Demand fairness to non-violent Felony charge

As if being a single parent isn't hard enough, if they have ever made a mistake in their lives reguardless of what the circumstances, and been charged with a felony, they are ostracized and cast away from main stream society as criminals, unemployable and looked upon as villains. I myself have first hand knowledge of this beause I am infact a felon. I did however receive Withheld ajudication which I was told means that I was found neither guilty nor innocent. I do not however think there is any difference between having been adjudicated or not.
I am a mom with a college education. I have been, for the better part of my life, an upstanding citizen who abides by the Law and is in no way a trouble maker. Back in October, 2009 I was arrested for "possessing a controlled substance". I had my grandmother's prescription medication in my purse and while I was in fact taking them, i in no way was selling them, (which the cops wanted to say I was doing). I became addicted to prescription drugs while married to my ex-husband and sometime after the birth of my daughter. There was never a drug problem prior to this and I am sober from all substances to this very day. I do not even know how it happened, but i do know that I was able to cope with the spousal abuse that i was enduring at home. Between my abusive husband breaking my fingers routinely, amongst other things, and major surgery it just seemed to happen overnight.
When I was arrested that night I had absolutely no idea that being charged with a felony would ultimately change my life as I knew it. I did not know that a felony would put my mugshot all over social media & make me virtually unemployable. There are many degrees that a felony can fall under. From simple to the most offensive, they have a number. Different number felonies are intended for the sole purpose of letting Law Enforcement & potential employers know that you have committed some crime. Law enforcement officials see that a crime was committed and you are a felon. In turn, searches of your vehicle and of the offender are going to take place reguardless of what the circumstances are. ie; speeding, lights, Etc. Potential employers see the felon, reguardless of what crime was committed, as a huge red flag and unemployable. Had I truly known what was about to happen to my future, i would have hired an attorney to fight the charge. But alas I am a felon. I made a mistake and for it I am forced to live with the punishment every day of my life. I can not get a job anywhere and am forced to live with my mother because I can not afford another place to live. Unless I buy a home I can't even rent because of a stupid mistake I made 9 years ago. I am without a way to not only support my 2 children, but also without a way to support myself.

This law needs to be changed in order to separate the violent crimes from non-violent crimes. There has to be a way to prevent people writing nasty things below your mugshot on social media. My ex-husband current wife had made it her mission in life to say the nastiest and most unbelievable lies she can think of in order to try and get me as upset as she can. All these lies on social media under my mugshot photo. So basicly any potential employers not only see my mugshot, they also see those false statements. This law has got to change.

In prison, one can receive not only a high school diploma, but also a Bachelor's degree for free. The tax payers are forced to pay the bill for this individual who altemitly, even if the get released, will never be able to use because of their felony charges. I have all this knowledge and experience in my field and no one will give me a chance. All for having a few pills in my purse! When i was arrested there was no resisting, no back talk, no nothing! I was completely and totally compliant with the arresting officers. This is a huge issue that any one who has ever messed up must live with. And people wonder why those whom get jailed and charged with simple felonys can go back out and become repeat offenders. It is very simple to understand, NO employers will hire us.

Help fight this injustice. Please help non-violent offenders to be given a chance to redeem themselves. Help make it a new law for those whom are good and vibrant members of our community's to gain meaningful employment to support their children and themselves.

There will be less State assistance being used due to the fact that they will be employed and productive in their community and state.