Debt to Society

Recently the homie Mike Vick got out of jail for fighting dogs. This got me to thinking about those who have been caught breaking the law. I've thought about how someone ever gets out of jail/prison and makes it. The deck is so stacked against you because those things follow you for a long time or the rest of your life. Is that fair? I mean, if your punishment has been served why isn't that the end of it?

So a lot of people think Vick should be reinstated and allowed to play football. Others I have heard say that any other regular person wouldn't be able to go back to their job. This is probably true for the most part. For them, I don't think it is fair. You break the law, you are punished, and that should be it when you finish your punishment. If what you did is so bad that it has to stay with you forever, why not just keep the person in jail? You put a person out there and make their situation difficult and it is no wonder so many people end up right back in trouble.

Part of your punishment is often about rehabilitation. Well if you do that, then you should be fine to contribute to society like a regular citizen. Not be hindered by your past forever. But maybe jail doesn't really work on the person. I guess it just serves as a holding place until they feel like letting you back out. We could at least have a better plan to assimilate people back into society.

I just wonder what it really means to pay ones debt to society when the punishment goes past time served and probation. In a country of second chances, are criminals given a second chance?