Should convicted felons be given a second chance? Barack Obama thinks so, and he thinks the tax payers should have to foot the bill. He made his view on this issue more than evident during a town hall meeting in Elyria, Ohio on January 22nd. Here is a excerpt from this Ohio town hall meeting, where a 29 year old felon who has never had a job in his life asks Obama if he will help felons get a job.
Jerome the felon asks Obama:
“I’m 29 years old, and I’ve never had a job in my life. I went to jail when I was younger. It’s like hard to get a job as a felon. Is this — any programs that hire people with felonies like something that — because it’s sad, it’s like — 29 years old, I’m 29.”
Obama Answers Jerome:
“Look, I’m proud of the fact that you’re bringing this up because there are people who’ve made mistakes, particularly when they’re young, and it is in all of our interests to help them redeem themselves and then get on a straight path. Now, I don’t blame employers obviously for being nervous about hiring somebody who has a record. It’s natural if they’ve got a lot of applicants for every single job that that’s a question that they’d have in their minds. On the other hand, I think one of the great things about America is we give people second chances.
And so what we’ve tried to do — and I want to say, this has been a bipartisan effort — when I was in the Senate, working with Sam Brownback; my Vice President, Joe Biden — passing a Second Chance Act that helps to fund programs that help the reintegration of ex-felons.
It’s smart for us to do. You know, sometimes people say, well, that’s just coddling people. No; you reduce the recidivism rate, they pay taxes, it ends up being smart for taxpayers to do.”
Shame on Jerome, if he really wanted a job he could get one. He is playing the victim card. In reality he is only a victim of his own bad decisions. Taxpayers already pay for convicts to be in prison, now Obama wants us to pay to get them a job? Don’t get me wrong, I believe everyone(well, almost everyone) deserves a second chance, but it is not the responsibility of everyone else to provide that second chance.
Now before you start sending me nasty emails saying “you are stupid, and you just don’t understand how hard it is for felons to get a job.” Please allow me to stray from the beaten path for a moment and tell you a bit about my own experience.
I am a convicted felon. Five felonies to be exact. I spent the later part of my teenage years (15-19 years old) as a drug addict. Between ages 18 – 19, I lived out of the back of an Oldsmobile, and skipped around from job to job (i kept getting fired for some odd reason, hmm) to raise money for my heroin habit. I continued this pattern of living until I was finally arrested, charged with 9 felonies, convicted of 5 felonies, and sentenced to 1 year and 2 months in prison. One day, as I was sitting in my cell, I thought to myself, “this isn’t the life I want. I want something better, and I’m going to get.” So I made a plan for what I was going to do when I got out, and I decided to use my time in there wisely by educating myself. I started studying college algebra, then moved on to calculus and finally computer science. I also applied for college while I was in prison, so I could attend as soon as I got out. My release day came, and guess what, I went out and got a job flipping burgers the next day.
I worked the early shift at my new job . Public buses didn’t run that early in the morning(in VA, if you receive a felony conviction you lose your license), so I walked to work, 5 miles, every morning. When my shift was over, I hoped on a bus, and went to the local community college to take a couple of classes. When I got out of class the buses weren’t running so I walked home, 4 miles, every night. This process repeated everyday for 9 months until I finally saved up enough money to pay off all of my court costs, and go through all of the red tape required to get my license back. When I finally got my license and my car back, I went out searching for a new, better job. I found 2 jobs. Who would have thought that a convict could get 2 jobs (Jerome couldn’t seem to find 1 in 29 years). I met a wonderful girl at one of these jobs, and we eventually got hitched! Fast forward 4 years and I am happily married, the proud owner of a brand new home, 6.5 years sober, have a good job, and I am almost done with a bachelors degree in computer science (I pay my own way through school, so I only take as many classes as I can afford).
I told you this story to tell you this. I know it is hard to get a job if you are a felon. I do understand. However, if you are a felon, you are not a victim of society, you are a victim of your actions. It is not the responsibility of tax payers to provide you with a second, it is your responsibility. In the United States there are infinite possibilities for a second chance, but you have to go out and get it. It will not come to you. Don’t let your criminal record hold you back, use it as a lesson in life. If you work hard, pursue your dreams, and strive to be a good citizen, good things will happen. That is the beauty of liberty and freedom, you have every opportunity to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get on the right track in life. How could you not love a country that has allowed a drug addicted, homeless convict to become a sober, homeowner, with a beautiful wife, and lives the American dream everyday. God Bless America!
Crossposted from Liberty and Pride
LaShandra Fryer
yes I wish it on this NEW YEAR COMING FOR YOU and all here struggling still to find a job,
keep in mind the whole COUNTRY is trying same struggle to get in jobs, keep the FAITH and never give up,
2012 is a year for helping this AMERICA in GREAT PERIL, TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THIS DISASTROUS TIME,
AMERICA is counting on you all to help the recovery of her foundation being attacks by HATERS WANTING TO CHANGE IT FOREVER, that will not be allowed by the PEOPLE, AND YOU ALL ARE PART OF IT’S RECOVERY, so get involve and it might bring you something good afterward,
BYE
some word of mouth information…..a nationwide initiative is going to be launched to address the sealing of records. If you are down with joining this initiative contact me asap. This bus is not slowing down so hop on board quick. Some folks are successful after prison like Martha Steward or Michael Vicks or the author of this article. But the majority of ex-felons are not that successful. We live on the fringes of society in poverty and creating a cycle of poverty for our children to enjoy once they become adults. Just because one individual is successful (and I definitely ain’t knocking him at all) doesn’t mean the other 3,999,999+ ex-felons out here in society are. All factors must be weighed considering this issue. It’s not an issue of the crime anymore because the penalty has been imposed and completed. It’s the continuing oppressive actions sponsored by government which mandates a life of poverty and recidivism. I don’t know about you but I’m hungry and ready to get this off the ground and in the faces of our representatives and demand they act or we’ll vote their asses out and put those in who will. Come and conspire with us!!! http://tjel.weebly.com
christopher Knecht
good initiative, are you aiming at all the CANDIDATES GOP AND REPUBLICAN’S COMMITMENTS?
There is a man in my state who was to have hanged for what he did 33 years ago. His name is Bobby Golson nad he was 23 when he was looking out in a 1975 liquor store robbery that ended with the shooting death of the store clerk. Golson and three others were sentenced to hang. It marked the first time i my state that an accompoice was sentenced to die along with the person who did the actual killing. Golson prepared to die. But as time sent on, his thoughts drifted to his children. He decided he watned to live. He even dreamed of getting out. Toward this end, Golson commited to controlling his temper. He learned to read and write and took job-training classes. He also reachexd out to people on the outside, including his father, jazz legend Benny Golson. In 1993, the Board of PArdons commuted his sentence from life in prision with no chance of parole to a term making him eligible for parole. In 1994, he was a free man. Golson’s freedom came as the result of the backing of some powerful people and a process in the state constitution that offers clemency to those who are deemed worthy of being given a second chance. He is one of about 2,300 convictes who have sought a bopardon or commutation from the board since 1991, and one of about 1,800 to succeed with a clemency plea before the five-member panel. A review of 16 years of requests to the board shows Golson is the only person conicvton of first-degree murder and sentenced to die whose plea was greanted.
Most prisosners jailed for seriou8s crimes such as murder, rape or robbery are denied by the Board of PArdons. Of 265 such requests to teh Board, 56 — or 21 percent — werer recommended for approval. Of those, 39 — or 70 percent -= were granted. Those in prison for more common crimes such as passing bad checks, alcohol osession or shoplifting were much more likely to be recommneded for pardon or commucation. Ninenty to 99 percent of such applications received a positive recommendation. The board consiered 126 cases invovlign murder — first- or second-degree murder, conspiracy, attempted mu8rder or acting as a an acomplice — and recommended three pardons and 18 commutations, according to the records. Of those 21 recommendations, 12 were granted., seven were denied and two are avaiting a decsiion. The governor has granted three pardons.
