest life. Do you really think when they are homeless, shamed and alone that they are going to be a benefit to society?
These are the questions I ask when I see all the hyped up reports on sex offenders. I am a sex offender and can do whatever I want any day of the week. I reply once a year to a piece of mail and once every other year for a updated photo to help everyone feel safe and secure when they look online. The current safety you feel is completely up to me. I have no intention of “reoffending” or hurting anyone (and never have hurt anyone). So I wonder, am I rehabilitated, did I even have a problem? I’m basically free but remain on this sex offender registry. I know the treatment courses I went through never touched a single time on what I know was the reason for my crime, even when volunteering it and having it disregarded numerous times. Point being, laws will change good or bad for me and I will have to face it when it does. What happens to my wife, children, house, job.. I dont know. But I can tell you if I lose all of that for a law that changes when I have done nothing since my original and only crime in my life that I fully admitted to and did not hide. Do you think I will be a benefit then? Oppression has never lead to happy times with humans.

I’ve read through the responses on this subject and I want to say to some of them that anyone that makes a very serious mistake in their life, like sex offenses should really be dealt with in a one on one situation. Should the drunk urinating on a car be put in the same category as someone who victimizes a child? Of course not, but it happens all the time, especially by John Q. Public who decided long ago that a sex offender is a sex offender, and should be locked up for life. Do you really feel that way? would you feel that way if the offender was your child? If you do feel this way, then when sex offenders “drop off the grid” just remember that YOU gave them no choice. That is the only way some of them can survive. The restrictions on sex offenders is extremely negative, you don’t really want them rehabilitated, do you? You just want them gone. Well congratulations, your getting you’re wish, to survive, they are going underground. Now you don’t know where they are, do you?
Have you ever stolen anything? Even if it was just a piece of candy, or a paper clip? Don’t you think you should be forced by everyone around you to cry, and regret it everyday for the rest of your life? Shouldn’t you be looked at, not as a person, but as a criminal for the rest of your life? Or would you wish that you would be forgiven at some point and allowed to let the past be the past, and be able to go on with your life? Be HONEST here! Have you ever sped in your car? Failed to come to a complete stop at a red light or stop sign? If so, I hope you think about your own criminal behavior every time you want to point your finger at anyone ever again! When you think about children now, do you also think about sex offenders and what they could be doing? Do you let your imagination run wild with all the possibilities of what an offender must be thinking when they see your child walking down the street? Congratulations! Your more perverted than the sex offender your afraid of! The fact of it is, most sex offenders never re-offend, your children are in more danger from your brother, or uncle than a known sex offender who has had the therapy to confront the problems and know what they need to do to never harm another person for the rest of their lives. You are more of a danger to them than a convicted sex offender.
If you truly believe that you a better person, then you refuse to look at yourself in the true light of who you really are! Everyone makes mistakes. (But I would never act out sexually to anyone! You say?) Okay, then just what is YOUR VISE? There is always something that appeals to everyone! What illegal activity appeals to you! If you say nothing, then your a LIAR! Even the police will say that the only difference between a person convicted and someone who isn’t is, the person who hasn’t been convicted of something just hasn’t been caught yet! If your still not convinced that your just as dirty as any convict, then you tell me, where are all the sex offenders who have gone underground because of you?

@Stephen G. Cobb
The problem with your theory is that you are to quick to blame the behavior instead of the cause of behavior. Everything that you present is based on pre-trial and during the actual trial. Which is the norm in the justice system. I think the most effective help should come after punishment. We should provide emotional support, positive programs, job training, and job placement. This would help the individuals express themselves, get a sense of belonging to something positive, help their self-esteem to see themselves as productive, and it’ll save the tax payers dollars. People like you have the big degrees but biased beliefs and thoughts that influence repeat offenders. I’m only in college and i have a better solution than most of you.

I think that everyone should get a second chance. Lets not just talk about crime, im sure that there were many times that every person (convict or non) has made a bad choice. everyone needs an opportunity to prove themselves. One day i will be one who will help these people. i do think that these people need closer monitoring, and maybe even work for a lesser pay but as time goes on, there productivity and honest behaviors can speak for themselves, and maybe they can work thier way up on this world. What does anyone have without any kind of hope in thier lives. I do understand sex offenders etc, people are very against them, and so am i; however, some were convicted and actually learned. everyone deserves a chance to prove themselve. If a drug abuser/user doesnt ever see any hope of being a valued citizen who can support thier family, then why should they even try tobe a law abiding citizen! for you people who are against it,that is fine, but i hope when they break into cars because they couldnt find a job, i sure hope its yours. are u all too dumb and close minded to realize, if given the chance, maybe these people can get better…and the end result, less crime for all of us. ONE DAY I WILL HELP THEM..i will give them opportunities, and a system will be set up to try to make this world a better place, and it will have some sort of numbered scale and if a person keeps messing up, then they have to start even further down on the totam pole and make even less, but hopefully a lot will seize the opportunity, and gain hope. immagine all thier loved ones who will be able to love and be with thier fathers or mothers because they now see hope, and are able to support them.

