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So for whatever reason I missed this thread until the clone-thread popped up in "Chit Chat" yesterday. However, I thought I'd put in my 2 cents.
I don't know how familiar anyone is with "specialty courts" like Drug Courts or Mental Health Courts but to me, these programs are a large improvement on the current criminal judicial system for certain types of defendants. Having these courts acknowledge that a significant portion of criminal defendants are committing crimes based on the influence of substance abuse or based on their struggle with a severely debilitating mental illness. I think that having these programs are the first step in trying to rehabilitate certain defendants who might simply need a more comprehensive program integrating medical professionals with the legal system. One thing I'm 100% convinced of is that the current incarceration/parole system does not work to help defendants with severe drug or mental health issues get over the issues that led them to breaking the law to begin with. And unless we have a system that works, we're either going to have to pay to keep these people incarcerated or have to deal with their crimes that are a symptom of a greater problem.
As far as gaining employment, that is a touchy subject. Other than passing some type of legislation eliminating liability for an employer who gives someone a job knowing that person was convicted of a serious crime (which would be crappy for fellow employees that might become victims) there really isn't much of an answer besides spending a lot of time in low-level jobs proving that you can hold a job and not revert to past behavior. Maybe some type of tax benefits to employers that have a certain percentage of former felons? I don't know what the answer is, really.
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