MANSFIELD: Reentry Under Attack

When monstrous Lance Mason brutally stabbed Aisha Frazer (the mother of his two kids) to death my heart was — and still is — heavy over the senseless, brutal killing that has shocked not only us here in NEO, but indeed the world. This tragic incident is something that put a scar on our collective soul that we will carry with us to the grave.

However, I immediately knew there would be another victim stemming from the killing: reentry, a field that I and many others have been working in diligently for close to two decades now. Always a fragile concept at best, those of us have always known that many in society don’t believe in second chances, and would take any opportunity to try to tar, feather and run out of town the entire movement and the folks advocating for fair reentry policies.

For reentry to take hold and work, we knew that government at all levels had to take the leading role in offering second chances. Only then would private industry begin to follow along — and that’s pretty much what happened. And Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson has been in the forefront of this movement since the very beginning. There are dozens — perhaps hundreds — of convicted felons (some have served sentences for murder) working for the City of Cleveland without incident, and doing outstanding jobs.

But, in 20/20 hindsight, Mason’s case was different, for a number of reasons — none of which disqualified him from gainful employment in my mind. He (like most others returning from prison) needed to help support his children. But, as I’ve previously stated, he should not have been at liberty to work, or kill Aisha. His sentence was far too short.

But Frank Jackson didn’t release him, and due to the high profile nature of the charges, he probably should not have allowed him to be hired into the director’s position he occupied when the incident occurred. Employment in the private sector probably could have been arranged for Mason, out of the glare of public scrutiny. But I steadfastly maintain that he, as well as all other released prisoners, are entitled to gainful employment.

But again, hindsight is always 20/20.

Nonetheless, a witch hunt is currently underway at City Hall for other convicted felons. I immediately knew that as day follows night, this was coming, and coming fast. And it’s totally, grossly and completely unfair. But the media hounds that are on the trail are not interested in fairness, only headlines.

In retrospect, the act of placing Mason in that job carried with it too much potential liability. It was needlessly exposing the fragile concept of reentry to severe criticism that is now occurring, and the case will damage the movement for years to come.

All of this means that those of us who remain rock solid behind giving second chances — indeed, I got one — will have to redouble our efforts. As the killing of Aisha Frazer proved, life isn’t always fair, be we have to soldier on.

From CoolCleveland correspondent Mansfield B. Frazier mansfieldfATgmail.com. Frazier’s From Behind The Wall: Commentary on Crime, Punishment, Race and the Underclass by a Prison Inmate is available in hardback. Snag your copy and have it signed by the author at http://NeighborhoodSolutionsInc.

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2 Responses to “MANSFIELD: Reentry Under Attack”

  1. Lydia J Alphabet

    Dear Mansfield:

    Thank you very much for writing on the subject of Cleveland’s ex felons being given a Second Chance at employment by the City of Cleveland.

    This was a big hit for Ed and Peggy Galleck of Channel 8 News…at least they thought it was a big one because it was shown on the noon, 6, 7 and 11 o’clock news for at least 4 days!!!

    Because of one person’s action, the judge, they maintained that Cleveland should hire no more ex felons. I watched a couple of their warnings and I think Mayor Jackson, whom I’m not a fan of, handled it very well. He put his foot down and told them that he wasn’t changing the city’s policy of hiring.

    A friend watched it for all of the days that it was on t.v. He said the last one showed an interview with an African American man, who looked like he was just walking down the street, acting as if he was outraged over the hirings. My friend’s opinion of that broadcast was it seemed liked the guy might have been paid 20 bucks to say that. 🤣

    I had strong feelings about their opinion on hiring ex felons also. As a matter of fact, I emailed both of them and shared my feelings. I was pretty perturbed about the broadcast and Ed was pretty perturbed about my writing him an email expressing my “perturbness”

  2. Lydia J Alphabet

    Dear Mansfield:

    I apologize. I sent my comment about your article on Second Chance Reentry Under Attack prematurely. I hit the submit button too soon.

    So, Mr. Ed was non excited about my email to him. It was as if he did not expect a rebuttal about his findings from Anyone In Cleveland Ohio!!!!

    I only asked him did he prefer ex felons to go back to their former lives of crime or become better husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, neighbors and better citizens in our society by having gainful employment.

    Well, some people.

    Thank you for giving your readers an opportunity to express their opinions.

    Sincerely yours,

    Lydia Alphabet

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