If Not You, Then Who?

When it comes to ex-offenders re-offending, the question is always asked, "Why don't they just get a job at the local grocery store or at McDonald's?". The answer is simple. The local grocery store and McDonald's both conduct criminal background checks and the do not hire convicted felons. So if that is the case, what is the ex-offender to do?

It is so easy to lay all of the blame on the one that "has a past". "It's his own fault." "She shouldn't have broken the law." " They made their bed, now that must lay in it." These are common sentiments as it relates to ex-offenders and the struggles they face on a daily basis. So many people live in the past and hold past transgressions over others' heads. Where does it stop?

I'll pose this question to you, if you were in the business of hiring, would you hire an ex-offender? If your answer is, NO, then you are part of the problem. Why do I say that, you may ask. It is because so many times we choose to ignore the fact that we hinder others with our prejudices and stereotypes, and then turn around and blame the one we are hindering, as if we have no part in the matter. So the next time you consider why crime is so high and why the rate of recidivism is through the roof, ask yourself what role you have in that.

Men and women need a chance. If not you, then who?

Preparing A Workforce

There is a workforce that has been neglected for far too long. That work force consists of re-entrants that have served the required amount of time in prison to satisfy society's penalty and are attempting to find gainful employment. There are several benefits that accompany a re-entrant, if society would only give them a chance. We live in a society that loves to taut that America is the place where dreams become reality, "Only in America". And that mantra is well-known and can be heard time and time again. And it is accepted as true and applies to everyone BUT the re-entrant community.

Re-entrants return to the "free world" ready to reestablish themselves in the community as responsible, tax paying citizens- only to find that no one can see past the fact that the dreaded box (Have you ever been convicted...) has been checked. Application after application, "NO after "NO". Again, this is the land of the free and the home of the brave, where if you can believe it, you can achieve it. Nothing is impossible in America. Try telling that to Sam, who just served a 6 year sentence. He used his time in prison to become the man that he always knew he should be. He has applied for 17 jobs and hasn't received a single call inviting him to an interview. The fact that he has a Ph. D. can't garner him a simple call back. Is America really the place where dreams come true?

The re-entrants that come through LifeLine will be an asset to any company that is LUCKY enough to receive one of our graduates. Why? It's simple, these individuals have proven themselves to our staff by their dedication to our program and their willingness to be taught. They are equipped with a strong support system, that is headed by our staff. And last, but certainly not least, THEY ARE DRUG FREE. These individuals are job ready and "life ready" when they graduate. Along with that, the federal government will bond these individuals free of charge for 6 months. Also, there is a tax credit for each re-entrant that a company will employ, AND THERE IS NO LIMIT to the number of tax credits a company can receive.

This segment of our society has been ignored for far too long. Give them a chance to prove to you and to themselves that redemption is possible. Remember- SOMEBODY GAVE YOU A CHANCE!

What is a re-entrant?

Our mission at LifeLine to Success is to change society's perception that everyone that has been convicted of a felony is a "bad seed" and needs to be feared. That stereotype is a significant contributor to the rate of recidivism in our community. Society would like to lay all of the blame on the individual that commits the crime, but it (society) doesn't want to look in the mirror and realize the fact that it (society) has its own burden of blame to bear. The stigma that is currently attached to that term, ex-offender, puts even those that have changed their ways and become better people because of their indiscetions in a compromised position. Jobs become harder to find, applications get thrown in the trash (not even considered), and apprehensive attitudes suddenly appear.

When the term ex-offender is heard, immediately a negative image is flashed through the mind of the hearer. In order to remove that knee-jerk negative image, a new term needs to be used- a term that shows a distinction between a common ex-offender that has no desire to change his/her life and one that has made the decision that a life of crime costs too much and is not the direction one's life should take. We have introduced the term re-entrant to assist in the transitioning of the negative perception that all ex-offenders are bad and should be locked away forever. Prison can actually be used to train a workforce of dedicated, hard working individuals that appreciate life because theirs had been taken away and now they have it back. Prison can become a place of preparation where those that may not have had "home training' and life skills taught to them at home can receive those skills. After all, it is called the Department of CORRECTION.

What is a re-entrant? Re-entrant- an ex-offender that has made a conscious decision to change the course of his/her life by making positive decisions that will produce benefits to themselves and their community. A life of crime is no longer an option for a re-entrant. Some may not totally understand the need for this term because an ex-offender will always be an ex-offender. Giving a person a new identity begins with a new name. This term is an identifier, not a sugar coating or a whitewashing. By definition, a re-entrant is an ex-offender. That doesn't change, but it gives the ex-offender an immediate sign that a change has occurred and now he/she can begin to live out the defintion in their daily lives.

Allow me to illustate my point. Christians believe that we are all born in sin and are by definition sinners. And we remain in that state, until we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. When that occurs, we are no longer sinners (by definition) but we become saved or saints. We still commit sin, but we are no longer identified with the sinners because we have made the decision to change the course of our lives. When people hear that we are saved, they expect us to live a certain way. The same rule applies to the re-entrant. If an employer hears the term re-entrant, his/her mind should expect a level of dedication and integrity that surpasses that of the average citizen because the re-entrant realizes that this could be the last chance. Perception truly is reality. So let's change the reality.

What does an ex-offender look like?

If I were to say the word ex-offender, what picture would you get in your head? What physical characteristics would you give him? Would he have tatoos? Would he have large muscles? Would he have a mustache and a beard? Would his pants hang below his butt? Would he have gray hair? Would he have on glasses? Would he have a mouth full of gold teeth? How old would he be? WOULD HE BE BLACK?

I ask these questions because we have a preconceived notion that all "ex-offenders" fit into those categories. You would never guess that you see "ex-offenders" every day. You see them at the grocery store. You sit next to them at church. You sit next to them in the movie theater and you have no idea that they have been convicted of a crime. A society that has made its mind up that all "ex-offenders" are bad people and need to be feared is a society that will continue to have a very high crime rate. Why? Because when that idea has been spread and is widely accepted as true, all of a sudden, the citizens begin to cut the "ex-offenders" off and make them outcasts.

When you put "criminals" in a position that they are not afforded job opportunities, when times get hard, what do you think they are going to do? If Johnny's daughter needs school supplies and Johnny can't find a job, what do you think Johnny is going to do? He doesn't want to climb in your back window and steal your valuables, but what OPTION does he have? His time in prison gave him an opportunity to think and a chance to get his head on straight, but as soon as the potential employer looks at his application and sees that the dreaded box is checked (Have you ever been convicted...), the interview is over. He has applied everywhere that he can think of, and nothing. His probation officer is riding him because he doesn't have the $45 he is required to pay each month. And his daughter still needs her supplies. So you tell me. What is he to do?