First thank you for stopping by and reading my story.Their are others like me,We did something stupid
when we were younger. Now as an adult and some 20 years later
I am still having problems getting a job.
How does this effect you? Many people are struggling in this hard time and people who cant get Jobs will resort to what got them in trouble in the first place.Hence the revolving door at the Jail house.This puts a strain on the taxed economy and drains the Job pool.
You have never committed a crime so you think maybe we deserve what we get?
How many among us has never taking something small as a child?
Taking a pack of gum,small boys steal hot wheels cars,How about running a red light at 3am
because no one was around or Drinking and driving all be it a few blocks .These are all crimes.
I'm not asking for complete forgiveness just a second chance to support my family
I especially have gone back to school where I earned a high school equivalency.
Next in my quest to better myself I have finished a college certificate course in Hvac
with an A and B average.I am now working on getting an Associates degree in applied
science.All this in a quest to be an accepted and productive member of our society
and have the means and ways to pay my own way and support me and my wife.
Allot of you are under the impression that you serve your time and you get out and go on your way.
This could not be any further from the truth! The fact is that I committed a non-violent crime
of stealing the value of 300 dollars 20plus years ago.
In the past few months I have put out hundreds of Resumes and filled out applications and been turned down many many time's.
Most recently I was turned down for a part time dishwasher job.Do you consider this fair treatment? If so I am sorry you feel that way I guess you never did anything unlawfully even petty crime or you just don't think this is an issue.
I beg to differ,A wise man once said you could tell the state of a society by the people it has incarcerated.Should I still have to pay my debt 20 years later..What do you consider payed off for a 300 dollar debt?
Please read the following this is a bill put together with the support of Congressman Steve Cohen of Tennessee
- Target: The President of The United States, The U.S.House of Representatives, The U.S. Senate
- Sponsored by: Thomas Kinney
There are thousands of ex-offenders who are, in effect, serving a life sentence without having been sentenced to such punishment by any court. I am speaking of the first time, non-violent offender who, due to the current policy, must spend the rest of their lives suffering the collateral consequences bearing the stigma of a federal felony conviction. For far too many this stigma becomes a civil death sentence.
Since the year 2000, there have been six pieces of legislation introduced to Congress seeking expungement relief for those who meet the requirements . To date not one bill has ever made it out of committee. The time has come to grant relief to those who deserve a second chance and give them a fresh start.
Congressman Steve Cohen of Tennessee has introduced H.R.5492 the "Fresh Start Act of 2010". This legislation will offer relief to many of those who suffer from this miscarriage of justice.
You may view the complete text of the bill at Open Congress.org, or the Library of Congress site "Thomas"
This bill is win, win. It will cost the taxpayer very little to implement and, by reducing recidivism, will lower the cost to taxpayers of further incarceration of those individuals who will now be able to lead successful lives. In addition, unlike predecessors, H.R.5492 offers incentives to the individual states to adopt similar expungement procedures regarding state offenses.
This is not a free ride. It is only an opportunity for a first time, non- violent ex-offender to earn a second chance.
Official Summary of H.R.5492 the "Fresh Start Act of 2010":
Introduced by Congressman Steve Cohen of Tennessee June 9, 2010.
The Fresh Start Act of 2010 - Amends the federal criminal code to allow an individual convicted of a nonviolent criminal offense to file a petition for expungement of the record of such conviction if such individual:
(1) has never been convicted of any criminal offense other than the nonviolent offense for which expungement is sought;
(2) has fulfilled all requirements of the sentence of the court, including payment of all fines, restitution, or assessments and completion of terms of imprisonment and probation; and
(3) has remained free (if required by the court's sentence) from dependency on or abuse of alcohol or a controlled substance for at least one year.
Requires the Attorney General to maintain an unaltered nonpublic copy of expunged criminal records, to be disclosed for limited purposes to federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies.
Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to increase by 5% grant funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to states that implement expungement procedures substantially similar to the procedures enacted by this Act. Decreases such grant funding by 5% for states that fail to adopt expungement procedures.
Do your part. Contact your Congressperson(s) and urge them to support this bill lessThere are thousands of ex-offenders who are, in effect, serving a life sentence without having been sentenced to such punishment by any court. I am speaking of the first time, non-violent offender who, due to the current policy, must spend the rest of their lives suffering the collateral consequences bearing the stigma of a federal felony conviction. For far too many this stigma becomes a civil death sentence.
Since the year 2000, there have been six pieces of legislation introduced to Congress seeking expungement relief for those who meet the requirements . To date not one bill has ever made it out of committee. The time has come to grant relief to those who deserve a second chance and give them a fresh start.
Congressman Steve Cohen of Tennessee has introduced H.R.5492 the "Fresh Start Act of 2010". This legislation will offer relief to many of those who suffer from this miscarriage of
Thanks so much for posting this. It is so hard to believe that a country such as ours would tolerate such unfairness, a land of the free. I am sorry for your injustice and I pray every day for you and 1000's others like you who have paid their debt and earned a second chance. Know you are not alone in this pursuit for justice, many others are writing letters and petitions, hopefully our leaders will make a difference in so many peoples future and make such a easy, and needed change by passing the hr 5492.
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