For some prisoners, their sentences do not end. Even after being released, they are followed around by the specter of suspicion, fear, and prejudice. Stigma against former offenders, even non-violent ones, can stymie even the most ambitious, optimistic, and hard-working reformed criminal. The criminal justice system in the United States has become so punitive that rehabilitation is no longer even a viable goal. With little chance for reformation or hope, many nonviolent reformed offenders have trouble reintegrating into the community, finding work or a place to live. When prisoner reintegration is unsuccessful, everyone suffers. Unable to find employment because employers are biased against former felons, some former inmates have no choice but to turn to the grey and black market economies to make a living. It is unfair to stereotype people who have been in prison as violent offenders since there are many reasons that individuals can find themselves incarcerated. Not only is stereotyping former prisoners unfair, it can lead to an increase in recidivism and a reduction in public safety. Most prisoners are nonviolent offenders. In fact, only 3.2% of inmates in federal prisons were convicted of violent crimes; the vast majority of federal inmates are nonviolent offenders with almost half (46%) convicted of a drug-related offence (Federal Bureau of Prisons). Even in state prisons, as many as 39% are offenders who “should not be in prison,” (Eisen and Chettiar). Even...

When nonviolent offenders are released, they are typically presumed to be bad people. Employers are unwilling to hire people who have served a prison term, assuming the worst. Family members or friends may be reluctant to help out, also fearing that the former inmate might have become violent simply by being in prison. With suspicion and fear clouding all their social interactions, former inmates often have nowhere to go. Many turn to criminal activities and end up re-offending because the world has foresaken them.
Former inmates have enough trouble re-integrating into the community, finding work or reuniting with family. When a person is incarcerated, many of their most loyal friends and family members give up. An aura of mistrust and fear follows around the person. Stigma against former inmates serves as a self-fulfilling prophecy in some cases, leading the person to live up to everyone else’s low expectations. Even when the person remains a fully law-abiding citizen, the stereotypes against them cause great harm to the individual and the community. Mistrusting a person simply because they have been incarcerated breeds an atmosphere of fear and suspicion in the community. It would be more productive to find ways of facilitating prisoner re-integration by reducing stigma and stereotyping.

The United States is “the world’s number one jailer,” according to Eisen and Chettiar (1). Rates…