OUR TURN: Even felons should get a chance to serve community

One aim of the U.S. criminal justice system is to ensure certain classes of offenders are punished for their crimes, then rehabilitated to re-enter mainstream society and become productive citizens.

And while there certainly are recidivists who can’t fit back in, there are plenty of success stories, too. Or there should be.

There is no reason why someone with a criminal record who has paid their debt to society, and who displays traits of trustworthiness, shouldn’t be allowed to work for a city or volunteer to serve on a board or a commission.

For that reason, the Cottonwood Shores City Council has made the right decision to give city jobs to felons 10 years after their conviction. The city already allows felons to volunteer on committees, boards and commissions.

The council arrived at its decision after a lengthy review of city personnel policies. Members studied the model used by Leander. The Leander policy allows convicted felons to serve, but only with the approval of the city manager.

Cottonwood Shores goes a step more by simply requiring the conviction be a decade old. Of course, and rightly so, the policy prohibits felons with violent crimes or crimes of  moral turpitude from serving.

City officials will consider employment of felons convicted on other offenses on a case-by-case basis.

Previously, the Cottonwood Shores policy completely barred felons from city jobs.

The issue arose after former interim Police Chief Frank Smith, who now is a candidate for the council, raised questions about two individuals with criminal records now serving as city volunteers.

Frankly, the pair of volunteers in question paid their debt to society years ago. Since that time, both have been highly productive and highly active in their service to Cottonwood Shores. By all indications, they are respected and well regarded. In some cases, they spend their own money to help the city.

And even Smith agrees the new policy is a good one.

For rehabilitation to hold any promise of success, the punished must have hope that fulfilling their sentence and their conditions of parole or probation guarantees them another shot at citizenship.

One of the factors that leads to recidivism is because society lumps all felons into one category and then shuns them. Being ostracized like that dims hope and often pushes an offender back into a life of crime. A gang member who committed a series of slayings should remain in prison, but does someone who wrote a few hot checks in their early 20s deserve the same level of scorn?

A recent Pew Research Center study shows that four in 10 felons are back behind bars within three years, according to CNN. Obviously, building more prisons and throwing money at the criminal justice system has not eradicated crime. The courts recognize that different offenses rate different sentences. Too bad the same can’t be said for society’s level of forgiveness.

Let’s not forget the first human assured a place in heaven was a convicted thief bleeding to death on a Roman cross next to Jesus.

This is not an argument to do away with the conditions of parole or pardon.

But it is an argument to recognize that everyone makes mistakes, many pay for them and some actually learn their lesson.

If they emerge from that process and want to serve their community, they should be allowed to do so.

Also, Cottonwood Shores is a small city. There is only a limited number of residents who are willing to volunteer for municipal duties. Anyone who wants to roll up their sleeves and give a hand should certainly be welcome — even if they have an old criminal record.

Of course there needs to be restrictions. For instance, someone found guilty of money laundering shouldn’t handle the city’s books.

Let common sense be the guide.

Cottonwood Shores did well by considering to change its personnel policies so those who want a second chance are allowed to have one. Other cities would do well to follow this example