Why society should embrace ex-convicts

When perceived as a punishment, prison leads to anger, bitterness and the need for revenge once the sentence is completed Photo: Courtesy

In recent years, it has become common for the press to report that horrendous crimes were committed by people who had just been released from jail.

This poses the question, how effective are prisons are correctional services? The reality is that serving time for a crime does not always translate to a state of non-offending. Recidivism – going back to crime – happens nearly as often as getting to a permanent state of never committing a crime.