TEMP WORK: TROUBLE FOR CONVICTS (BY DANI CRONCE)

TEMP WORK: TROUBLE FOR CONVICTS

Written by: Dani Cronce (Binghamton Councilwoman)

06/10/2016 – released 06/13/2016 – 3:40PM ET

There are some major issues that our newly released inmates face upon re-entry into the community. For many ex-convicts their future holds the inability to obtain state identification, Social Security Cards and birth records. Many of their personal identification is lost upon entry into prison.

This makes getting a driver’s license and a stable job unobtainable. To get a job we need legal state identification. State identification is needed to get a driver’s license. Without the needed identification, those who are recently released are unable to get work, or a car.

Once they jump through these hurtles they are still required to check the box. This box will tell employers that the potential employee has a past conviction.

This simple little box can destroy their future. It can stop them from supporting themselves and their families. Because of this box all their future holds are temp jobs.

The trouble with temp jobs is that they last for 3-6 months and then the workers are cut loose. This creates instability. No job equals no money.

We cannot release ex-prisoners with no support and no future. We are setting them up to fail. If we remove the box on a job application,potential workers can at least have a chance to have a face to face interview. They can at least make a good case for employment.

This also gives negative effects to the community. It creates a vacuum of crime. It is a perpetual ball that will continue to swing. We free people, just to put them in chains again. We must break this ring of negativity.

We must create a better support system for those who are recently released. With no support they are unable to get vehicles, jobs and needed records. Unable to support themselves and their families.

We must choose to be responsible. Not everyone may be grateful for a new beginning, but we cannot treat everyone as if they are unchanged by prison sentences.

We must give everyone the benefit of the doubt. We need to give hope for a better future to expect a better future.

Wood News Agency, LLC                      Binghamton, NY

@DaniCronce @colinbmwood @Woodnewsagency1

#crime #rehabilitation

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