Issues Under Fire: Once A Felon, Always A Felon?

Issues Under Fire: Once A Felon, Always A Felon?

In our continuing effort to provide solutions for America's most pressing and persistent problems, we'd like to share a few ideas to address the issues of mass incarceration, recidivism and what it really means to be an American felon in the 21st century. Since it's no secret that anyone convicted of a felony in the United States can literally consider themselves among the living dead due to thousands of legal restrictions permanently attached to that conviction, we knew this was a problem begging for some creative thinking.

While watching some ancillary coverage of the 2016 U.S. election circus, we came upon a story of a 45 year-old African American male who'd lost his right to vote because of a felony conviction he'd picked up in Florida at 16 for breaking into his high school, stealing food from the cafeteria and ransacking a few lockers. And while his youthful stupidity landed the then young man behind bars for only a short stint, he had no idea that felony conviction would haunt him for the rest of his life. Losing the right to vote was the least of his problems.

People convicted of a felony in the United States are forever ostracized from American life. After serving their time, ex-cons face as many as 50,000 collateral consequences, making it virtually impossible to earn a living, find housing, apply for public assistance, government loans, or just about anything else. Most employers and landlords want background checks for applicants they're considering and felons are excluded from the beginning of the process. Bluntly speaking, convicted felons are Fu@ked! 

Still, we feel a little out of the box thinking could yield solutions for some people who've found themselves living outside the law. Firstly, all convicted felons weren't created equally. We're not talking about rapists, child molesters and related creeps and perverts. However, those with felony convictions for things like drug trafficking, car jacking, armed robbery, felonious assault, resisting arrest and even "some" crimes involving the loss of life should have an opportunity to clean the slate. Let us explain.

As a devotee of retro flicks, we came across a movie entitled "The Dirty Dozen", starring Lee Marvin, Earnest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Donald Sutherland and Telly Savalas. The plot line was about a group of the U.S. Army's worst convicts, "The Dirty dozen", being selected for a suicide mission no one in his right mind would volunteer for. In exchange for the risk, the reward is a pardon and a return to active duty at their former rank. This got us thinking. What if the United States relaxed its enlistment standards to include felons mentioned above  for a chance to repay their debt to society once and for all? An idea like this could address a multitude of issues.

With gang members, thugs and career criminals being released from prisons by the minute, we have hundreds of thousands of people walking America's streets everyday with skills tailor-made for "special" Special Operations. Many who've worked with and for hardened criminal crews, know they have no problems killing and aren't afraid to die. They've got experience with firearms, knives and some can even handle explosives. Besides, they've got balls. People in the law abiding world have no idea the amount of nerve it takes to deal drugs, commit an armed robbery, or gun down a rival, while keeping an eye out for witnesses, rats and the cops.

Properly trained, supervised and monitored, these specially selected individuals could be given battlefield assignments all over the globe. When and wherever an operation requires land mines and IED's to be cleared before a major assault can be ordered, these are the guys who'd get the call. These are the guys who'd be at the "tip of the spear" going into places like Mosul Iraq and the hottest spaces in Afghaninstan. These are the guys who'd kick down doors and burst in first. These are the guys who'd yell "clear" if they're not shot or blown to bits before they can. These won't be heroes. These will be convicted felons fighting for a second chance.

For those lucky enough to complete (survive) their assigned missions with no disciplinary issues noted by trainers, supervisors and monitors, they'd have their criminal records deleted and given a fresh start in life. No more scarlet letter. They'd be able to look for work without having to check the dreaded "box". If however, these individuals do return to a life of crime, they'd not only go back to prison, but they'd remain there until they're too old to do anything but lay down and die. Even we wouldn't recommend a third chance.

Bottom line: To receive a felony conviction in the United States is almost tantamount to receiving the death penalty. You might still be walking around but life as most people experience it will always remain beyond your reach. Unless you've got a lot of money, you'll never be able to support yourself legally, much less a family. And worst of all, everybody knows it. While this solution might not work for many, it certainly can be an option for some youthful offenders. Podcast below.