Pardons are the most common request, coming fgrom pepole trying to restore their vicil rights, sucha s teh right to vote. A pardon can also clear the way for people to quality for higher-hpaying jobns. I went before the board last month looking for such a reprieve. I was convicted eight years ago of second-degree conspiracy after connecting one of my friends with a drug dealer. I pleasdded bguilty and was sentecned to two years probation, from which I was released early. I’m 29 years old and I continue to pay for my mistake. I’m a mechanical engineer and I cannot get hired for anything more lucrative than washing machine parts. I also have job prospects as an engineer, then they find out about my felony conviction. I have different friends and different companies and they’ve all told me, ‘As long as you have a felony, don’t even both applying because they’re going to shoot your down.” I stood before the Board of PArdons last month for a second time. The board recommended a pardon for me a second time. As of Thursday, my paperwork has not make it to the governor’s office. Board members say they hear appeals like myne knowing there are many laws that make is almost impossible for people with criminal records to work in certain industries, including some of the larger job sectors — finance and health care.
The year Golson was sentenced to die, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the death penalty. It took the courts four years to change his sentence to life in prision without the chance of parole. During that time, Golson began teaching himself to read and write. Once healearned to read and write, he wrote overbody that that he could think of. He wrote Judge Balick, he wrote Charlie Brandt. He wrote all of them. He managedc to win allies, including his father, Benny Golson, whom he has not seen since he was 7. Golson sadi he also “cooled down” his temper, visiting a prision psychologist, taking vocational classes and getting a high school equivalency degree. He worked int he kitchesn and didn’t do anything to jeopardize his freedom he kept a low profile. He alpied for commutation twice. The Board of Pardons denied his first application, but recommended teh seocn. On Aug. 13, 1993, his was paroled. He went through several jobs after his release, icnluding work at a bakery, as a truck driver and in construction. His back was hurt in a construction accide3nt, aggravating his arthritis. He also tried conecting with his family. He cmonetored his grandchildren so they would avoid his mistakes.
John A. Kinzey
thank you, for that incredible survival of that person, this is a testimony of hope for many, there is one thing here which
I’m having a hard time, ,understanding why a convict with a bigger felony would be finding work before some who had lesser felony which they paid the price for,
is it that some have acquire clues from the prison more to find work when they come out,
as oppose to those outside being left to tend for themselves?
which would show a injustices done to them,
I which you a rapid answer you are waiting for, I am aware that the source of profile search is
still the problem for you, as it is to the others on the outside like you are now,
so it remain the issue to be addressed by politician seriously, and to be a priority over immigration amnesty, because you all are AMERICANS AND PROUD TO BE NO MATTER WHAT ELSE
AND YOU ALL DESERVE TO BE LOOK AT FIRST BY THE ELECTED ONES AND THOSE SEEKING TO BE ELECTED, for the justice to be rendered to you, so you can find the honest work and live the AMERICAN DREAM, LIKE OTHER , NO MORE AND NO LESS,
HAPPY NEW YEAR
John A. Kinzey
I think that , you would fit right in the project coming to the western side, called the
KEYSTONE pipeline corridor, from ALBERTA CANADA to TEXAS,
BECAUSE of youre skill which would surely be in demand there
just thought of saying it, if you keep in mind, you could inquire on it,
best to you
ilovebeeswarzone,
Is that “KEYSTONE pipeline corridor” that you are talking about on the east coast. I couldn’t move away from my gamily. I hope that something happens , becauyse I’m almost thirty now and I want to have the funds to get married. I am having a tough time finding a high-quality job as an mechanical engineer. I got a job designing machine parts. Every time that I send my resume and cover letter and go through an interview, the question of me bineg an felon always comes up and I get denied as soom n as those words come out of my mouth. I just send my application and paperwork to my governor, because I was approved by the Board of Pardons for a Pardon. This is the second time, though that I am going through theis proscess. The first time, the governor wouldn’t approve my pardon. I don’t know what else to do.
John A. Kinzey
hi,
I don’t know about east coast, but the one I mentioned is WEST COAST, FROM ALBERTA CANADA to TEXAS, OIL PIPELINE, Which is on hold as we speak, but most likely will be coming, it is ready to go as for now, so you might connect on line at this time to have a lead way over other job seeker ,
and get info you would need,
I thought of it when you mentioned your trade,machinist and it told me that you could have a good chance, because they sure use a lot of those skills in their work forces.
hope you get something, may GOD BLESS YOU AND HELP YOU,
Christopher Knecht
HI why did I ask you where you are aiming for, and you did not answer me,
I’ll tell you why I ask; in these last 3 years nothing has been done from OBAMA’S DEMOCRATS to help these felons to have their old records sealed, so I wanted to warn you about promises coming from them, to not be followed by actions,you would have a better way to get answers with the new CANDIDATES WHICH HOPE TO CHANGE THIS GOVERNMENT INABILITY TO HELP ANY ONE GET A JOB AND EVEN LESS THE FELONS THEY HAVE NEVER LOOK AT THESE PAST YEARS,
SO IF YOUR LEGITIMATE DESIRE IS TO HELP REALLY THIS CAUSE, IT WOULD BE HELPING TO EXPLAIN YOU’RE PLAN MORE TO THE FELONS,
because as you can understand they have learned no to trust without knowing where it will take them for sure. not in the past promises turned into lies
best to you
@Michael Schwartz: Depending on what newspaper you read, you may have been reading about me. I was given an award from the workforce development program. I hire felons who are eligible for tax incentives and insurance. I know that being a convicted felon can end a job interview quickly. If you are concerned about reducing the crime rate, then felons are the ones that you need to employ. According to my district, if a person has a job at the start and end of probation, then their chances of successfully completing probation are 85%. Most probationers end back up in jail, because they can’t find a job. One guy that I hired is around his mid twenties and he served about five years on gun and drug charges. He appeared that he wanted to help his family and he said that he had been loking for a job for a long time. He said that he didn’t get any interviews for weeks. He was going to get a job at McDonald’s when he found my company. My company gets a $2,400 tax credit for each ex-offender that I employ as well as bonding, or insurance. I work with probation officers who make sure the ex-offenders show up for work and adhere to probation rules. I believe they even renovated the FWDP renovated their office to have weekly resume workshops, mock interviews, donated suits, shirts and shoes, educational and other training programs. I have been to some job fairs with the FWDP that are set up for ex-offenders who they are not competing with people who have criminal records. These offenders just need a chance and will work hard. Some ex-offenders get jobs through family friends. I would suggest getting a trade such as HVAC. If you work harder than everyone else, strive to be the first to arrive at work, and doing exactly what your supervisors ask of you is your way to stamp out the stigma. One of my guys who was convicted of murder is one of my most reliable, go-to guys. I’d take five more of him. There are plenty of guys like him who are struggling to find jobs, then get out and don’t have the connections to land one. They just want a cahnce to work. I am a former college basketball star and have been hiring ex-offenders for several years for my moving business and to do renovation work. I hire people without criminal records as well, I just don’t hold a criminal record against candidates. I judge each on their performance. While I believe in giving second chances, I understand the risks involved — particularly with the perception some might have of a company that hires former prisioners. These guys are not mass murderers, but guys who got in a fight. Not serious criminals, but regular guys on the street who got into trouble, and no one will give them an opportunity because thye got into trouble. It’s worth the risk to give back to the community — giving people a chance that really need it. It makes me feel good. We need a bigger program, state-wide, because this is such a great program. It is a good way of braeking the cycle of violence and bringing down the crime rate. We all know that having a job is the keystone to developing a positive self-image and a means of support. An exapanisve program is our best collective hope for the future. A nice job doesn’t pay well compared to days on teh street. Legal money is way better.
