SNAP and Drug Felons
The author states that “a just distribution of goods, opportunities and liberties is the one that produces the greatest amount of welfare” (Hinman, pg. 227). Welfare is something that as a people we have provided to the poor throughout the centuries. Wealthy people and churches provided aid to the needy since the 17th century” (Mandell and Schram, pg. 33). By the 1930’s the American Government had assumed control and began to oversee welfare programs in America” (Mandell and Schram, pg. 33). Currently due to “The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 drug felons are precluded from receiving any SNAP benefits for life unless the complete a drug rehab program.
Ethical Challenge
I work for the Department of Health and Supportive Services. One area that has many different opinions is whether drug felons should get SNAP benefits or not. The …show more content…
Since health care reform, Medicaid no longer pays for anyone requesting drug rehabilitation. They now assess them based on medical need. They look at if the person is at an acute risk to use again. If they are not in the high risk category then Medicaid will not pay for it.
How likely is it that a felon will have the resources to pay for treatment on their own? Is this not setting them up for failure? All prisons should require people convicted of drug felonies to complete drug rehab as part of their sentence. This would allow the felon to receive treatment in a timely manner in a controlled environment. A felon would be able to apply for SNAP and have one some stability until they transitioned back into civilian life. According to the national institute of justice the rate of recidivism is “about 67% within three years of release and 76.6 % were rearrested within five years and of release” (NIJ: recidivism, 2014). Drug offenders accounted for 76% of inmates who were rearrested” (NIJ: recidivism,
The author states that “a just distribution of goods, opportunities and liberties is the one that produces the greatest amount of welfare” (Hinman, pg. 227). Welfare is something that as a people we have provided to the poor throughout the centuries. Wealthy people and churches provided aid to the needy since the 17th century” (Mandell and Schram, pg. 33). By the 1930’s the American Government had assumed control and began to oversee welfare programs in America” (Mandell and Schram, pg. 33). Currently due to “The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 drug felons are precluded from receiving any SNAP benefits for life unless the complete a drug rehab program.
Ethical Challenge
I work for the Department of Health and Supportive Services. One area that has many different opinions is whether drug felons should get SNAP benefits or not. The …show more content…
Since health care reform, Medicaid no longer pays for anyone requesting drug rehabilitation. They now assess them based on medical need. They look at if the person is at an acute risk to use again. If they are not in the high risk category then Medicaid will not pay for it.
How likely is it that a felon will have the resources to pay for treatment on their own? Is this not setting them up for failure? All prisons should require people convicted of drug felonies to complete drug rehab as part of their sentence. This would allow the felon to receive treatment in a timely manner in a controlled environment. A felon would be able to apply for SNAP and have one some stability until they transitioned back into civilian life. According to the national institute of justice the rate of recidivism is “about 67% within three years of release and 76.6 % were rearrested within five years and of release” (NIJ: recidivism, 2014). Drug offenders accounted for 76% of inmates who were rearrested” (NIJ: recidivism,