I am felon. I was convicted of strong arm robbery for attempted purse snatching. The truth of the matter is I was incredibly drunk, leaving a bar, looking for a cab, and had no idea what I was doing. I was 20 years old, owned a business, had no reason to steal a purse. I never stole the purse but it was claimed I tried to by the plaintiffs and that’s all the evidence they needed to slap me with a felony and all the stigma that goes with it.

The idea that all felons should be given “life” with 5 year parole board reviews is absurd. The punishment should fit the crime, and even each crime has its own caveats that should be considered on a case-by-case basis.

I think your criminal history should be treated like credit history. After 5 or 7 years of committing no crime, it should be wiped clean automatically. Same should go for sex offenders.

It’s not fair to judge someone the rest of their lives for what may have been a temporary lapse of judgment or for someone who has committed to going straight and has demonstrated this through time.

WE have so many outrageous laws this is just the tip of the iceberg. No wonder we incarcerate more people than any other society. Great to be a part of the land of the free and home of the brave. Lets cut back on these laws and their requirements, but that will take some brave hearts to do it.
These are sad facts that confront all sex offenders it would be nice if there were a way in which sex offenders can police themselves.
A program that puts responsibility back into the lap of offenders but with that there should be reasonable time limits to having to register as a sex offender. The lowest level (level 1) offenders should be registering from 5 to 10 years, the level 2 from 10 to 15 years and the level 3 from 20 years to life. This way the offender has hope and encouragement to constantly improve and change towards acceptance. It’s true although an airplane is the safest form of travel the few times a crash does occur shocks everyone to the bone. Sex offenders after probation, mandated therapy and having to register as a sex offender rarely and I mean rarely! Rarely Re-offends. Considering there are over 900,000 sex offenders among us yet if one re-offends it make national news. Actually I’m surprised at the lack of re-offenses. Most sex charges are against those with no history and first time offenders. That’s why the list keeps getting bigger and bigger. It’s a witch-hunt that is fed by more and more fear. Our media and politics feed into it with more and more hype and laws that act only to hurt and paralyze our society. The reason is in the name of security for our children but as Thomas Jefferson once said,” those that are willing to sacrifice freedom for the sake of security deserves neither.” Even Jesus concerning a female sex offender caught in the very act of adultery was told,” he who is without sin let him cast the first stone.” Now Jesus was the only one there without sin yet he forgave her and commanded her to go and sin no more. Are we greater than him? No, so we at least should follow his example. Our Constitution starts by saying “WE THE PEOPLE” not stating, “BY THE LAW!” The laws are to serve the people not the other way around!
Take a sex offender’s side of the matter. They really have little incentives in society. At this point 43% of citizens don’t even pay taxes. As a sex offender that must register why should they decide to pay into a system that has socially castrated them? The other point is why shouldn’t they just elect to change their name and become as an illegal alien in their own country all they need to do is fill out a form from the IRS to get a non-resident ID number. Doing this on an IRS form in the box that asks for your SSN right in, “NOT REQUIRED BY LAW” Sheesh, my Mexican housekeeper owns two houses and isn’t even legally suppose to be here! Almost makes a guy want to move to Mexico and re-enter the USA as an illegal and take on the name of Jose Diaz or Hernandez. Wonder if a Flood of sex offenders did this already? It’s kind of ex-patrioting by putting someone under the radar. Is it legal? Well, isn’t it quite Un-American to register as a sex offender after you have served you time? I mean despite the ruling on it’s constitutionality it’s still unconstitutional. So, to register as a sex offender is an Un-American act.

If you have ever had a friend or family remember that everyone around him or her had given them every break, ever second chance…

good job, place to live, every chance to get their lives back together.

