No Second Chance
As President Donald Trump declares April as second chance month for people with criminal records, he forgot to mention its only for white convicts.
On March 30, 2018 President Donald Trump issued a proclamation declaring the month of April as ‘second chance month’ for people with criminal records seeking employment. Allowing these individuals to have a fair enough chance of being employed by a company once they’re released from prison. In the proclamation Trump states that the key for individuals re-entering into society is becoming ‘employable and securing employment.’ He also states that as a nation we are ‘stronger when more individuals have stable jobs and can provide for loved ones.’ Though this sounds simple, it may be difficult for those that are trying to re-induct themselves back into society after prison. Aside from companies being reluctant of employing people with criminal records, race is another factor that makes it harder for people seeking employment after prison. Barring people from that second chance and causing them to fall back into the prison system.
In the application process for a job one of the most important questions that are asked is “have you ever been convicted of a crime?” Most people when filling out the application check no but for those that have been convicted, they’re put in more of a bind now. Checking yes could automatically put them out of the pool of applicants for the position they applied for. Making it harder for them to get back on their feet after serving time in prison. For people of color, it’s even harder for them, one because they have a former conviction and two because they’re a person of color.
In a CNN Money article, author of the book Marked: Race, Crime and Finding work in an Era of Mass Incarceration Devah Pager states that white applicants with criminal histories are more likely to receive a call back than people of color. Eluding to the fact that employers trust a white person with a criminal background than a person of color with a criminal background. Creating this double standard where one group of people have a leg up while another group is marginalized. As of 2015 African-American and Hispanic men make up nearly 59% of the 1.6 million men that are in prison. So, imagine when some of them get released from prison and try to find work, they’re already at a disadvantage before they step foot out the prison.
What puts people of color at more of a disadvantage is the sentences that they receive for their crimes. Compared to white convicts, people of color are more likely to serve a longer sentence even if they committed the same crime as a white person did. For example, in the state of Florida African-Americans that are convicted of drug possession serve double the amount of jail time compared to whites regardless if both have similar criminal backgrounds. Once again creating this double standard where people of color continue to be marginalized and lose their second chance.
It is clear that there’s some racial bias in the legal system and shows no sign of stopping any time soon. However, some are trying to find a solution where people are able to have their second chance. Currently, cities and states across the country are adopting a policy that’s called ‘Ban the Box.’ A bill that takes the question of criminal conviction and history out of the application process. Creating a more level playing field for those that have been convicted of any crime. Which is giving people the second chance they want to have once they’re released from prison.
But it’s still unclear that the ‘Ban the Box’ policy will be the way people can get their second chance. In a system that seems to fail people of color time and time again, there needs to be more change than just a bill passing. Judges need to be held more accountable for giving out fair and equal sentencing among people of color and whites. There needs to be more outreach to those that were formally convicted making sure they have the right resources to have a successful transition in society. Unfortunately, this change may not come anytime soon for these individuals. Crushing their dreams of having a second chance while the courts give white convicts their dreams of a second chance.
Isaiah D. Johnson is a student a Morehouse college studying political science with a minor in journalism
