Comments on: Do Felons Deserve a Second Chance http://libertyandpride.com/do-felons-deserve-a-second-chance/ Life, Liberty, and Property Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:50:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael Goins http://libertyandpride.com/do-felons-deserve-a-second-chance/comment-page-1/#comment-7356 Michael Goins Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:50:37 +0000 http://libertyandpride.com/?p=1566#comment-7356 I am even worse off than most here, as I am a recidivist sex offender. I went to prison once in the army, and then once when I got out. The charges were the same, but because of my status employment has been nearly impossible to find. The one good thing to come out of this is that I am fully qualified for Pell grants and Stafford loans, so I am going to go to school, either for Culinary Arts or an Associates in Science. I do not think society will ever relax the rules, and maybe they should not. If I am being honest, and I owned my own buisness, and a 2 time convicted sex offender came in wanting a job I would probably flat-out refuse him. All I can say is good luck to all in my shoes. At least if I graduate I can say that I did not let my mistakes and my past keep me from trying. I am even worse off than most here, as I am a recidivist sex offender. I went to prison once in the army, and then once when I got out. The charges were the same, but because of my status employment has been nearly impossible to find. The one good thing to come out of this is that I am fully qualified for Pell grants and Stafford loans, so I am going to go to school, either for Culinary Arts or an Associates in Science.

I do not think society will ever relax the rules, and maybe they should not. If I am being honest, and I owned my own buisness, and a 2 time convicted sex offender came in wanting a job I would probably flat-out refuse him. All I can say is good luck to all in my shoes. At least if I graduate I can say that I did not let my mistakes and my past keep me from trying.

]]> By: Kesha Kelley http://libertyandpride.com/do-felons-deserve-a-second-chance/comment-page-1/#comment-7343 Kesha Kelley Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:45:33 +0000 http://libertyandpride.com/?p=1566#comment-7343 I have a felony and got it in 2007.. my first charge of my life first time iwas in jail.. Finally got off papers in 2010 and now looking for a job.. I have plenty of years in customer service and retail.. graduated from everest for medical insurance billing and coding went back to school for medical assistant and graduate from thete and havent had a job in 3 years.. Can anybody help... I am a dallas, texas girl and willin g to do what i need to for my kids, also willing to walk my way up the ladder if need b.. I JUST NEED A LIL PUSH OPF HELP OR ADVICE... I have a felony and got it in 2007.. my first charge of my life first time iwas in jail.. Finally got off papers in 2010 and now looking for a job.. I have plenty of years in customer service and retail.. graduated from everest for medical insurance billing and coding went back to school for medical assistant and graduate from thete and havent had a job in 3 years.. Can anybody help… I am a dallas, texas girl and willin g to do what i need to for my kids, also willing to walk my way up the ladder if need b.. I JUST NEED A LIL PUSH OPF HELP OR ADVICE…

]]> By: chris suttles http://libertyandpride.com/do-felons-deserve-a-second-chance/comment-page-1/#comment-7341 chris suttles Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:14:21 +0000 http://libertyandpride.com/?p=1566#comment-7341 Well, once released from prison u must, find a job, pay court costs, pay ur probation office, find a home and transportation. Can u find a job? Yes. Can u find a good paying job to keep you from the temptation of going back to crime???? Yeah, convenient stores and fast food hire felons...yay! $7 an hour doesn't pay for a home, a car and a family! And one writer said he is now a manager, after 4 years. Yay! Well, with a college degree I'm earning $7 an hour and paying court costs and my probation office. Well, once released from prison u must, find a job, pay court costs, pay ur probation office, find a home and transportation. Can u find a job? Yes. Can u find a good paying job to keep you from the temptation of going back to crime????
Yeah, convenient stores and fast food hire felons…yay! $7 an hour doesn’t pay for a home, a car and a family! And one writer said he is now a manager, after 4 years. Yay! Well, with a college degree I’m earning $7 an hour and paying court costs and my probation office.

]]> By: esoteric http://libertyandpride.com/do-felons-deserve-a-second-chance/comment-page-1/#comment-7303 esoteric Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:43:23 +0000 http://libertyandpride.com/?p=1566#comment-7303 @ Conservative American: your attitude is a part of the problem. Get off your high horse and have a heart, for God's sake! How do you think life is being convicted of, and doing time for a felony I didn't even commit, having been tricked into confessing, due to my severe naivete concerning the legal system? I'm going, and have been so far, to have a horrible time finding a job! As far as I'm concerned, I paid my debt to society by the loss of my freedom and the emptying my my wallet via court fines. How does shouldering me with a stigma that hinders my employment help me, you, other taxpayers, or the economy at large? All this does is make me a pissed off young person, with no job, no motivation, possibly no stable home, and having to rely on government handouts, forever. I can't even back into college, in order to finish and use knowledge gained there to better myself! Glad you had such an easy time (sarcasm) recovering from your unfortunate days as a felon, but my circumstances are different than yours, while those of some other criminal are also different than yours. The fact that you walked five miles in the snow, uphill both ways to work each day...I really don't give a sh*t. The fact that you have done it is irrelevant, the fact that I am indeed physically capable of walking miles to work is also irrelevant; your reasoning seems to be "misery loves company" - so because you suffered long hard hours looking for work/trudging to work/struggling through dead-end jobs, that means I have to as well? Be a human being, have a heart! Drop the whole "it builds character" b**lsh* (or whatever your reasoning is) and either propose a solution, or shut the heck up. @ Conservative American: your attitude is a part of the problem. Get off your high horse and have a heart, for God’s sake!