And presto, few minutes later they are out back on alcohol and other drugs, then soon after that back in jail…

Very idealistic article but I’m just saying, talk to some people who have been through this with children, spouses, friends or other family members. They will say “my son/daughter/friend is just programmed to be that way, I gave them every chance”.

wow such ignorance… ur telling me speeding in my car is as bad as sexually abusing a child?@Criminal Forever

I am a convicted Felon for a drug charge. I didnt asked to become addicted to drugs, I was mix up with the wrong people and was in denial that i had a problem with drugs. Is that my problem today NO!!!!!
My problem is that I have changed my life around completly, I did my time, I paid my fines, I finished parole and I took it even farther by going to drug treatment. Now, my kids and me are living off of the welfair system hoping that one day I will be able to GET A JOB that pays more the 7.50 hour. Im also in college for Automovite Tech and I coming to find that my education isn’t going to get me any where because of my recored. If you dont call that PUNISHMENT then what the hell is it!!!!! I think there sould be some kind of way that we could prove are self to the courts or public to be able to have our recored not looked at when we go to get the jobs so I can live my dreams and make a better life for my children. Im only saying that about some crimes not them all.
See if you are reading this think about some of the time in your life that if it was possible you would go back in time and change them. Well that is me!!!!!!!!!

I agree to an extent, I don’t think that sex offenders should ever be let out. They are a direct threat to the innocent and it has been proven that they have been unsuccesfull at rehabilitating sex offenders. I do however agree with everything else as my brother dealt some marijuana back when he was in his late teens and is still being punished by being unemployable here in his late twenties!

I have recently felt the pain of felons and how there is no life after a felony. I know these people have made mistakes and im not talking about all of them like sex offenders and murderers,but the rest they are humans.Yeah they may have knew what they where doing or even knew the outcome, but exactly they made a mistake and mistakes can be learned from. I feel like many of them not being able to get a job is life punishment. This law deosn’t give them a chance to change i feel like if they meet all the requirements and are let out then why can’t they get a job if they barely spent anytime in jail or prison why can’t they take care of their families. Its like they can’t when for losing like being put on child support because their children’s mom or dad needs child care or some assistance from welfare but can’t get a job for their mistake they made. They go out and get an education or in some cases have an education but can’t put it to use. Aren’t yall tired of seeing these homeless people ex-felons, i mean we all have a brain give them a chance to use it the world could be a so much better place if these humans where giving back a chance. These people could be Lawyers Doctors ect. Im just saying all those people in the court rooms and White House and Employers ect. had to change at least one thing about themselves to be where they are. So, give them a chance nomore denying them a job or welfare if they have changed give them a chance to prove it to themselves their family, and most of all the man upstairs that knows what he or she is capable of anyway and the big sign of change is them getting up and looking for a job in the first place DUH!!!! Please let’s make this world a better place give these people a “CHANCE TO CHANGE”

I too USED TO BELIEVE

I used to believe ex-cons should be given many many chances to get their lives together… until I befriended a few of them… after years of knowing them I now realize there is no easy answer. When I had a lot I was very generous and helped in every way I could, hoping the ex-felons I knew would start a new life after years of doing repeat crimes- mostly thefts of $300 or more- I gave or paid for their shelter, got them jobs, gave good references, bought them new clothes many times, gave them rides to their new jobs, etc. etc. Well they would stay sober and clean a couple months or one did that for a few years, but when tough situations came up, one of them went out after years clean, and reverted to old behavior- stoled major appliances out of his friend’s house! And that was another friend trying to help him. In fact the other felon repeatedly stoled from the very man who rehired him over and over and gave him jobs and references. So, if a person is young and they make a mistake or a few mistakes, I believe in giving them a chance. but if someone is past 30 and they continue to break the law.. obviously this person is stuck in time because they don’t seem to learn or practice new behaviors! Either the person is brain damaged or had a damaged childhood at some point or is addicted to criminal behavior. I realize now it’s not my responsibility to be the do good-er.. apparently some people take that for weakness and just use your wanting to help as an excuse to steal from you or not respect your boundaries- THINK About this: If they don’t respect the laws or have enough courtesy to respect stranger’s boundaries, are they really capable or willing to respect their new bosses or friends boundaries and resist stealing from them? No, theyre more likely to go after friends stuff cause friends might not press charges.

Also, I learned a lot about the prison system after getting involved with trying to help… I learned the jail and prison system do a LOT to help repeat offenders. Believe me. There is a lot more help being offered to them by our tax dollars and i think this is a good thing that should continue. Most judges and many correctional workers actually do want people who commit crimes to turn their lives around and do well- It isn’t a matter of there being no shelter for them.. at least in major urban areas there are tons of sober houses and re-entry houses reformed convicts or sympathetic AA people set up for them where they can go without any money.. also the church and institutions like Faith Farm and Salvation army have places for people with no money and with criminal records WHO WANT TO CHANGE ENOUGH TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO LIVE AT SUCH A PLACE FOR 9 months to a year. 9 months is how long it takes for a new life to form in his or her mother’s womb and it probably takes that long for a man (or woman) to get grounded and get a good healthy start back in society. Also, I don’t know if there are that many resources for women, but for men there really is a lot more help out for them then they will admit to. If someone you’re trying to help starts whining about how uncomfortable those places are it’s probably because your house or apartment is so comfortable they don’t want to leave and they just might try to take over it! Don’t let them fool you- are government hires tons of social workers, chaplains, and counselors to help these guys in jails and prisons.. most of us who pay homeowner’s taxes realize it’s to our benefit to have people contribute to our society in positive ways and not just keep taking and living parasitic lives- we want them to succeed! but there is a reason they get locked up— to protect us- the hardworking people who own cars and things like that- to protect us from guys who want to overpower us with their strength or wit and take those things from us without working for them.

