Ex-Offenders, My Opinion, And The Process Of Accepting

written by mohdazhar.

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Easier said than done. That’s the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to the topic of accepting ex-offenders back into the society. Personally, I always find it hard to look beyond the negative judgments I have of ex-convicts. This is probably due to my belief that discrimination is necessary as it forms a first barrier to protect us from being their next victim.

About a month ago, while back home from school, I was approached by two men who claimed to be selling key-chains for charity. I was hesitant to buy the goods as I noticed that the men had tattoos inked all over their bodies. The voice in me kept questioning whether the men were really volunteers from the campaign, or if they are part of a syndicate exploiting the public’s goodwill. In the end, I ignored them and reacted defensively; I warned myself not to be the next caught fish.

Under the Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs, safety is described as the second most essential requirement for every human being. The theory proves why it is difficult for – let’s say, an employer- to hire someone with a history of violent behaviour. What if he punches the employer when the latter corrects him for a mistake? What if it causes discomfort to the other employees?

In my opinion, reintegration (and eliminating the second prison) is a process. It involves three groups of people: the family, workplace and public. The process begins with the acceptance of the family, the people the ex-offenders have the closest ties with. This gives the former convict the confidence that someone is always there to render support, emotionally and more. Next in the list are the employers or managers from our local companies. Generally, a natural reaction when one wants to recruit a person with a criminal past is a ‘no’. This must change, lest the vicious cycle of re-offending increases. And finally, we have the public – that is – you and me. Having the public in the process completes the reintegration of the ex-convict back into our society.

The role of a family is critical for an ex-offender to rehabilitate successfully. Serving the jail sentence is only the beginning. Once out, the amount of days to relish the newfound freedom is often numbered, as relapses occur. This is where the family comes in. In an interview by prison officers conducted in England, 44% of the ex-offenders mentioned family as the strongest influence for them to turn over a new leaf (Farrall, 146).

For example, upon release from prison, a former drug addict will have the urge to get high again. The spouse must monitor his daily routine and motivate him to find a new job. She must also be proactive and get ready a doctor or social worker to help him fight against any withdrawal symptoms. Without the support of the spouse, the drug addict will turn to his former friends for help. The dark cycle then repeats.

Companies here in Singapore do not have a good record when it comes to accepting ex-offenders as their employees. Managers are still uncomfortable with hiring ex-convicts into the workplace. In a 2005 survey conducted by the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE), it is proven that while 34% of the companies surveyed are willing to hire ex-prisoners, only 4% of them actually recruited the ex-convicts in the end. The trend is worrying as ex-offenders are more likely to relapse when they are unemployed.

Perhaps, we should follow the footsteps of several overseas companies worldwide. For example, Australian transport company, Toll, has a strong manpower which includes about 460 ex-offenders. None of them has reoffended ever since they were hired. In Britain, rehabilitation center Working Chance has supplied more than 173 female ex-prisoners to companies like Virgin. The recruitment campaign was successful – within the first two years of release, the reoffending rate of the girls lie below 5% of the standard recidivism rate. Statistics have shown that employment is vital in rehabilitating ex-offenders.

Last but not least comes the public, the community of Singaporeans at large. After all, what is the point of being handed a job, and then ridiculed by the customers he serve? If the people continue to shun away from patronizing a shop which hires ex-offenders, how will employers then be motivated to give them a second chance? Though the public plays a secondary role in the full rehabilitation of an ex-convict, it is important to know that over time -if he is continually neglected and jeered at- he may be agitated and resort back to his old ways. He may return back to his old gang members, who are more accepting (and understanding).

That said, I am optimistic that our society will change. I believe, in the many years to come, more Singaporeans will finally accept ex-offenders in their community. I applaud the government’s initiative to facilitate in this process by having the annual ‘Yellow Ribbon Project’. Started in 2004, the campaign hopes to remove the stigma among the community of ex-prisoners. The Yellow Ribbon Prison Run and the Yellow Ribbon Funds are two pillars created to help support the full rehabilitation of the ex-offenders.

We all make mistakes, but unfortunately for the some, the mistakes have been recorded and stamped as part of their history. They are the ones who have gotten tattoos during their youth, and now live regretting them on their bodies. They are the ones who carry a criminal history no matter where they go. Their lives now depend largely on how society accepts them. Their fate now lies in the hands of society.

Yes, it may easier said than done…but it is always better than nothing.

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References/Special thanks to:

Farrall, Stephen. Rethinking What Works with Offenders: Probation, Social Context and Desistance from Crime. Devon: Willan Publishing, 2002. Print.

http://www.yellowribbonprisonrun.sg/background.php

http://www.mha.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=NTc2-lf1bsh88ycQ%3D

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/nov/15/richard-branson-champions-employment-ex-offenders?INTCMP=SRCH

http://www.internetjournalofcriminology.com/Rhodes%20-%20Ex-offenders%20and%20Employment.pdf

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