Spen-Dunk
so glad you came , thank you for helping AMERICANS IN NEED OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU SO MUCH’,
you just have to look on this long THREAD, AND FIND SOME GOOD AND READY AMERICANS TO WORK FOR YOU, STICK AROUND, YOU HAVE BROUGHT HOPE ON THIS POST, JUST LIKE A CHRISTMAS PRESENT, THAT IS THE FIRST STEP TO START WALKING FOR THIS GROUP, TO KNOW THE REAL PERSON WHO CAN HIRE, and other will come after you, because you open the door for them to dare come and read the need of real AMERICANS LEFT OUT BY A UNJUST SYSTEM, FAVORING MORE UN AMERICANS AND ILLEGALS THEN THESE MOSTLY YOUNG ROOTED AMERICANS PROUD OF THEIR ROOTS AND WITH DESIRE TO EARN THEIR LIVING AND COME OUT OF THE ENTITELMENT SYSTEM
IMPOSE TO THEM WITHOUT ANY CORRECTION TO IT FOR HELPING THEM DREAM AND CREATE THE REAL AMERICAN DREAM.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU MAY GOD BLESS YOUR BUSYNESS AND MAKE IT EVEN MORE SUCCESFUL THIS YEAR.
YOU HAVE NOT JUST THOUGHT OF IT, YOU HAVE NOT JUST TYPE WORDS ON IT, YOU HAVE NOT JUST TALK ON THE IDEA,
BUT YOU WENT INTO ACTION, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS NEEDED THANK YOU SR
My life is ruined buddy. I graduated college and had my dream job as a therapist. Went out one day had a drink got in a minor car accident that turned into a 3rd degree felony. I have never been pulled over, never had tickets. The only encounter I ever had with the police was to say hi. Today, I am sitting at my parents house, using their resources (never spent a day in jail after being convicted) but I can not find a job that is in my profession. I work at a restaurant and yes I make the money to live BUT my life change 180 since that afternoon. I can’t get my record sealed or expunged. I can’t go to school to get a masters because schools look at your criminal background. I can not do What I love, A career I am passionate and good at because of something I did when I was 22 years old. Till What point does a punishment become Cruel and Unusual? is it enough to through someone in jail or monitor their every movement while sucking the money they will never make in a year of work? I Have to start my life over from zero. i have a degree that i can through out…. this is not rehabilitating to communities or to people that do stupid decisions in life. I have a DUI Bodily injury 3rd degree felony and my life is ruined. Unable to ever seal it, expunge it and it is a long shot and long wait for me to be able to even ask for a pardon. BUT hey…. if you think the law of the land is great? all power to you, keep voting….. oh right we can’t even do that.
Felon 78976
hi,
so sorry to read your comment, I’m trying to understand why not you get a chance,
is in there a way which you did not check? of course you must know, but then what about the other too,
is in there someone to reach? with the power to help, you cannot just continue to think of no way can you
ever come out of it, we will continue to put a shame on those responsible to have let you down,
as an AMERICAN YOU MUST STAY PROUD AND HOPE FOR A DAY OF COMING OUT OF IT,
that day will come, you keep thinking it will, and stay ready for it,
we must not give up on the future we don’t even know.
I wish sooner than you think,
bye
is in there a few LAWYERS WITH ENOUGH GUTS TO HELP PEOPLE HERE, THEY KNOW HOW TO GO AROUND THE LAW TO WIN THEIR CASE, WHAT ABOUT HELPING THESE AMERICAN WITHOUT LOOKING AT MONEY GAIN, ARE THEY ALL HEARTLESS ROBOTS? ?
SHAME ON THOSE HELPING THE IMMIGRANTS LEAVING THE AMERICANS BEHIND,
THIS IS UNAMERICAN, HOW ABOUT THOSE FRESH OUT OF UNIVERSITY, WON’T YOU HELP YOUR BROTHER AMERICANS? THIS POST IS IN NEED OF HELP NOT WORDS BUT ACTION,TO GET THESE FELON ON THE WORK FORCE. NOW GET IN HERE AND START TO HELP. AND SHOW US HOW GOOD YOU ARE,
IT WILL HELP YOUR CARREER IMMENSLY, YOUR NAME WILL BE REMEMBER AS THOSE WHO FIX THE SYSTEM AND HELP MILLIONS OF FELONS,
WHICH CANDIDAT IS GUTSY ENOUGH TO COME HERE, AND TELL WHAT HE CAN DO.
WE ARE WAITING, AND THERE IS MANY VOTES WAITING RIGHT HERE, FOR THE CONSERVATIV CANDIDAT WHO DARE COMMIT TO HELP MY FRIENDS HERE,
RICK PERRY i WOULD BELEIVE YOUR WORD, COME AND SEE,
AND GET THEIR VOTES, AS MANY CAN VOTE, THERE IS
MILLIONS WAITING, YOU COULD GET THE PRESIDENCY BY HELPING YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS,
THEY HAVE PAID THE PRICE OF THEIR ERROR,
THEY DESERVE TO BE FREE. THEY ARE AMERICANS AND ABLE AND WILLING TO WORK. FOR GOD’SAKE
WHO ARE WE TO THROW A STONE, AMERICA IS NOT ISLAM
THIS IS A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO GET HELP IN AN ELECTION YEAR
here is another reson why felons rights should be limited. i was reading the newspaper and one article was about a housing inspector’s criminal record. he was a corrections officer until he forged sick forms and was convicted of 12 thefts. he was fired because of these thefts and, then got a job as a housing inspector, but he had no experience. housing inspectors are a position of trust, so they have to do a background check. he still got the job although he had a crimial record and no experience and he falsifed his birthday and social security on his application. city regulations said that a record shouldn’t bar housing inspection, but he had no experience. then he was promoted to supervisor. he hadn’t had enough experience to be a supervisor either. it happened in the city, so i guess that is where felons can find a job and keep being dishonest and ruin the country.
ilovehalo
yes very sad of having people in jobs of power in GOVERNMENT SO CORRUPT AS TO GIVE A JOB TO THAT PERSON , he has many criminal actions in his bag, and was put in those jobs by other criminals solid in their position enough to have a past, there is the problem, UNIONS PRIVILEDGE OR MAFIA OR ELSE DARK ACTIVE THUGERY?OR ALL OF IT GOING ON FROM THE TOP, SINCE THESE LAST YEARS
you cannot compare the ones here who paid their times and know not to redo the mistake again, and want to go on with their life as a proud AMERICAN LOOKING TO WORK, but still are refused because of the negative mark from previous years still hanging, THEY ARE MANY MILLIONS OF THEM DESERVING TO WORK, AND ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND HATERS OF THIS NATIONS TAKING JOBS OFFERED FROM OTHER MAKING THE BUCK OUT OF IT, WHICH ARE THE REAL CRIMINALS,
2012 WILL CARRY THE CHANGE OF THEM, THEY WILL GET DUMP IN THE HOLE DEEPER THAN ALL OF YOU HERE, THEN YOU WILL GET YOUR CHANCE OF WORKING, FROM THE NEW LEADERS COMING,
TO TAKE PRIORITY ON AMERICANS FIRST AND ABOVE OTHER FOREIGNERS. DON’T GIVE UP.
AMERICA WILL WIN.
Well im a felon ,its been about 14years now when i was released from probation .Always worked hard i had it pretty good ,where i live .I know alot of people who ,belived in me,so i always had work .Thank goodness for that ,The towns people here gave me a second chance .So had my friends ,family that sure helps alot too .And haveing a probation officer who told the judge this ones worth saveing. But then ive got a cuz in OKLAHOMA whos a felon she was 18 years old .She even went to collage and got some kind of degree.Her boys almost grown up .She cant get work in her home town ,shes got good job history.Its been 25years shes still looking.For some help out there.So im trying to get her some today .Thanks for all the help and where to look ,Ive got some rights back so far .Ill get the rest too yet.