There is no easy answer. Some crimes are unforgivable… only some. The other crimes need some sort of step-down after the conviction. Like a few have mentioned. Then, if the FIRST-TIME-Offender has proven his/her self then they are placed on 100% equal ground as the rest of the population. Like having their criminal history removed from all background checks, only to be viewed by Courts and Police under certain situations.

Then, make penalties for repeat offenders much more harsh. I like the “Three strikes and you’re out!” rule-set.

For those of you that mention “Sex Offenders” need to realize that term fits a very wide range of offenses!

My sob story:
I got busted for growing pot in my home almost 8 years ago. I have been able to find work but it has been only very low paying jobs with employers that abuse their position. My current employer for the past 5 years is known to hire mostly felons. We are desperate people willing to work hard with nowhere to go. I keep getting turned down for far better jobs only because of my record. I test higher then most others when applying for jobs and I have a better work history but my conviction trumps all unfortunately.

An example, I went to a job fair in a nearby city. The employer wanted to hire 22 people. After three days of pre-applicant testing, there were 478 people that took the tests. I made it to the top of the test scores and even made it to a second interview with the employer. At the second meeting I was given a form to sign to give them permission to do a background check on me. It was the only thing that stood in my path to that job. I lost to that last obstacle. All because I committed a single crime in my lifetime.

@Stephen G. Cobb
one problem with your comment and just one is that if some one is stupid, truly stupid. they do not refuse to learn they cannot learn it is not within their natural capacity.. usually those who you term as stupid are from minority group who have less advantage then other from poverty neighborhoods and bad environments so are they a product of natural stupidity or a product of their environment?

It costs ten million dollars to imprison one hundred offenders for 4 years. For one million dollars more all of those individuals could receive a full bachelor’s degree (researchbrief:education as crime prevention) Which would drop the recidivism rate to fifteen percent instead of sixty percent. So basically out of the hundred people only fifteen would be reincarcerated rather than sixty.if prisioners are educated when they get out the will be less likely to return to a life of crime and more likely to be a productive part of the United States. More likely to be an employed taxpayer rather then an unemployed lawbreaker. When an individual has been incarcerated for 5 years with a felony on their record then they cannot find a job that pays well. Repeat offenders might not want to return to criminal behavior because they know they will be punished but they have not been taught anything else so are left with little other option. Especially when you consider that most of the prison population has a low education it seems obvious that there is a link between education and criminal behavior.

When an ex-convict applies for a job, he has to inform his employer about his felony convictions. That’s a question on the application: “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?” Moreover, many employers (the Federal Government, for one) will not hire an ex-con. If he’s had a security clearance in the past, he can no longer get cleared. The SEC will not give him a license. He can’t sell real estate, etc etc etc. The criminal justice system is grossly unfair. It punishes a person for the rest of his life. If he’s a sex offender, no matter how trivial, he has to register for the rest of his life. Most of the money budgeted for prisons goes to CO’s salaries and overtime. In California, prisons are the main industry. Prisons cells are filthy, food is horrible, and recreation is almost nil. It costs more to feed your dog, than an inmate.

Discriminating against an ex-con should be illegal. Employers don’t need to do a background check (other than drug testing) if you have a good resume, and a track record of achievement. That should be proprietary for police only.

