Black convicted felons face a brutal rejection from society that often further marginalizes them after their release. According to McCrary (2019), more than 1 in 5 Black people in the South are unable to vote due to felony convictions. “Perhaps more shocking is the fact that a significant number of these individuals were stripped of their rights before they were old enough to vote, left politically powerless.” Flake (2015) suggested any sentence becomes a life sentence given the employment discrimination that ex-offenders experience in the job market. Asking applicants about their criminal history forces them to wear a scarlet letter that ultimately blocks their access to employment and often housing opportunities.
Dr. Allison Wiltz