Pres. Obama Believes in 2nd Chances for Released Inmates

James–
And police agencies across this country will bear the brunt of his misguided beliefs. There is a difference between sellers and users….

Tim–
This certainly address’s a symptom of the problem, but in order to effect real change and a reduction of repeat offenders, we as a society need to change the entire prison system

Ryan–
Not a very consistent stance. He believes in putting them in jail, but then giving them a chance on the way out. He still believes in prohibition and prison time for drug offenses. Obama and Conservatives do not disagree on much just on what happens after they are incarcerated.

Robert–
Of course our president believes in second chances for released inmates, he’s handed out pardons like candy on Halloween. As a correction officer I housed the same inmates over and over again. As a police officer I arrested the same people over and over again. Maybe we should be a little more compassionate toward the victims of crime rather then those who commit crime. Or is our president pandering for a vote where ever it can be found

Reese–
PRESIDENT OBAMA IS AS CRAZY AS HE ACTS ! LOOK AT THE STATISTICS OF HOW MANY INMATES RE-OFFEND ONCE THEY ARE OUT OF PRISON. THE MAN IS CRAZIER THAN A BED BUG IN A MATTRESS FACTORY !

Robert– Criminals who have been through the system two even three times have an addiction. It is called “Recidivism caused by Predator Sloth Syndrome!” You need not look it up in any medical journal, because that is a term I just made up. But it describes the repeat offenders reasoning for committing crime. The Predator instinct is brought on by the individuals Sloth mentality brought on by the attitude of “Why Should I Have to Earn What I Can Take In Less Than A Minute?” fits the analogy some kids develop thinking why flip burgers for minimum wage when I… Read more »

J.
As a senior federal probation officer, I had the inside-track on the Second Chance Act. Most supervised releases, who’s nature is highly manipulative, saw the act as their own welfare program rewarding them for past bad behavior…and they quickly stretched the benefits duration regardless of their progress adjusting to society… Not too dissimilar to the Obama phone craze.

Jeff– I think most LE professionals would like to believe in second chances. How about some second chances for our younger generation of officers who make some honest mistakes? But back to the topic. We also see the harsh reality that most inmates come back soon, having committed even more serious crimes this time. How about taking some of the massive funds spent in prisons for some programs that screen for the most likely to succeed, give them some training and very intensive supervision by parole officers (which won’t be popular, of course)? If just 1% could make it, that’s… Read more »

Robert–
Here in FL our parole officers are massively overburdened and under-staffed as it is. Not in favor of adding more inmates into that system without hiring more parole officers for every zone in the state. I assume this situation runs throughout the country.

Blake– The treatment that is being used is rehabilitation. This focuses on the proper treatment of criminals to help them along while in jails and prisons to better their chances of being successful in real life out in the world outside of incarceration. Sure the labeling theory is involved in this, although recidivism is the criminals own fault. The treatment they recieve is given to them so they don’t return to crime in the future and often leaves them better than what they were at the beginning before being incarserated. They were given a great second chance already. Criminals preform… Read more »

Stephen–
All prisoners get a second chance: after they serve their sentence they are released. With recidivism rates so high, without a well structured rehabilitation and reentry plan, most will be incarcerated again within three years.

Ron– I’m glad that he did this, but as usually I think people don’t understand politics when they criticize him. He’s doing all he can within his power, but I think they’re to many getting paid of this issue from the prison system itself to the employer who hires this population by under paying them. Because don’t think employers are not hiring this population because they are, now they will have to justify not paying what they offer for the position when they didn’t know about your background when they offer the position. I’m on the side of anyone who’s… Read more »

Jacqueline–
Baby step forward!!

Mike– I think Obama reads the Economist too much. I am a subscriber to that periodical as well because I often find their commentary and reporting refreshing compared to much of the left wing socialist leaning press we endure in our country. However, they really seem to want to change the way the United States handles incarceration issues. I would think Obama would be aware of the recidivism rates of drug offenders in this country and that rehab for the most part is a joke and rarely ever works, but the fact is he doesn’t care because in his mind… Read more »

Jose–
The Economist?! That’s a misnomer in socialism… All he cares is to look cool to his crowd..