Yvonne Buckey
hi,
I like the way you use your error to help another with what you learned and the hard way too,
it’s just strange when we realyze there are other in a worse situation than we can be, and it
does take a person to reflex on how to rise up and help the other,
I think It’s a perfect medication to heal from the self desperation, while time pass by, bringing other good thought and good will from some other along our road to recovery, no matter how long the road,
the end goal is to recover first from self, before moving on to being proud of ourselves,
and rise our head tall toward the FUTURE WHICH ALWAYS WILL COME.
BEST TO YOU
I have a cousin who is doing some unbelievable things with this population. Look at his story:
David
David Conley
thank you that COMPANY is sure a must to get in touch with by the people who came here,
WHO STILL HAVE NO JOBS, CHECK IT YOU ALL, IT’S A GIVEN,
YOU KNOW DAVID, you gave the first concrete door for some to knock on to find a job
they all qualify to get in as they paid their errors and did not re-offend, except for just a couple of them,
but few as to compare of the over 200 s who came, that link is going to be hot theses days I’m sure.
best to you SR
Wow, incredible weblog structure! How lengthy have you been running a blog for? you make running a blog glance easy. The full look of your site is great, as smartly as the content!
Piano Lessons
hi,
the AUTHOR OF THIS BLOG SEAN, had a fantastic idea, to write his POST, THAT was quite long ago,
and it turn out to gathered many comments from smart felons, and information also important for some of them,,
the POST ENDURE ALL THIS TIME, AND i’M SURE WILL GO FURTHER BECAUSE SOME WHO CAN HELP THEM, ARE COMING TO VISIT AND GIVE HOPE IN SOME CLUES AND IDEAS TO HELP THE ONES HELPLESS AND UNAWARE , TOO DESPERATE TO ENVISAGE A LIGHT AT THE END OF THEIR TUNNEL,
SO they read other felons who made it, how they did it, andtake the good part as possibility for them to hope by trying other ideas of success,
thank you for your support
best to you
Second chances don’t come cheap. In his State of the Union Address, President said “America is the land of second chances, and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life.” A year later, Congressman Danny Davis and Sen. Sam Brownback authored the Second Chance Act to allocate more than $100 million for prisoner re-entry programs across the nation. Most prisons have pre-release programs. Certain awards are given to these prisons such as the Presidential Points of Light award. These programs are designed to equip offenders with concepts they can use to maintain control over their lives and behavior. Topics go from employment and personal finances to parenting and conflict resolution. More recently, the My Brother’s Keeper mentoring program offers offenders support beginning in the prison and continuing into the community. There has been similar mentoring at women’s institutions for more than 20 years. However, re-entry is about much more than prison programming. Our nation has a daily incarcerated population of more than a million inmates. Approximately 4 million offenders are admitted and 4 million released each year to our communities. The majority of those will be in legal trouble within three years. The cost to operate the new spaces for inmates will dwarf its construction. Prison experts estimate operating expenses double capital costs every four years. These estimates do not include the other costs of criminal justice. They do not include the costs to victims and their families. We cannot afford not to implement re-entry programs, but must be strategic with taxpayers’ money. We must measure every program funded against the benchmark of success. We must be willing to scrap programs that do not measure up and move money to other projects. And we must be prepared to admit government does not always have a solution. Communities must be invested in ex-offenders’ success. Who are you offenders that ultimately have returned to communities? On average, you have a sixth-grade education. Most have a substance problem or committed a drug-related crime. Most neglected your health before coming to prison. You have little or no job training and have not held a job for any appreciable time. Some come from households in crisis. Many have strained relationships with immediate family. The majority are poor. Many are homeless, and a large number have a mental health condition. They need access to many services. Services like housing, employment, education, substance abuse and mental health treatment and medical care are interdependent, yet operate independently. If someone cannot read and write, how can he get a job that pays a living wage? If he has a job but no place to live, how long will he stay employed? We must do a better job of identifying needs and coordinating services already available. Let me give an example. Between 12 percent and 16 percent of our incarcerated population is seriously mentally ill. When an offender with a mental health disorder is incarcerated, the offender is treated, stabilized and eventually released. Because of the nature of mental illness, an ex-offender may not continue treatment. This leads to behavior that ultimately lands the person back in prison. Our nation will provide treatment one way or another — if not in the community, then in prison. If we do not accept the moral imperative to help those who cannot help themselves, the financial reality is that we will pay for that decision in increased costs. There are programs proven to work. A study by the U.S. Department of Education found that attending school while still in prison can cut recidivism nearly 30 percent. College courses can reduce it another 20 percent. Research has found that those who establish a relationship with community religious organizations succeed at a higher rate than those who do not. We know that mentoring works. Organizations that coordinate resources and enlist ex-offenders offer great value. In 2010, Goodwill agencies around the nation helped 45,000 ex-offenders with training, counseling, health care, mentoring, housing, job placement and retention. The United Way of Central Indiana led a similar effort which recognized inmates are likely to be parents, and incarceration adversely affects their children. Intervention work started inside the prison and followed offenders into the community. Within the prison system, we encourage offenders to participate in education and training programs. There are approximately 400,000 individuals in education, vocational and life skills programs. We are trying to reach more. A distance learning study using DVDs to prepare offenders for high school equivalency diplomas was piloted in 2006. There are heating, ventillation, air conditioning and plumbing training programs available. These inmates work in prisons, reducing the cost of incarceration and idleness and increasing skills. Other vocational programs are planned. In Probation and Parole, offenders are helped to find jobs and places to live. We will continue to do more, but we cannot succeed on our own. Set straight. Sooner or later, inmates come back — to a new life or the old life of crime. This affects families and neighborhoods. What is the solution? Send your ideas to this blog. Type in the comment box. Publish your best idea.
MitchaelSwartz
hi,
thank’s for coming again with more info,
I would like to mentIon about the problem they have after they are on their own, as oppose to those in prison
or on parole, and those who are with community help, these here seems to me are on their own looking for jobs which are denied to them because of the branding they have so easy to find by the web even goes in many years back which should and not have been erase , which is their problem for this time most blocking their chances for a good jobs,
now how come this obvious fact hurting so many young proud AMERICANS WHICH HAVE PAID FOR THEIR MISTAKES AND ARE NOT PERVERTS OR DANGEROUS TO SOCIETY, this problem still exist, THERE SHOULD BE A BAN FROM THE SOURCES AND COMPANIES AND OTHER BUSYNESS TO FIND THOSE BRAND MARKS ON THEM,
IN ORDER TO ALL THOSE MILLIONS OF YOUNG WHICH HAVE DONE THEIR STUPID THINGS AND GREW OUT OF IT BY RECOGNIZING THE ERROR PLUS PAID FOR IT, THEY ARE NOT HELP AS WE READ ONCE THEY ARE ON THEIR OWN, THIS IS WHAT MOST HERE ARE SAYING, IS THERE A WAY TO FIX THEIR DEMAND SPECIFICLY
BYE,
CHeck out this story and share of a 2nd Chance!
