Introduction
Ex-offenders face a number of challenges in their lives because employers are reluctant to trust them with any job. Moreover, ex-convicts suffer from doubt and negativity because they are often prejudiced and discriminated against (Reicher, & Haslam, 2006). In this regard, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that ex-convicts are incorporated into the community to avoid further incarceration. A number of techniques through which the government can use to change the perception of the community and the ex-offenders exist. The main problem is that ex-offenders might be unwilling to accept the fact that they committed a crime.
The first step in ensuring that offenders are incorporated into the community is by making them accept that they committed a crime (Haslam, & Reicher, 2006). Through this, ex-offenders would be accepted back into the community and coexist peacefully. The government needs to come up with programs through which ex-convicts could pick up their lives. Some of the programs include setting aside funds to support ex-convicts in business. For John, he had an opportunity of training while in prison. This means that he has adequate skills that would help him cope with the economic challenges if provided with funds to set up a business. Offering him an opportunity to pursue an academic course would be another strategy aimed at helping him live peacefully.
Main Body
Ex-convicts face various challenges ranging from social, economic, and cultural. A number of them are perceived as individuals with low morals whose main aim is to destabilize the peace of others in society. Few employers would be reluctant to offer a job to an ex-convict because such an individual would repeat the previous mistakes, especially when the ex-convict was previously charged with fraud or corruption. The best option would be to empower the ex-convict economically in order to make him or her self-reliant. In other words, the best way to resolve the conflict between the ex-convict and the community is to provide opportunities for self-employment. However, the ex-convict must be equipped with adequate skills to improve his or her business skills. Self-employment is a challenge that demands commitment and strategies. Most ex-convicts might not be well conversant with business skills mainly because they might not have obtained adequate skills while in prison (Reicher, & Haslam, 2006). For John, he must be provided with an opportunity in order to prevent him from joining crime. Research shows that most people resort to crime after realizing that they cannot acquire the basic needs using legal means. As a government, the first step would be to ensure that John has an alternative source of capital (Haslam, & Reicher, 2006). Securing employment in the formal sector might be challenging for him because of a lack of trust.
Conclusion
Alternatively, the government could come up with a program aimed at helping ex-convicts even after serving their full terms in prison. For instance, ex-convicts could be incorporated into government projects meant for prisoners, but at a pay. This means that John can be an employee of the prison department. Prisoners are never paid because their service to the state is a punishment. For John, he can use the opportunity to make something for a living. However, the second option might not be the best because it might give John bad memories of being a prisoner. In this regard, utilizing the first option would be the best option.
References
Haslam, S. A., & Reicher, S. D. (2006). Stressing the group: Social identity and the unfolding dynamics of responses to stress. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(1), 1037-1052.
Reicher, S. D., & Haslam, S. A. (2006). Rethinking the psychology of tyranny: The BBC Prison Study. British Journal of Social Psychology, 45(1), 1–40.