The recent revelation that the University of Wisconsin system employs 40 convicted felons has brought to light the challenges one-time convicts face upon re-entry into society.
A person should not have to suffer the consequences of a committed felony for the rest of their life. If the U.S. judicial system says that they are free and they are rehabilitated to live in society, then the felon should be given the benefit of the doubt by the public as well. However, this never happens as people are too quick to judge and too late to reason. Convicted felons are discriminated against from the second they are released from prison.
Anyone that has ever applied for a job knows that one of the first questions on the application asks if you have ever committed a felony. A simple check yes\ instantly makes the rest of the application garbage to many employers. If a former felon is lucky enough to obtain a job, that employee is put on a short leash where the slightest slip up may result in job termination. Undoubtedly, a convicted felon will always get a double look as they walk into their office building and that is outright discrimination.
Sentenced to prison for years, a felon may lose the majority of their friends and many of their possessions. The world abandons them for x number of years and then when they are released they are magically supposed to mesh with society. This task is tough enough on its own, and when you add in the discrimination former felons receive while trying to obtain a job, the task becomes utterly difficult. They often want nothing more than a second chance at life and, theoretically, that is what they are given.
For the rest of their life that stigma comes to define their identity. When a convicted felon moves into a neighborhood, neighbors instantly disapprove. A convicted felon can never truly live a normal life, as ordinary citizens have a preconceived notion that such a person is inherently evil and believe that this person is just waiting for the opportune moment to harm society. In reality, this is rarely the case, but biased views towards former felons and the subsequent discrimination towards them makes it particularly hard for a formerly convicted felon to co-exist with the rest of society.
If the UW workers who have a felony on their record are currently doing their job and causing no problems, there should be no reason to even be discussing the situation. Sadly, the fact that this article had to be written shows that society is unwilling to forgive, or more accurately, society is unwilling to forget. At one time they made a mistake, however they have since paid their dues, and if the U.S. court system says they are rehabilitated, society needs to accept that. Legally, these former felons have been given a second chance at life and now it is time for society to give them this opportunity as well.
Adam Seston is a junior majoring in history. We value your feedback. Send comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
\