David
A long way to go. Every year, approximately 650,000 people nationally return home to communities after serving state prison sentences. What happens to them is of importance to policymakers and law enforcement agencies, but mostly to those of us who will be their new neighbors. To begin a dialogue about prisoner re-entry, it is useful to survey what we know. And while we know a lot, there is still a lot to learn. Sadly, the majority of those released from prison will be rearrested within three years. And a quarter of them will be back in prison for a new crime. One should not forget this fact, nor the associated damage to communities that these statistics represent. This does not mean, however, that “once a crook, always a crook.” In fact, almost everyone who engages in crime stops at some point. People tend to drift in and out of crime. People go through periods where they are committing no crime at all, then relapse back into old behavior. Research has shown that changes are often tied to drug use. Not many people re-enter the community actively committing crimes or using drugs. They might do so the day they get out, but they walk out the prison door crime-free. The trick is encouraging them to stay that way. Consider the age distribution of crime. Most of those arrested are under 30 years old. As people move out of their crime-prone years, new people enter their volatile teens and 20s. Someone might be arrested numerous times during those years, then become law-abiding as he gets older. This leads to the conclusion that desistence is the norm. Understanding this is important, because facilitating desistence upon community re-entry encourages a normal activity. What leads people to desist from committing crime has been the subject of much research and debate in recent years. Some things are known. People who find meaningful employment or relationships after release from prison are less likely to reoffend than those who do not. Those who complete college programs or certain types of drug treatment while in prison are less likely to reoffend. And those who are involved in educational programs after release are less likely to reoffend. It appears that engagement in social activity is of vital importance. It is not simply having a job, being married or attending a program that leads to success upon community re-entry. Scholars disagree on the exact process, but increasingly focus on changes in people’s identities as they become part of social functions. Having a meaningful job can lead to adapting to being a carpenter, driver, salesperson or manager, just as becoming involved in lasting relationships or parenthood can lead to identifying as a husband, wife, father or mother. While these changes may seem routine to most people, those coming out of prison wear the label of convict, criminal, drug addict or worse. Before people will stop committing crimes, they have to stop thinking of themselves as criminals. The problem with negative labels is that, no matter how well deserved, they make it difficult to obtain those roles that lead to new identities. Nor can we force people into them. We cannot sentence people to marriage, nor force private employers to hire ex-offenders. Some have suggested that employment, relationships and the like can be viewed as “hooks for change” in the community. According to professor Peggy Giordano and her colleagues, four things are required for a hook to be effective. they must be available. There must be jobs, educational opportunities or spouses in the community to alter inmates’ lives. Second, the person must desire the hook. some people do not wish to work or find relationships, and some are not ready to attempt change. Third, the person must be able to acquire the hook. If people are unable to do jobs, or are unattractive as spouses, they do not do much good. Finally, once a hook is acquired, it must be seen as life-changing. A part-time or temporary job, while useful, is not likely to change someone’s perception of himself from drug dealer to working person. But a job in an electrician’s shop might lead to someone to start thinking like an electrician. Unfortunately, being a convicted felon makes it difficult to obtain employment, and being freshly released from prison does not make one prime material for long-lasting relationships. Those re-entering the community from prison are exactly the type of people who do not have access to identity-changing situations. But knowing something about the process is a start. It may not be that jobs and strong relationships lead to less crime, but rather that people who reduce their involvement in crime are more likely to become involved with jobs and relationships. Research to date is mixed. At a certain level it should not matter. Encouraging people to find employment, continue education and maintain healthy relationships should be a social goal anyway. Another area that is not well understood is why some people change and desist sooner than others. Some people stop offending in their teens, while others continue into middle age. Determining what causes some people to desist after one prison term and others after five might facilitate re-entry processes that encourage change. Some programs attempt to pull people away from crime through treatment programs, job placement and transitional housing. Other programs attempt to push people away from crime. These include law enforcement efforts, corrections, parole and probation services. These programs are designed to make the cost of crime higher. It is unreasonable to assume that people will seek new identities unless we make their current behavior problematic. It is best to think of treatment and law enforcement as opposite sides of the coin.
Arrest distribution by age: Under 15: 5% / 15-19: 20% / 20-24: 21% / 25-29: 14% / 30-34: 10% / 35-39: 9% / 40-44: 8% / 45-49: 7% / 50-54: 4% / 55-59: 2% / 60-64: 1%
MichaelSchwartz
hi,
you bring so much knowledge here, we cannot afford to not read you every time you come, what if it tell me that a program intensively focus on self discipline focusing each FELONS AMERICAN RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD THE MOTHER LAND WHICH AMERICA SO LOVINGLY HAVE REPRESENTED FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE TIME
WHEN THE FATHERS OF THE LANDS WROTE THE CONSTITUTION, THE BILL OF RIGHT AND THE COMMERCE CLAUSE, HOW important for them to be aware of the fact they are representing the future of this PROUD NATION OF WARRIORS FIGHTING AND BEING HURT SO BAD AND SPILLING BLOOD FOR THE FREEDOM THEY HAVE, AND LOST ON A MOMENT OF NEGATIVE JUDGEMENT DECISION MAKING,, AND because of that unique for many failure on their responsibility toward AMERICA, THEY MUST RE IMMERSE IN THAT SPECIFIC PROGRAM RE ESTABLISHING WHERE THEY FIT IN AS FUTURE ENABLERS OF THIS COUNTRY, NOW IN PERIL OF LOOSING THE FREEDOM THEIR FATHERS LIVED IN THE QUEST TO BE BETTER, IN THE QUEST TO GET HIGHER WITH THE GIFT THEY HAVE EACH IN THEIR DNA,,
THE YOUNG FELON MUST BE IMMERSE IN THE DREAM OF WHAT AMERICA EXCEL SINCE ALL THE CENTURIES,,
BECAUSE THEY WILL BE IMPORTANT IN RETURNING AMERICA TO HER FOUNDER’S DREAMS SO FULL OF WISDOM AND CREATIVITY GIVEN TO ALL FREE TO BECOME REALITY. FOR EACH AMERICAN.,
SOME IN POWER NOW HAVE TRIED TO TAKE IT AWAY BUT THIS IS TO BE RELEGATE IN THE PAST SOON, AND THE NEW PERSON WHO WILL BE VOTED IN THAT POWER TO SERVE ALL AMERICANS REGARDLESS OF ANY LABELS WHATH SOEVER, WILL NEED ALL THE PEOPLE TO HELP IN RESTAURING THOSES VALUES.
BYE
Good evening everyone. I am a professor at a state university and I instruct an English course that is geared toward business students. I was in class a few months ago and lecturing on the topic of resumes. I expressed the simple fact that when a potential employer gets to the end of your resume, he or she is sold on granting you an interview unless you have a criminal record. After class, a student of mine came up to me and was worried. He explained to me that he had been convicted of several misdemeanors when he was a teenager (but an adult). These convictions included simple assault, possession of marijuana, possession of alcohol, and DUI. I was shocked that such a nice student had been convicted of simple assault. He claimed that these convictions occurred over five years ago. I didn’t have any information to give to him because I thought that what I said earlier in class was true. I consulted with several of my colleagues, including a lawyer and a former human resources screening manager. The lawyer, Professor Scott, claimed that if you have been convicted of a crime in one state, you don’t have to check off the box on the application that you have been convicted of a crime if you apply to a position of employment in another state. The former human resources manager, Professor Cabral, claimed that even if you submit a resume and cover letter, you could potentially have to submit an application that further asks the question: “Have you been convicted of a crime?”
Professor Charney
hi, for a minute I thought you where coming to fustigate my ENGLISH.
I thank you for the good advices, of a misdemeanor is not required to be expose in another STATE
when one is seeking to be employed, as long as it was paid for with the sentence applied, very good to know, for those who want to move out of their STATE TO BE LUCKY IN ANOTHER STATE,
BYE
v
Sean
I would be very intersted to see how things have panned out for you since you wrote this and were working on your degree. I do agree that it is not up to all of the people to pay for te second chance of ex-felons. However given the way communities and society seems to handle or make it able for ex-felons to be able to get a good job and move on with thier lives getting a second chance is not as easy as you seem to be making it to be.
Now before you start on your how do you know let me explain. I to have been convicted of felonies two of them. It has been twelve years since the last one thirteen years since the first one. Since then I have volunteered with youth organizations helping children stay off of the streets even headed it up. I have spoken at schools on drugs, gangs, violence, jail, and consequences of the choices we make. I have certification as a Personal Trainer, a diploma in Carpentry, and am now working on a degree as a substance abuse counselor. I am married and have children. I have had four jobs at one time since these convictions. So I do agree that a person can get a job with a felony conviction and agree Jerome needs to get off his butt and get a job he has no excuse for not being able to get any job. That brings me to why I am curious as to how things have gone since getting your degree. With everything I have done to improve myself and earn a second chance everything listed above and more. I cannot move ahead with my life. I am still going to school only because I have been changing majors and having to go back because I cannot get a quality job that can become a career. I cannot get anything that will pay decent or that will allow for me to not have to hold numerous jobs to pay my expenses.
