With less than 5 percent of the planet’s population, the United States houses 22 percent of the world’s prisoners. The challenges of navigating that system don’t end when the convicted felon completes his or her sentence.  Keesha Middlemass shines a light on the substantial barriers felons face when they try to reenter society.  She’s Keesha Middlemass this week on Story in the Public Square.

Dr. Middlemass is a political science professor at Howard University.  She teaches courses in public policy and American Politics, and conducts research on race, institutions, public policy, and marginalized populations, focussing specifically on studying prisoner reentry, the politics of punishment, and racial justice. Her book, “Convicted & Condemned: The Politics and Policies of Prisoner Reentry” examines the public policies that create perverted incentives for men and women convicted of a felony and attempting to reenter society.