Latoya Grindley, Features Writer

REESE

After serving time for a crime committed, should one be allowed to live like any other citizen? Ex-convict Moses 'Rice' Treston says yes.

Many former inmates are haunted by their past and have to pay for the crimes committed by being subjected to discrimination.

At no time is this more evident than when job hunting, he says, as criminal records are often requested by prospective employers.

"Then what happen to people like me when we leave prison?" asks Treston. "When you come out and looking for a job, you have to lie or you don't have a work. And then, next thing now, you lie and get the job and somebody see and tell your boss say you did go prison.

"Then because of that, you lose the job because you did lie in the first place. So what to do?" Treston continued.

He insists that ex-convicts deserve a chance.

'Give every man a chance'

"Nothing not going on for us and people must learn to give every man a chance. You can't say a man never try fi live a productive life if him don't get the chance," he added.

Now a grandfather, the 47-year-old was released from prison in March 2006. He served nearly 15 years at the General Penitentiary for burglary and illegal possession of firearm.

"From me come out, I don't get no work and because of that, I just easy back and sell at a stall and even play music."

The reality, though, is that not all ex-cons have Treston's patience or the finances to start a small business venture.

Wanting to survive

"Nuff man don't want to do certain things, worse when you remember how prison stay; but no man really want to see him youth hungry or even him family," said the ex-prisoner.

When contacted, head of the Department of Correctional Services, Major Richard Reese, said the institution has been realigning its rehabilitation programmes to meet the demands of the job market.

He said that at present, the courses offered are selected based on choice. However, if inmates do not meet the necessary criteria (literacy and numeracy standard), they will have to excel in specific fields before being accepted.

Some of the courses offered are information technology, tailoring, garment design, electrical, construction and music.

"Construction is one of the areas with high demands and a majority of ex-offenders go into areas of construction," said Reese.

At the end of the courses, the inmates are given a certificate approved by the HEART Trust.

Regarding job prospects after prison, Reese said leniency might be granted to some inmates.

"Some can get it expunged, but it's dependent on the length and type of offence, because I know a criminal record can even affect persons going on overseas programmes.

"But it's really better not to break the law in the first place," Reese added.

latoya.grindley@gleanerjm.com