With that being said it is a large reason why you have so many repeat offenders. we live in a society that says you can make a mistake and move on from it getting a second chance. this is what the thought is but the reality is something different. You are stating that Obama wants the taxpayers to pay for this I am not saying this is right or wrong but where is the benifit of taxpayers paying to jail the same person over and over because no matter what he does how hard he tries to prove himself and better himself or educate himself he cannot get that second chance. where is it any different for them to be paying to jail the same person who cannot get a job to support his family. When they could pay for programs that help to rehabilitat them and have them become better more productive people in their community and society.
Again I am not stating if I agree or disagree if people should have to pay or not but I do think that they need to consider that many repeat offenders do so because they cannot get that second chance. Do I think that all of them have truely rehabilitated no, but what about the ones who really do that have put it in black and white and have tried to get that chance and cannot. Are we helping them to become better people and promoting for them to continue on the right path along with everyone else. Or are we saying tough luck no matter what you do or how long you try you will never stop being haunted by that mistake you made at an age argued if we really are matured and you may as well stop trying and continue to be a criminal since that is all society will ever see you as.
Maybe this has become a rant out of my own frustration. If it sounds like I am just whinning or complaining I apologize it is not my intent. I have worked hard and still am working hard to get that second chance. Either way thier needs to be a standard or point that a person can move on from a mistake and make a life. When has a person truly paid their debt for their mistake and is considered rehabilitationed and deserving. Please let me know how things have panned out for you since getting your degree and if it had the effect you thought it would on changing how people looked at you when applying for a job.
yo B. I’m sso mutha-mutha happy. nah, just playing. BUT, SERIOUSLY THOUGH. yo, en my state, they just gave offenders of narcotics financial aid. they let killas, rapists, kidnappas, na i mean? now, i can get my muthafucking financial aid. I’m goin to college, kna im saying? First in my family. i can go to college, cuz i got financial aid CUZ. Yo, imma graduate, too. u gonna see me on this muthafucking board making money like Sean and Jerome. PEACE!! I’M OUT!!!!!!!!
I answer questions for ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs at my blog: http://howfelonscangetjobs.blogspot.com
Man, this blog brought out some strong feelings within me. As I waived my parole because they were trying to degrade me while I was sincere, I did develop a chip on my shoulder that had never been there through hundreds of foster homes that humiliated me, and hundreds of school bullies that degraded me because I didn’t have the kind of sneakers they demanded.
I’m not pissed off at those bullies anymore, and they’re generally not at me either since I didn’t start it and they got their asses whipped, but…there is no way I can call this system just.You want me to accept that we just have this innate sense of right and wrong from birth, and that is just false. There has been 13 million years of man adjusting and trying to make mankind better for all that got us this far despite what your Bible might say to you. In reality, all animals, and humans are animals, do what they need to do to survive innately.
Survival is the only thing innate in all species. Law has been contrived over thousands or more years. You tell us we should just accept complete oppression for eternity until the end of time because we have made a choice that was wrong by your standards and without your help… and to that I say… fuck you and your laws!
I’ve been successful… then I’ve been not successful… then successful again, then not… I’m not a slave to your whims and your deficiencies that you need to compensate for. Your laws have made it impossible for me to be free, so fuck you and your laws. Your laws were made for you, the weak. I didn’t consent just by being born here, and I’m going to die fighting against the slavery you seem to think I should accept.
Take your scholarly minds and collectively fuck eachother in the asses with your response to this, I don’t care. You’re shallow, handicapped, begging people that use law to steal from and oppress good people and justify it with your shallow laws that defy nature and your god’s will.
The good never try to take control. The good are given control by consensus. The evil have control, and they do it with law.
Michael Severance
wow, you did have a bad time and it began early, as you describe, but they might have taken your soul along the desperation years, they have awaken ancient deep within you battles which you are left wounded to death,
but there is a light shining I can see it in your explanation, that is, THEY DID NOT TAKE YOUR MIND, and your intelligence, nobody can take it, except yourself, you have the ability to rise up above any abuse done to you, you choose to include it in your life , and you are so angry because you cannot forget, those wounds are so deep, but they can heal, you can turn those wound into
such positive energy which can drive you to gain peace at last in your heart, to take away the distrust
of humans around you, you must work on leaving the negative memories behind,
just think about the wounded WARRIORS who come back and survive after being in hell for many days,
subject to immense stress on their mind and body, the must leave behind as they regain their FREEDOM, for the sake of their loved ones ,it is a big mind demand and for some too big to bare, but for most their spirit meet the challenge given to them alone which they leave in their mind far deep as time take them away from it, they are the BRAVEST, they take their burden and keep it, secretly
where no other can see it. and what GOD give us all is that treasure to regenerate ourselves even from the descent in hell, and you can, you show such intelligence, you have the power to regenerate into positive thinking you where born with it, find it, and come back with positive experiences and explanation in here to help those which are desperate and don’t know how to
pursue their future strive to achieve the best they can dream of
which for the wounded will never be as when they left
@ilovebeeswarzone: Wow, that was actually a pretty nice response considering the vulgarity of my comment. Had I anticipated anyone here was operating on any modicum of objectivity, I’d probably have cleaned it up a little.
I actually agree with Sean that spending more money for more bureaucracy isn’t the way to go, but I was foaming at the mouth reading Dr. D’s comments. Right and wrong is not inherent, and morality is completely subjective. He states that a felon has proven they have the capacity and propensity to do what is wrong, but in a given set of circumstances, we all have the capacity to do wrong for survival, or even, the greed we’re all born with. Morality is indoctrinated so you’re lucky if you’ve made it through life without any mistakes. You probably had someone that cared about you and taught you well.
Likewise, you can’t force a person to hire a felon and I realize this, but the problem is that the government requires licenses and permits for EVERYTHING and often won’t give them to felons. So you’re telling felons they can’t work legitimately for themselves, and you’re branding them for life to anyone that does have the licenses and permits won’t hire them… what the hell do you expect them to do? If someone can’t see that denying a person the ability to provide for themselves for their entire lives is immoral and definitely cruel and unusual punishment, then they’re either really stupid, really cruel, or both, and deserve the inevitable backlash.
You’re right about one thing, I am intelligent. I’m not bragging, it is the one bit of luck I did get in life. Not everyone is that lucky. For every one of me or Sean, there are 100 others that are really not bad people and aren’t as smart and are pretty much screwed for life. And though I’ve carved out a decent living for myself despite being a felon, it still isn’t fair that I’m often alienated from my own children even (field trips, sports), or just random people. Might has well have given me a life sentence… but that would cost you precious tax dollars and be counter-productive to the end-game purpose of eliminating competition through litigation and bureaucracy.
Michael Severance
hi, thank’s for the answer, yes like you I resent the fact of having the felons branded so far in times that they are unable to find work even on a lower scale of their study and intellect, by the way I heard that SANTORUM had previously tried to have felon able to votes when he was in congress, some years far,
so this is a perfect time to address him with getting a word of fixing the problem if he win, and if getting his endorsement get the felons to give a push for him, I myself like NEWT GINGRICH, and I did not hear of him on the subject but maybe it would be worth an try to his blog also trying to get a commitment,
in return to having a million of felons for those who vote take the one who commit to concrete actions, I think SEAN
is still doing some thing to repair that problem one way or another.
I did mention that issue before on other POSTS, and I also just notice a link on a previous comment above, it’s worth looking at, that should be part of the search of every felons because if they find a positive and sure affirmative action it take everybody in the positive and hope for a better future,
something has to come your way all of you, and we have to do a little more than talking about it,
you all have to bother them, let them think of if they would fall in that situation of a forever branding,
what would they do, they have to be made to be put in your situation with good polite conversation,
then something will come, but this is the right time.
best to you and all here, nobody is allowed to give up, it would only waste your time and fall behind,
bye
Hey everyone, check out this story of a 2nd Chance!
