Advocating For Ex-Offenders

Scenes from Our For Justice's December meeting.

In many parts of the country, when an inmate is released from prison, that person finds the deck stacked against him/her. Businesses don't necessarily like to employ someone who has been in prison, no matter the offense, leaving the ex-inmate with no source of income. A whole host of basics which most of us take for granted may not even pop up on the radar screen for an ex-inmate.



Enter OUT FOR JUSTICE (OFJ), an ex-offender-run organization, based in Baltimore, that advocates and promotes reform of issues that affect ex-inmates as they return to the world they left. Essentially, this group strives to effect legislation that helps ex-inmates re-enter the community successfully. They provide education and awareness of the issues and promote the three E's of Education, Empowerment, and Engagement. By accessing the legislative process to change policies and laws, this group shows ex-inmates how to pursue change in a more engaged and effective way.

OJF is also involved in an anti-stigma campaign. Since most ex-inmates already carry the baggage of a label, they frequently find themselves excluded from certain aspects of society, such as voting and choice of certain professions.  Because a majority of ex-offenders cannot participate in voting, they are left disenfranchised and under-represented. But it's also important to remember that this population of returning ex-inmates is a large percentage of the population, to the tune of one in every 31 adults. So, it makes sense for the rest of us to ease and assist re-entry, since an ex-offender has a good chance of being your neighbor, friend, or even co-worker.

OFJ members outside Probation & Parole to register voters.

One of the issues that is currently being addressed in Maryland is the issue of bail. Our Attorney General Brian Frosh has noted that bail is set unreasonably high, especially for those who already come from a background of poverty. In essence, that means that low income individuals can spend considerable periods of time parked in jail before they can present and argue their case. And then, if acquitted, what do you do about that lost piece of your life, no job, no income, no home, just released out onto the street and left to fend on your own? And, according to Mr. Frosh, besides these individuals having low incomes, they also were members of minority groups, like African-American, Latino/a.

OFJ was on the case when MD Dept of Corrections wanted to eliminate letter writing between inmates and loved ones, claiming it would prevent contraband in prisons.

In addition, some of the alleged crimes for which people have been kept in jail, awaiting trial, end up being nonviolent misdemeanors. So, Mr. Frosh has been urging the judicial system to release the accused without bail or minimal bail for nonviolent crimes. That way, there is less disruption, more potential to remain employed, and the ability to resume caring for minors in their families, for those accused of nonviolent violations. It makes sense to have fewer of our citizens exposed to the prison system, especially before any adjudication takes place, since charges can even become dropped when there is very little evidence.

Thanks for information from the above link and this facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/OFJ2014/posts/10154914447094801.

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