Cons of Re-entry Program (Research Paper Sample)

Research Paper
Sociology
Number of Pages: 3
Cons of Re-entry Program: A case of the Voting Aspect
Introduction
Re-entry Program is a tool designed to help convicts to restore their lives back after they get out of prison. Life after prison can be challenging as it is mixed with feelings of joy and a form of anxiety as well. Having spent years in prison and then coming out, this poses a challenge to the ex- convicts since they need a place to live, food, shelter and a means to provide for their needs. Those who had families lost most of their moments together and adapting to their return can be difficult, especially the kids. In prison, most times they just sleep without any production. The need for them to learn ways to deal with family life pressure, problems and conflict can be difficult as well. Therefore, the programs are there to help these people transit from prison life and merge with the general public. Re-entry programs have their disadvantages as well. Looking at the life ex- convicts had adapted in prison, it becomes difficult to reform them, let alone leave them to have normal free lives. The public is often an obstacle since they do not trust the ex-convicts. They are faced with many bars that prevent them from living the normal lives just like everyone else. Finding a job can be difficult since no one wants to hire someone with a criminal record for security purposes. All these challenges face them once they get out. This paper has a special interest in the voting aspect of the ex-convicts. Voting rights are in the constitution and everyone has the right to vote. Some states assert complete disfranchisement of ex-convicts from voting, while others insist on a time frame before the rights are given back to them. This is for them to show that they deserve to be restored back into the society.
Voting, as a bar to re-entry is one of the most inabilities ex-convicts face after prison life. The exclusion to participate in voting not only affects the ex-convicts themselves but also the public since the number of people voting reduces. This poses the challenge of many numbers of people having no power to exercise their political voice. There are many reasons why ex-convicts are not allowed to vote.
For those who insist on the ex-convicts being given a time frame before allowance to vote, the reason lies in the fact that they should first show their will to follow or abide by the laws. Being convicted in the first place is because they broke the law. Just because they served their sentence doesn’t mean they can be allowed to have their full rights without some kind of proof that they are worthy. This is also to protect the public by ensuring that the ex-convict will avoid any future crimes.
The crimes and offenses committed by the ex-convicts do not just affect those that were targeted but also the entire society. Therefore, giving the voting rights back to them as a way of infiltrating them back into the society does not show why they committed the crimes to begin with. This is because they were initially part of the society but they willingly decided to violate the law and thus, they should deal with the consequences of their actions.
Ex-convicts demonstrate their irresponsibility with their characters. They are also dishonest due to their devious ways which resulted to them being locked up. Thus, it does not make sense if they are allowed to vote since they should not have the right to vote if they are not willing to follow. Committing the crimes meant they willingly didn’t want to follow the rules and thus thye shouldn’t have the right to participate in self government.
They are not trusted because they are seen to have poor judgment. Just like children, they are seen as not competent enough to make judgment when voting matters are concerned. Thus, entrusting them with such a role of choosing political representatives is not allowed because they do not meet the standards required to do that. Objectives like responsibility and commitment are essential for this task of self government.
Mostly, victims of crime are usually the poor since they have no effective mechanisms to defend themselves. Thus, giving powers to ex-convicts is not right there would be no justice in that. This would send a bad message since considering to give them their rights back after such criminal offenses shows that the state supports criminal crimes since th...