What happens once you get a felony conviction? Now you are entering this American caste system where you can't get a job, you can't get a loan, you can't get a Pell grant, you can't get public housing.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
You're in a situation where you have limited education opportunities, you don't have any money, you can't get a job; what are you going to do? You're going to go back to this criminal network that you actually made while you were in prison.
Once you're a felon you're a target.
Once you have a felony conviction on your record, one of the most difficult things to do is to break the cycle of recidivism.
I have done prison time for 13 years without any conviction.
You commit a felony, it does not matter who you are, you could be deported.
Incarcerating non-violent offenders in the same population as more dangerous criminals has the effect of inculcating the former into a culture of criminality common among the latter, making them more of a risk to public safety upon release than when they originally went in.
I can be jailed again at any time, it is very easy. They can say I am a criminal and just lock me up.
Conviction never so excellent, is worthless until it coverts itself into conduct.
The thing that happens is that politicians run on tough-on-crime rhetoric. You appeal to the public and say, 'Let's put more money into taller fences, tougher laws, tougher sentencing, handcuffs,' and where does that money come from? Well, immediately, it comes out of all the money needed for corrections.
Conviction is worthless unless it is converted into conduct.