Jose–
Actually, the goals you have in mind already exist…employers are rewarded with tax breaks for employing offenders… Prevention is the recipe here, once you are an illiterate adult, the odds are against you to turn your trajectory around…

Robert– It appears that the Supreme Court overwhelmingly came out beating to death Obamanation’s absolutely dismal record at the Supreme Court continues as the Court just issued a major ruling against the feds and their unconstitutional exercise of power. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously, 9-0, against Obamanation just this morning in the case of Bond v. United States. The Court got this one right. This is an egregious usurpation of the states’ police power. The idea that any attempt to use chemicals to injure someone should be treated in the same context as a chemical weapons attack is absolutely insane.… Read more »

Jose–
For a list of companies that hire felons go to:

Daniel–
Gentlemen, you all have good comments. The solution is easy, make incarceration so bad and hard that they ,on their own, do not want to come back. Institute simple foods, NO coffee, no TV and hard work programs. Ignore the political left wing decisions regarding the 8th Amendment by the US Sup Court.

Robert– Daniel, I’ll give you a perfect example to underline your point about how prison should be. My best friend in HS headed down the wrong path as a young adult. Burglary, Cocaine, etc. served a year and a day in FL State Penitentiaries for his first two arrests. He had stolen from me and my family as well which caused me to give him a real ass-kicking in our garage one day. When he got out of prison he called me and asked forgiveness. I gave it to him. Today, 35 years later, he is the proud father of… Read more »

Randy– I see the direct result of the actions of President Obama. This is in fact Gitmo II. A large number of these prisoners are violent Illegal Alien drug dealers and several King Pins. He is releasing Commanders back on to the Battlefield, again. That is what is happening here. For every good story of redemption you have a thousand recidivists. The informants that worked with Law Enforcement will probably get into witness protection or be killed. These drug dealers will not leave the field and just be tougher to stop the next time. No rose colored glasses here, nope,… Read more »

Ali–
28 September 2015 – In many prisons around the world, safety, security and human rights challenges abound. Prisons are overcrowded and in dire condition, prison staff are often overstretched and overwhelmed by high-risk prisoners, and violence and human rights violations are key concerns. Meanwhile basic nutrition, sanitation, and health care requirements can be lacking, with the spread of communicable diseases, including HIV and AIDS, among prisoners and into the wider community presenting specific challenges.

Randy–
I think China has it under control. They execute Drug dealers, No recidivism at all.

Jose J.–
The disadvantage with China style law enforcement is a legal system stacked against the individual favoring the ruling class with all of the cronyism advantages that implies… Hardly the type of system we would want to import…

Randy–
Mr. Blanco Isn’t the US just what you described? Our Constitution my be different, but the elites ignore it anyway.

Odean–
Simply releasing them from prison is not the answer. That’s politics. Without education and accountability we are setting these people up for failure.

Jose–
Don’t know what country you live in…in America, no one is above the law…and the examples abound daily… Getting a little around the world is the best way to contrast and appreciate what we have here…

Tracie–
* have had second chances..and rhird..fourth…and more. Majority refusing school..college..claim religion then toss it when walking out the gate. I do believe in giving chances and reform but it needs to be mandatory with harsher punishments for repeat offenders.
No paroles for cold blooded murders and repeat sex offenders..etc. It amazes me a man who is in prison for raping another four year old girl paroles out after four years of prison and has a history but another offender in for dwi gets 50 years of prison and has no aggrivated sentence. (Typed from cell so forgive spelling lol!!!)

Jose–
The disadvantage with China style law enforcement is a legal system stacked against the individual favoring the ruling class with all of the cronyism advantages that implies… Hardly the type of system we would want to import…

J–
Don’t know what country you live in…in America, no one is above the law…and the examples abound daily… Getting a little around the world is the best way to contrast and appreciate what we have here…

You know what Country I live in, Mr. Blanco, get you prescription checked and look again. I have absolutely no sympathy for Drug dealers, they kill more people than armed robbers. They just don’t kill with a gun or a knife. You want to cut them a break, fine, have at it. The Recidivism rate is about 90% and that is with pre release programs. Why, well they want the money and really don’t want a trade or hard work. The unemployment rate for Convicts is also about 80%. This release is nothing more than Gitmo II. These folks will… Read more »

Jose–
When you equate America with China, I’m not sure it’s my prescription the one that needs checking…

I was equating the political corruption that You alleged, and that I know we have.
By–Randy

Carlos–
I’ve seen this cycle over the past 30 years. I just wrote a book addressing this issue. A good read, ” The BS Behind the badge and the courage to wear it with honor”.