The Cruelty Is the Point[1]. There's a segment of US society who are not satisfied until the maximum amount of cruelty is applied to people they identify as their opponents. Prisoners (and ex-prisoners) are an easy target because they've already done something to "deserve" suffering, and few will argue to treat them kindly. So these people can vote to fire all of their cruelty at this class with no pushback. I don't really think at its core it's about "people feeling safe." The people pushing for these things simply want an "other" to suffer, and so they vote to create underclasses and legal ways to inflict this suffering. And they rejoice in it.

I used to live in Florida, but sadly the state has taken a sharp right turn recently, and has become this deranged laboratory where politicians experiment with innovative forms of cruelty. Really pushing the boundaries and finding out what they can legally inflict. I've long since escaped that place (and hopefully the few very vocal sadists who determine the state's politics), but it's sad to know I live in the same country as them.

1: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/the-cruelt...