GIVE OFFENDERS A SECOND CHANCE IN 2018.

Jan 21, 2018 Editorial

Over the years, many have watched in frustration and are disturbed at the ever growing number of young men in handcuffs being escorted to the country’s prisons. It should not be surprising to any one that the main prisons in the country are overfilled.
The Camp Street Prison was built almost 200 years ago to house 150 inmates, but prior to its burning down last July, it had a population of about 950 inmates, the vast majority being relatively young males. This is troubling.
In our small society here in Guyana, we are often quick to write off ex-convicts. We have easily accepted that once a convict, always a convict, even though that need not be the case. Therefore, the very suggestion that a criminal offender should be given a second chance could quickly spark controversy, not only among the population, but also among our politicians.
Prison statistics has revealed that Guyana has a high recidivism rate of between 60 and 65 percent, which means that our prisons are really a revolving door for most. There should be a compulsion for us to, at the very least, have a rational discourse on the issue, if only for the simple fact to help offenders who will return to the very communities from whence they came when they are released.
We should give them a chance to find employment. This should be our priority in 2018. Prisons were never intended to be an incubator for criminals, but rather a facility where offenders while serving out their time for their wrongdoing, can be rehabilitated and hopefully turn over a new leaf by the time they are released back into society.
Based on the telling prison statistics, it seems that we have much work to do to help ex-convicts become meaningful and productive citizens in society. However, a vast majority of employers, including some government officials, have insisted that they would not employ someone with a criminal record unless that person has a Police Certificate as a prerequisite for employment.
Understandably, hiring an ex-convict can be risky and companies have a right to protect their interests. But is such hiring a practical solution to our societal problems where crime is concerned?
If former prison inmates cannot find a job, their only alternative is commit robbery, which in some cases can be deadly. The critical issue for us to consider is do we want a safe society or not? After all, an offender who has paid his/her dues only to be rejected by society serves no one any good. Refusing to accept him/her in their community means alienation, which can lead to anger and lawlessness.
In circumstances such as these, a second chance can make the world of difference between turning over a new page and wreaking further havoc on society. It may even be seen by the offenders as an opportunity for them to redeem themselves in the eyes of society.
Yet there are exceptions. President David Granger pardoned some young offenders. It wasn’t long before they were back in prison having gone back to a life of crime. One graduated from snatching a phone to killing.
However, we should not lose sight of the bigger picture and allow those who are bent on wrongdoing to prevent us from helping those who genuinely want a fresh start. While we must sympathize with criminals, it does not mean that they must not be punished.
But we have to be fair and forgiving; we have to change our mindset if we are serious about changing the penal system and society.

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