Can any one of you (felons) overturn the pain you caused your victims? The shame, loss of life, property or maximum future success? Conceptually the impact of your “so called mistakes,” especially for you with actual victims can be related to seeds of wild evergreen plants that readily grow each time it rains out in the forest. Stay with me…except for those of you whose victims were actively involved in the process of crime in the beginning; the rest of victims were not aware of your attack, which means the direct impact of pain felt would affect their unconscious processes. Do you know what this means? It means they do not have control over that memory formation, growth or devastation. As specialists, we try to help victims regulate control by increasing their conscious efforts over their unconscious processes to establish a balance; but some are so weak that chemicals/drugs are administered/used to help them in the coping process. Another important fact that you may not know is the role of their cognition: “woe unto that child, adult, elderly, woman or man if he/she is also a victim of strong moral principles; with beliefs in hard work, understanding limitations; if a christian who believes–do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Victims within this category find it hard to understand why weakness exist, why others can’t control themselves, question ‘why me?’ blame themselves and in the process profile a new belief system, which brings them into conflict with what they used to know as good, as not too strong to protect them when they needed it. This new conflict then becomes a seed of a wild evergreen plant that readily grows each time it rains out in the forest. Meaning, your victims use this new model of caution as a perspective lens to view every new thing, activity, event that come their way to assess their safety. In short, your behavior CHANGED THEIR LIVES. Penologists or those specialists who rate crime against pain caused to victims, consider the “forever-ness” involved or experience by victims; and the reason they try to pair the pain in situations they believe warrants it. Recidivism or repeated criminal acts are failed penological evaluation of punishment involved because of victims or families of victims involved in pardoning criminals, and reducing their punishment. Some Judges apply religious models in their evaluative assessment to make their convictions. This is an erroneous clinical intervention strategy because if the threshold is not felt by the culprit they come out feeling angrier than they were before. The hopelessness you all complain of is a result of well publicized acts of evil in our society via the media. Helping the public to remain aware and guard against their own safety. The face of punishment has two faces or sides: one side effectuate threat to others…saying this is what will happen to you if you dare to repeat this type of offense; and the other side is to punish both the criminal and the situation. Punishment was not intended for the victims but overtime, the growth/increase in the population of victims of all kinds increased the level of fear in our society which became the cloud of stigma you and I come to learn of as we read the stories of one another. You all know of the proverbs that say fire teaches the child to not play with it the second time….only when burnt once do they really understand it is dangerous. Why? Threshold recognition…..until you start earning wages before you realize the importance of spending purposefully. I believe in second chances, which violate the goal of penology or punishment. However; many theories of personality have taught us people do not change; they only change the type of adjustment they may make to the same situation, which mimics a change pattern. Because of this theory, their is need to monitor your ongoing adjustment to different situations that come your way in the future. I feel very sorry for those of you who were subjected to reproving because there are severe and dangerous criminals and violent sex offenders who remain uncaught; severely deranged bastards who are still undiagnosed for dangerous forms of mental illnesses we interact with in our day to day basis without notification. As a christian and a clinical specialist, I say to you “better for all who received reproving or those who were/are morally upright to receive a diagnosis so they can guard their behaviors; than those who remain fatal in our midst based on their wickedness to go in and seek evaluation–our babies and unborn children remain at risk of these dangerous mentally ill bastards!

@MAGDALENE FREEMAN
Let me start with i didn’t have a victim. I was a lost person that had a drug problem and didn’t hurt any one. I have changed my life around I have a couple years clean from all drugs that is including alcohol. I don’t have the desire to use any more and work a program of recovery. So that makes me such a bad person that i don’t have the right to live a good life or make one for my kids. I’m stuck working in fast food and other Shitty ass jobs because i made a mistake and got hooked on dope. I am a felon because i had drugs on me and i went to prison and did my time and have change my life round so you are saying what i don’t have that right. The only person I hurt was me. I didn’t beat on any one i didn’t rob and one and i never would have and never will so I’m the one that has to pay for the rest of my life right so think about that one before you go and con-dim all felons as shit people that have these victims because that isn’t the case in a felony’s oh ya and you the tax payer pays for the ones your talking about to live on welfare what you have to say about that??????????

The first problem to solve is the wide ranging classification. “Felon” is so abstract now that, in some cases, merely its connotation is the worst thing about the person. For instance I was very close to being classified as a felon for riding my motorcycle without a helmet. I was in South Carolina where it is perfectly legal to do so. The kicker was that I was in the military at the time. It was at a very inopportune time, just after signing a page 13 and I was given an ultimatum. Either go to court-martial or be dishonorably discharged. The captain wanted to make aan example of me. He merely wanted it printed in the newsletter that I had gone to court-martial. What I later found out, is that if you are convicted of Article 92 (failure to obey a lawful order, ie. not wearing protective gear) at court-martial, it is a felony. Thankfully after they had their example, they wished to do me no harm and gave me a GOHC discharge with no felony conviction. Not sure what they had to do to accomplish that, but thats how it worked out.

My point is this, the general manner in which all offenders are classified is going to be the first problem to over-come.

felons dont stay on the record for ever. after 7 years they seal it. I FUCKING HATE FELONS GIVE THEM LIFE IN JAIL