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Coming back into society after a period of incarceration is a difficult and challenging prospect. Ex-offenders face many barriers to integrating successfully back into society. They can face negative social attitudes and official barriers as well, such as the requirement to declare criminal records on job applications. The government recognizes that these barriers are harmful to society as a whole as the successful reintegration of ex-offenders into society has many positive benefits; therefore it makes a number of resources available to help ex-offenders.
Inmates are often in need of hope and guidance, so prisons offer religious counseling from Christian and other faith ministers and speakers. To start speaking to inmates about Christian values, you must get permission from the appropriate person at the prison. Most correctional facilities only allow spiritual leaders to speak to prisoners on a volunteer basis; don't expect to garner a paycheck doing this kind of work.
The number of offenders -- who become "ex-offenders" when they're released -- is growing all the time. According to the Bureau of Justice, the number of prisoners rose from slightly more than 1.3 million in 2004 to almost 1.5 million in 2005, an increase of about 10 percent. As the number of ex-offenders mushrooms, the problem becomes increasingly serious as more people scramble for entry-level jobs that don't require qualifications or experience. Creating jobs for ex-offenders is a challenge, but with some creative thinking and planning, it can be done.
When an inmate is released from custody, they face a number of factors that have to do with getting adjusted to life on the outside. One of these is to find a suitable job to make a living.
Nothing earns a faster trip to the trash can than an ex-offender's application acknowledging a criminal history. Even after paying their societal dues, ex-offenders still face numerous economic punishments affecting how much they can earn, and what fields they will enter. These factors boost recidivism rates, ruining the ex-offender's chances of becoming a productive member of society again.
The role of the prison chaplain is to enrich the spiritual life of prisoners. Providing for the spiritual needs of the incarcerated involves giving the prisoner opportunities to practice and grow in his faith, assisting the prisoner with family issues, and may also involve addressing the physical needs of the prisoner once he has left prison and attempts to re-enter society.
Of all of the barriers faced by job seekers, the toughest to overcome is a criminal history. According to U.S. Census data and the Bureau of Justice Statistics, it is estimated there will be 2.6 million people occupying correctional facilities in 2010 with several hundred thousand released each year. Employers will be seeing increasing number of ex-offenders looking for work and will need to find ways to absorb qualified ex-offenders into the work force. If you are an ex-offender, there are ways to look for work and present yourself to employers that will make you more likely to be hired.
Ex-offenders face an uphill battle after release from incarceration. However, their best hope of avoiding recidivism is to obtain steady employment that pays a living wage and can serve as a foundation for putting their lives back together. However, many employers are hesitant to hire ex-offenders. An ailing economy makes matters even more challenging. Nonetheless, there are resources available for ex-offenders who are willing to take advantage of them. Ex-offenders who are willing to put forth the effort don't have to resign themselves to a revolving door of periodic imprisonment.
