Just like a bad credit score, a felony conviction can throw a proverbial wrench into one's career path. There are felons who has made mistakes, have regretted those mistakes and are trying to live right. All of us, at one time or the other, have made mistakes. Yet, some are more likely than others to be forgiven. We have seen political figures and celebrities whom have been incarcerated, come back out into society living a normal life, sometimes better than before. So, why isn't that opportunity afforded to everyone? Of course we wouldn't hire a pedophile to work in a daycare, nor would we hire someone convicted of fraud to work as an auditor. However, we have felons who havr not only taken up training in prison, but want to make things right when they are released into society. Yet, because of their conviction and reporting of those convictions on a credit report, we take away that opportunity for that individual to go back to living a normal life. It's as if they will forever be incarcerated. So, why is it someone famous can walk back into society and continue where they left off, yet a normal individual such as you and I, are not afforded the same opportunity. I would like to propose that the State of Florida, not only stop reporting convictions of certain crimes on a consumer credit report, but also as a method of reducing recidivism, offer incentives to companies who will hire ex-felons. We need to give our young men and women a second chance in life. This of course, does not apply to repeat felony convictions, only those who has been imprisoned once in their life.
