Good article.

How much time does one have to spend to get a second chance?

From my own personal experience, being an

ex-felon when I got out of prison I tried to obtain a job at a dollar

store and was turned down because of my background check. I thought

because of my background if a dollar store wouldn't even hire me, no one

would. So I put the notion of employment on the shelf for awhile. I went

to Womens Re-entry Network to work on getting my GED, that is still a

goal that I have set for myself. I also got some counseling there from 2

wonderful ladies. Over time I got enough confidence in myself to enroll in

college at Tri-C and with enough hard work I was getting A's. I needed to

drop out of school because I could not afford to go any more. As time

passed, and as I was still working on the GED and doing what I needed to

do to take care of my sobriety, I decided to go to a temp agency for work

because I needed to pay a gas bill. And I wanted to work to help my

husband out and to have spending money for my grandbabies . Bottom line is

I worked for a company for a few months, and was being considered of being

hired when the background check was done it came down from corporate

office that I was to be let go.Yes my background was disclosed to this

company. But the corporate office said I had to go. My record is from 1999

and 2000 and will be with me the rest of my life because of a mistake I

made.  I also can't  get my record expunged because of misdemeanors. I

would like to go to school and become a counselor or something in that

field that would help others. If just one person could make a difference

in my life. And that one person could be you. I have had sucess at

sobriety because of people like Roberta at Women's Re-entry who believed

in me till I could believe in myself. When I went to her I only had a 6th

grade education. With God in my life and people like her and the program

of AA, I became the person I am today and I am not the person I was back

then. I really think people like  myself and others who are really trying,

need a second chance.

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing your views on it as

soon as possible.

what is there for a felon to get there voting,etc. rights back?  steve4951@earthlink.net.

Hallelujah Scott,

The federal government has finally gotten into the act after so many years of pretending to be concerned about recidivism and rehabilitation of ex-offenders.  It's true that they were giving business tax breaks for hiring ex-offenders but their actions relayed an entirely different message.

I feel they should have a second chance.

I am sure that some of people would

agree that alot of inmates are in there doing

time for the truely guiltly ones. Others in there

for more time than should be. Most of that is due

to the power that is given to the Judge(mental).

I for one hope this is passed & those who are

giving the yes or no to the inmates do their homework

well!!!

I myself agree with the Second Chance for offenders. Being in the Law Enforcement field, offenders should be given such an opportunity of reentry into society. Offenders are becoming younger and younger everyday and if we don't do some thing about this new growing generation of offenders, it's my opinion that America is headed in a downward spiral. Jails and prisons are too overcrowed now!

What I think about this article?

It's a blessing that the goodLord hears our prayers,i am a single parent got in trouble 5years ago never prinsoned and can't obtain employment. I enroled in colledge for nursing and found out i'm not elegible fo the program. I have  been a nursing assistant long before this happend and can't return to the medical feild and currently hold a registered licence and can 't use it because of this conviction and never had a flag for mistreating them in any way. I'm loosing all the way around my home ,my car, and my hope all the programs that are supposed to help us no one accepts so how will this help felons.

In relation to all the above.  The bill is very needed.  I, too, am in the category where places I worked before and had an excellent rapport and reputation with cannot and/or will not hire me back because of my records of misdeameanors back in 2002 while I was going through a divorce.  My record looks incredibly a lot worse than what actually happened and the circumstances surrounding all of it were quite unusual.  I have a degree, tons of experience, great references, am very honest, have integrity -- but every time -- over 3,000 jobs applied for and I've been turned down for all them, not to mention not considered for those of which I would do a tremendous job at.  Government legislation should be implemented to help those who cannot help themselves.  There are circumstances involving every conviction; but, where have people in America gotten the idea that people with misdeameanors who have a record of "rehabilitation" or are no longer part of the criminal justice system aren't employable in any category??????

i was young and stupid, i got into alot of trouble, but that was then and this is now. i've done my time. i've paid my due's to society how much longer will you people hold my past against me. and you people wonder why crime is so high, i'll tell you why it's because the one's that are trying, i mean really trying to make it by doing the right thing are being shot down. it's very discouraging.  It should be that if person maintain sready employment and dont get into any trouble  for  5, 7, or 10 years he or she should be allowed to obtain a decent pating job.....

This is a good start. But, what is going to stop employers from ignoring the hard work of ex-offenders and the gov't because of their biases. We need to start educating communities and people about the importance of understanding everyones unique situation. We have gov't programs like Affirmitive action which helps a population of our society who has been marginilized. Why not something similiar to help a large portion of our population who has been dramatically marginilized, ex-offenders.

I THINK ITS GOOD,I GOT IN TROUBLE 25 YEARS AGO AND I STILL AM PAYING FOR IT  ALL I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS BE ABLE TO TRAVEL TO CANADA TO SEE MY WIFES PARENTS AND VOTE  CANADA WONT LET ME IN BECAUSE OF MY RECORD OF SO LONG AGO I HAVE BEEN DOING OK WITH WORK I AM A TRUCK DRIVER BUT I CAN SEE WHERE IT HURT A LOT OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GET GOOD JOBS OR ANY JOB,THANKS FOR YOUR TIME...BILL   @ ehilton@sc.rr.com