You know, even being a felon, I’m kind of hard on criminals even. I’ve seen their personalities from the inside and not just a newspaper article, so I can tell you some of them are just a little bit of crazy, a little bit of ruthless, and a little bit of stupid.
If you have a criminal that is indeed a criminal and he’s really intelligent, that’s indeed a scary formula, but it’s not very common. This idea that we can just use cookie cutters in life and put everyone in the same box is never going to work. You can make all the laws to protect yourself as you want to, but you’re still going to have to make a decision about people in life with the old eye test eventually.
What was my crime? My crime sounds horrible on paper. Assault with intent to murder, discharging a firearm within 500 ft. of a building. Possession of an illegal firearm. I sure do look like a monster.
I was 17.The government let me live on my own, in bad judgement. The gun was not mine and I tried to tell the owner not to take it with him because we would be drinking. Not only did he take it with him, but he gave it to me after many beers and pills, and I went Yosemite Sam. The bullets never hit anyone, because they were never intended to. In the eyes of society, a Catholic priest that molested 100 boys was at least religious. I never hurt one person that did not threaten me in a proactive way, and I never maimed or killed anyone, but you want to take my whole life for it.
When I was in prison, my life was actually easy. I never knew why until near the end, ” Dude, you were about to fight a prison guard about an orange.” I missed the oranges in line, and they all got an orange. I was hungry. I wanted my orange. I actually got my orange that time. I wasn’t taking no for an answer.
Michael Severance
hi,
what a bad luck you fell into, and you know at 17, that is why many get in trouble,
you showed to want to prevent a danger your mind was alert when you told him to leave the gun home,
and you where right and at 17, you didn’t know how big the danger was, and it’s easy now to say to you, that you should have insisted or stay put and cancel that fun time which ended in disaster for you, and there was a possibility to hurt or kill other even it that possibility was remote, a fight in the bar, a bad gesture from a clown and you would have gone basurke at 17, then really killing a human being,
your guts told you, but you refuse to believe in your guts feeling, because you went there drinking until you loose your right and wrong knowledge, and bang the reaction was to brand you as a wrong one,
and the cost is enormous is in it?
I’m telling you all that not really for you but for other fine young man and woman of that age more or less, so they check with what their gutts feeling tell them before they fall into the same trap as you did,
you where right from the beginning but you did only half of it, you should have shut the door, but you left it half way open, and it is good to mention it for the sake of other to learn and not act like they know every consequences to their actions, because at 17 they don’t, that is why they are in constant dangers,
sorry but I use your story to make a point for other, when I read of 3millions felons, it blew my mind,
and that ‘s why I come here and give my opinion,
take care, you are not a criminal, you don’t have a criminal mind, you behave like an idiot at that time
same as other felons who did the same and became felon by not saying NOWAY, I’M NOT GOING, they could have prevented, if they would have THINKING THEY DON’T KNOW IT ALL YET.
BEST TO YOU
I am gonna give you my story when I was 23 I went to prison cause I was in the car waiting while my girlfriend visited her boyfriend in Jail (yea I know but when your young and dumb and think the world is your oyster this kinda things do happend and those you call friend are in actuality your lifes worst nightmare) she was also sneaking him drugs (NO I DIDNT KNOW!) heck I was so HIGH I was just along for the ride so when they busted her in the visiting room they came also to the car and they arrested me too (and coincidently I never seen her again until about 2 or 3 years ago some 25 years later, and there I was I had no felony arrest prior to this only class B misdemeanor over the course of my young adult life I had rack up 12 of them since the age of 18 years old I was young adult on party drugs/alcohol making very bad decisions I got sentence to 6 years in a correctional facility for women in the state of california ( you know I ve never written this down and WOW! talking about stupid….) the actual sentence was 6years deferred with a 3 year tail of formal probation so me being the bright star I was decided that when they let me out of that jail I would just run for the Hills and never look back never even consider actually trying to do what the courts demanded (now I want to explain myself “those other arrest I went to a womens jail for the first 4 no jail time the next 8 were all progressive sentencing from 30 days upto180days all with no formal probation I had heard stories of prison but the drugs had destroyed my mind so much that my very sanity was warp) so when I got arrest and was charge finally with a felony which could send me to prison I was terrified (and yes I was still using drugs) I left California and move to Texas where I had some distant family in hoped of cleaning myself up…….but I was still using stayed there for 5 years got homesick and decided to come for a visit well low and behold was back in california 2 days and walk out of the corner store from a family members house and the very police that arrested me in the car at that mens facility had transfer and made detective and was in a unmark police car and reconize me and arrested me right there on the spot long story short I get my original 6 years and 21 days later I was in a womens prison oh yea that fast so now the facts I kick the drugs and became a model prisoner and was release 3.5 years later but I still had that 3 year tail formal probation before being release from prison requested to return to Texas cause thats where I had been living for 5 years prior was granted the transfer did 8 months of parole and was discharge for exmplelary actions (had 3 part time jobs got my GED,never submitted a dirty,went to every meeting parole ofc ) ok here where it gets sad I decided I needed more training so I went to school got a grant graduated for office assistant could not get a job could not pass background checks (basically I got into debt with sallymae started out as 2500$ but is now almost 35000$ some 18 years later) oh the 3 jobs there were minimum wage 2 to 4 hours each cleaning houses:so after several years of bearly being able to eat every day and sudsidizing my food from food banks and being on public assistance. ( oh I applied a those same fast food resturants you did BUT they didnt hire me NO! not even at the Grocery store and oh yes lets not forget those warehouses lets get this clear there where times that I got hired cause I slam dunked the interview and got the job right on the spot but before I could leave out of the HR Dept from signing my W2 someone would say Oh! srry there had been a mistake your background check and sometimes it even happend after working for 1 week or more and for the most part the supervisors or mangers were always srry for me), no I am not complaining) It was good for my soul taught me patients and humility. But I didnt give up 14 years later and several training schools and diplomas but still no steady job so I had a moment of weakness and brought some drugs to sell (I wont make exscuse but I was defeated spritually as well as mentally what can I say in my Humanity lies my defeat…..I got arrest and the shame almost Killed me (so I started having health problems) when I was all but ready to just throw in the towel MERCY found me I was given 3 years formal probation and drug counseling and I did every day. I am a fighter so now here we are almost some 19 years later and 2 degrees not eligible for food stamps, all unemp benefits exhausted (from the many staffing agency jobs Ive held over the years)was living in shelter but even that has ran out so I still cant seem to pass a background check that will allow me to clean houses or wipe the butt of someone dying…am I bitter NO!…I am grateful for my freedom…..I’ve just had the drug sells expunged and I am trying to save for the money to get my entire backgrond check from the DOJ to see if anything else can be expunge or sealed I ve been struggling for so long to just to provide the basic neccesities of life for myself. I will say this my life has been very interesting I wont make excuses for my bad judgement but I need some compassion from my fellow man ITS been almost 7 years since I ve had any legal problems and my mind is clear I am alot older and I know that I will never agian make choices that will send me willfully to do that which will put me in jail a lesson that has tooken me half my life to not just learn but apply in my own life I need a second chance NOW based on who I am NOW not on WHO I was then……..that saying about casting the first stone is what I need… the substance abuse in my life has always been my down fall and will always be the downfall of all the choices that ive made on my path………thank you for reading my story and to answer the question…. yes I deserve a second chance
melas
may I be the first but not the last I’m sure, to give you some word of hope,
this so difficult because you broke my hearth, and I’m crying after reading your life story,
I did cry before for the others which I read , and I would like so much to be of help, and I remember of that age when I would not listen to nobody’s advices, the thought of wanting to be free to decide my young life had me almost in trouble, almost but enough to become suspicious of of maybe a supernatural being was looking up for me, and I kind of like the idea, and because I liked it, I kept it, knowing that
because he was or she was in the supernanural world he or she was smarter them me, and would always protect me, as long as I was good and kind and generous with other less fortunated, I was not lazy and lucky to find work at such young age, I decided that my protector was the ultimate one and I said he must be GOD replacing my decease parents, from then on I would say when the opportunity come to do it that I was solid with GOD, and add that he give me everything I ask for, my state of mind help me to discern which way to go and which way to NOT GO, I even took the credit of me alone was smart sometimes but always return to apologize to GOD, for my arrogance. and life went on just like youres
but you really had it hard, and on and on like a leach was sticking on your mind guiding you in trouble after trouble not even of your own doing, talking about being unlucky, and you must have thought you where a jink sometimes so much coming to keep you in slavery, I know how hard it is to be young also,
and one thing positive about it is if you are alone , well not eating so much is keeping you thin,
and it’s not that bad after all. it take away the urge of over eating,is in it, I would sometimes eat a bag of chips for dinner but my mind would get me it was a chicken,, and accepting it was making it okay,
no feeling sorry ideas for me, I refused those thoughts, I had a high esteem of my me and no one would break it, when I marry a bully, just my luck me who always cherish my freedom now with
discovering too late a bully, how come I did not perceived it , oh well no one can destroy my mind,
life goes on the bully got sick and I took care of the best I could with all my heart until death do us apart,
that’s life, and you will get the best of it sooner or later, but you will for sure,
I will ask my WEALTHY GOD TO GIVE IT SOONER TO YOU,
TAKE CARE WHILE YOU WAIT FOR IT, LIFE GOES FAST,
YES YOU DESERVE AS ALL HERE DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE
and you cannot afford to miss it when it come, take it whole and don’t look back
If the author of this article is true on what she or he wrote about, i bet he or she is white. People of color (non whites…blacks, asians, latinos) who are felons will never get an opportunity to get a better job. Yes, getting a job as a hamburger flipper sounds right but if you ain’t white, your chances are slim to zero to get a better job. It’s the way society is, so in essence i’m not proud of America. The laws are just unfair to most.
