Once arrested, arraigned, tried, convicted

And incarcerated, to “pay their debt.”

Though their time’s been served, they’re still restricted.

They’ve walked out of prison- but ain’t “free” yet!

Their liberty comes with consequences.

They are stalked by their pasts like Jean Valjean.

Uncaged birds with clipped wings perch on fences.

The debt they thought they paid still lingers on.

For “second-class citizens” in the hood

This mandated marginalization,

Supposedly for the “greater good,”

Pigeon-holes them into isolation.

Barriers such as these, let’s not pretend

Will more than likely make them re-offend.