Let Ex-Felons Work!

10:15 am PST, Nov 19, Michelle Thompson, West Virginia

2:09 pm PST, Nov 18, Carl Rosenstock, Wisconsin

2:41 pm PST, Nov 17, Tina DeSherlia, Illinois
Everyone Deserves a second chance.

2:41 pm PST, Nov 17, Tina DeSherlia, Illinois
Everyone Deserves a second chance.

2:03 pm PST, Nov 17, Name not displayed, Illinois

12:29 pm PST, Nov 17, Nikki Kopp, Louisiana
After doing a short stint in prison I came out with the mind set that I was not going to go back to that life and that I was going to work hard to be a productive citizen once again. I immediately signed up for college upon my release and worked hard for 2 years to get my degree in Computer Networking. At the end of the 2 years I was required to do an internship for my program. When I received my assignment for the internship I got a rude awakening when I couldn't do any of the available internships because of my convictions. I spent 2 years working my tail off, making the presidents list every semester, only to find out that I can't get a job doing that I had worked so hard to learn. Now it has been almost 3 years since I finished my degree (my advisor let me take and extra class to take place of the internship) and I can't find a job. Every place I have tried wants a background check. I can't even work at domino's! How am I to become a productive member of society if society will not allow me to?

2:56 pm PST, Nov 16, Clay Kelbaugh, Utah
Ten years ago I was convicted of a second degree drug felony in Utah. . . ten years ago. . . a decade. Still I am being punished. I did my time. I paid my fines. Do I have to die too before society is appeased? apparently so. . . Living in the most conservative state in America, (and one of the most religious) no one will hire me; so much for their dogma of forgiveness. I have no money to move away. I have no money to get my record expunged. I have no prospects. I have no hope. I am fifty years old and have to live with my eighty four year old mother. At one time I was able to make a good living as a floor installer. I am a good installer, and have never stolen anything from a customer. I have never cheated a customer. I never would. Yet once word got around that I had a felony on my record, I have not been able to find steady employment. When I did find work they treated me like a slave, and told me if i didn't like it I could go find another job, (who is the criminal?) I didn't like it, so I quit. After that I couldn't find another job. So here I sit. No job. No prospects. No hope. If it was not for my Mother I would be living in the street. Sometimes I contemplate killing myself, but I can't do that to her. Soon she will be gone, and then I don't know what I will do. I am not a beggar, a thief, or a violent person, but I am running out of options. Do I want to be a criminal? NO! Have I committed another felony? No! But what choice does society give me? Not many. Ten years of suffering for a crime that no one would even remember if I didn't have a record is not fair. I lost everything, including my dignity, and if things don't change, well, who knows? I don't want a handout, I want a chance to be able to live again! I don't want to hate, but that's what I'm starting to do. Is this what society wanted when they branded me a felon for the rest of my life? Is it any wonder people go back to prison? Is it any wonder felons have so much anger in their hearts? How do I forgive myself for doing what I did if I have to live in shame until I die? No one is innocent in this world. Everyone is a sinner. All I ask is to be a part of the world again, but I have just about given up that pipe dream. I was wrong. I am sorry. What more can I do?

9:28 pm PST, Nov 13, Richard C, California
The life-long punishment needs to stop. So many of us screwed up and made a mistake. Most of us have made amends for that mistake in addition to serving time in jail or prison. Once that's been done, wipe the slate clean, with the exception that a felony conviction within 5 years of the date of forgiveness will bring the old felony back onto your record. Other than that - Let people get job, homes, and let them become productive members of society again!

5:11 pm PST, Nov 12, Name not displayed, Ohio

4:00 pm PST, Nov 12, Audrey Simmons, Alabama

2:24 pm PST, Nov 10, Stacey Seal, Oregon

6:30 pm PST, Nov 9, Mike Baldwin, California

12:00 pm PST, Nov 9, Chasun Fields, Delaware

9:02 am PST, Nov 9, Wendy Alexander, Ohio
How many times does a person have to pay for their crime? They do time in jail and then they are unable to get legitimate jobs when they are released. Where is the justice in that?

6:02 am PST, Nov 9, Frieda Dalton, Texas
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4:27 am PST, Nov 9, Bill C, Germany

2:49 am PST, Nov 9, Steve Klein, Virginia

11:25 pm PST, Nov 8, Debra Sams, Louisiana
How do we expect former felons to assimilate back into society if they are not able to feel productive in a job?

9:39 pm PST, Nov 8, Jae Matos, Texas
I do believe that "Felon's" should be able to work. (Depending the crime) The fact that they are looking for work should give them some credit, don't you think?

9:21 pm PST, Nov 8, Rebecca Mcfarland, New Mexico
Once a person has paid their debt to society, their offense should no longer be held against them!

8:55 pm PST, Nov 8, Tonya Green-Stevenson, Oklahoma

6:29 pm PST, Nov 8, Name not displayed, California
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6:02 pm PST, Nov 8, Curtis Long, Florida
I was sent in the mail a eight page letter from walmart say I could'nt work for them due to being an ex-felon! I was also denied renting an apartment for the same reason, when does the punishment stop?

4:26 pm PST, Nov 8, Miguel Dias, New York

1:13 pm PST, Nov 8, Dinda Evans, California

11:54 am PST, Nov 8, Joseph Way, Ohio