Jimmy
you cannot defeat yourself with that excuse anymore, It did work years ago but It’s out at this time,
just look around the many colored skin people in the work force, no but the problem is the GOVERNMENT not working themselves to help busyness , they are closing them up by their regulations choking everyone out of busyness, they always find a way to intrude on the only one who can get the work and get the workers in their busyness, until NEXT NOVEMBER you are on a dead stop, you have to decide as so many AMERICANS TO CHANG THE GOVERNMENT FROM THE TOP DOWN, so you can hope to find a job,
no matter your color, you have the chance to make your dream a reality for you and your loved one,
the time is coming for all AMERICANS SO DEPRESS AS YOU ARE, to be free again from the communist clamp choking all AMERICA, don’t give up, you are AMERICANS and they cannot destroy you
no matter how they try now, but soon they will be out of there, running away in fear to escape from the ANGER of AMERICA,
Hello all,
I’m going to tell you something…You see? You don’t want to get too many things on your criminal record…You see? I know what it is like to do the things that you all are doing…In the ‘50s, I was a lookout for burglars…I didn’t know what I was doing…You all still have a chance to succeed…In 1982, I was one of the ones to buy the first satellite dish to broadcast 100s of television channels…They were the ones that were over 20’ wide…I paid $10,000 for it…That was a lot of money those days…I made a huge profit doing it…You see? I bought Christian radio stations…I bought a house with 7.5 acres…You all still have a great chance to do something extraordinary…I also used to install burglar alarms when they were first made available…I had a few Mexicans that worked for me…There is a state law that everyone installing burglar alarms had to go through a criminal background check…One of my Mexicans had something bad on his criminal record…Auto theft, I believe it was…But, he had been clean for 20 years…So, with my character reference, the state let him continue installing burglar alarms for my company…You see? You can still be successful…But, you don’t want to get too many of those on your record…You see?
Fran
@Fran:
You’re speaking from a much different time. Back in those days, they would give you the option of going to the military or jail. The common person also didn’t have computer access like now. This country imprisons a higher PERCENT of it’s population than any country in the world. I’d gladly leave, but no country will take me, because of my criminal record. I’ll be front and center when a revolution breaks out, because they’re certainly not on my side.
Hey guys. I’m a convicted felon and I’m currently attending a four-year University. I was convicted of a violent felony seven years ago and decided to change my life by going to college. I’ve been trying to find information about the impediment of a conviction. I’m almost done with college and it would be a shame to have wasted five years of my life and almost $20,000 of my money to find out that I’m not able to get a job. I told one of my professors about my conviction and he told me to contact the Director of Career Services. Here is what she wrote me:
Hi Daniel,
I talked to some colleagues and it appears that there’s really no set process or policy used by organizations regarding background checks or on set policies for hiring those with a felony conviction. Everyone said be honest and upfront when/if asked (on an application, in an interview, etc.), but you are under no obligation to bring it up if not asked. The consensus is the most employers these days are performing criminal background checks, but when varies (sometimes before an offer is made, sometimes after). It appeared that time from conviction can matter (i.e., the longer ago the incident, the better), as does the type of offense, but there’s nothing across the board that would automatically bar you from employment.
Below is what I found from two different sources regarding employers acting on/setting policies regarding applicants with criminal backgrounds:
Recently, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued guidance regarding the steps employers must take to avoid liability. The EEOC advises employers to undertake three steps in determining whether to screen out a candidate with a criminal conviction.
1.The employer must consider the nature and gravity of the offense.
2.The employer must consider the length of time that has passed since the conviction.
3.The employer must consider the relationship of the conviction to the particular duties and responsibilities of the job in question.
Private Employment
Asking job applicants to indicate whether they have been convicted of a crime is permissible but Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 appears to restrict an employer’s ability to use criminal background information in the hiring process (42 USC. § 2000e, et seq. ). The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC), the federal agency that enforces Title VII, has decided that disqualifying people who have criminal records from jobs is discriminatory because the practice disproportionately affects African American and Hispanic men. (Those two groups have much higher criminal conviction rates than do Caucasian men. )The EEOC has ruled repeatedly that covered employers cannot simply bar felons from consideration, but must show that a conviction-based disqualification is justified by “business necessity. ” The legal test requires employers to examine the (1) nature and gravity of the offense or offenses, (2) length of time since the conviction or completion of sentence, and (3) nature of the job held or sought. Under this test, employers must consider the job-relatedness of a conviction, the circumstances of the offense, and the number of offenses (EEOC Compliance Manual, § 604 Appendices).
DanK
HI,
THANK YOU for that info, very useful for many to know they have rights they can debate with employers who hired them and come back after to tell the employee they have found a conviction which the employee did not have to mentioned because he was not ask of it, it give them a fair explanation to argue and keep their job most likely. you brought other good points to study, depending the issue at the table,
young AMERICANS KEEP YOUR HEAD HIGH AND PROUD DON’T LET ONE OR MORE BUSYNESS OWNER TO BREAK YOUR SPIRIT, you have paid your price, you have lost precious time because of your fall,
now you are ready to join the market, keep yourself inform and alert of where the market is best for you.
don’t get a lazy minute stop your future success, may GOD HELP YOU , AND DON’T FORGET HIM ,
HE LIKE TO BE ASK FOR HELP.
my name is eric im a ex felon went to jail for selling drugs got out in 2001 whent in 1996 anway i tryed to get some help from the state of ca, but they would not help me they told me that i went to jail for drugs and i can not get money food stamps are med help.thats the law here in ca,but if u rob kill rape steal you can get money food stamps med help. wit the help of G–D i have not been back i started my own bis and i dont sell drugs. What im tryn to say to my bro and sis that r ex felons dont blame mr.obama he is doin the best he can .LET US CONCENTRATE AND BE HEARD IN A CONSITTUIONAL WAY BY WRITING TO THE CONGRESS