How do you think life is being convicted of, and doing time for a felony I didn’t even commit, having been tricked into confessing, due to my severe naivete concerning the legal system? I’m going, and have been so far, to have a horrible time finding a job!

As far as I’m concerned, I paid my debt to society by the loss of my freedom and the emptying my my wallet via court fines. How does shouldering me with a stigma that hinders my employment help me, you, other taxpayers, or the economy at large? All this does is make me a pissed off young person, with no job, no motivation, possibly no stable home, and having to rely on government handouts, forever. I can’t even back into college, in order to finish and use knowledge gained there to better myself!

Glad you had such an easy time (sarcasm) recovering from your unfortunate days as a felon, but my circumstances are different than yours, while those of some other criminal are also different than yours. The fact that you walked five miles in the snow, uphill both ways to work each day…I really don’t give a sh*t. The fact that you have done it is irrelevant, the fact that I am indeed physically capable of walking miles to work is also irrelevant; your reasoning seems to be “misery loves company” – so because you suffered long hard hours looking for work/trudging to work/struggling through dead-end jobs, that means I have to as well?

Be a human being, have a heart! Drop the whole “it builds character” b**lsh* (or whatever your reasoning is) and either propose a solution, or shut the heck up.

]]> By: omar http://libertyandpride.com/do-felons-deserve-a-second-chance/comment-page-1/#comment-7257 omar Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:31:12 +0000 http://libertyandpride.com/?p=1566#comment-7257 Good evening Conservative American. You've hit the nail on the head in so many areas and some of them, well I don't really agree. One that sticks is simply taking responsibility for your actions and not expecting people to come to your aid or rescue. While embarrassing, I am somewhat transparent about my past. I was convicted of a sexual offense with another adult who chose not to tell the truth to save their own hide while in the military. I wouldn't dare argue guilt or innocence (been there and done that) but I do believe in pulling your own weight. I am so behind you on that. Since release, I have completed my BS in EDU and Human Services. Currently, I am working on my Master's in Human Service Admin. I will help myself! I have been HIRED and then FIRED or told the position is too high of visibility and even escorted out of work places once the background check came back (even though I disclosed the information in my hiring process). It's been like that since 2007 and you know what, they are going to have to keep telling me NO until someone see what a great contribution I have to ANY organization. To the others who have served time, stop answering to what they say you are and start making a name for your self. We keep living by these titles and even think we have to live under this new rule of conducting our selves like we dont have ideas; like we can start companies; like we cant raise our children with AS great as morals and values as parents without backgrounds like ours. Like Black people who where ostricized, we have to use every available resource to over come these barriers. IT IS NOT EASY! It will get harder and harder before you see ANY light but if any of your dare to change what society has labeled you as, you contribute to the countless men and women who say I am NOT what you say I am. Start your business. Education is the ONLY real freedom from any title, label or bondage that you may THINK you are subjected to live under. It's not about religion (but man does it help) or your walk with any deity; rather it's about the drive to succeed; standing up and SHOWING the rest of the world that the title is not who you are. Good evening Conservative American. You’ve hit the nail on the head in so many areas and some of them, well I don’t really agree. One that sticks is simply taking responsibility for your actions and not expecting people to come to your aid or rescue. While embarrassing, I am somewhat transparent about my past. I was convicted of a sexual offense with another adult who chose not to tell the truth to save their own hide while in the military. I wouldn’t dare argue guilt or innocence (been there and done that) but I do believe in pulling your own weight. I am so behind you on that. Since release, I have completed my BS in EDU and Human Services. Currently, I am working on my Master’s in Human Service Admin. I will help myself! I have been HIRED and then FIRED or told the position is too high of visibility and even escorted out of work places once the background check came back (even though I disclosed the information in my hiring process). It’s been like that since 2007 and you know what, they are going to have to keep telling me NO until someone see what a great contribution I have to ANY organization. To the others who have served time, stop answering to what they say you are and start making a name for your self. We keep living by these titles and even think we have to live under this new rule of conducting our selves like we dont have ideas; like we can start companies; like we cant raise our children with AS great as morals and values as parents without backgrounds like ours. Like Black people who where ostricized, we have to use every available resource to over come these barriers. IT IS NOT EASY! It will get harder and harder before you see ANY light but if any of your dare to change what society has labeled you as, you contribute to the countless men and women who say I am NOT what you say I am.

Start your business. Education is the ONLY real freedom from any title, label or bondage that you may THINK you are subjected to live under. It’s not about religion (but man does it help) or your walk with any deity; rather it’s about the drive to succeed; standing up and SHOWING the rest of the world that the title is not who you are.

]]> By: Nikki B http://libertyandpride.com/do-felons-deserve-a-second-chance/comment-page-1/#comment-7110 Nikki B Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:52:16 +0000 http://libertyandpride.com/?p=1566#comment-7110 im 28 a black woman,and 3 year ago i was convicted of a felon. i've always believed that the real punishment would start upon release from jail, when you're ready to start being a productive citizen and pay taxes. Being a felon taints you. Why should i have to settle for a burger job when i have the background to do much more and make more money. why do i have to work in factories physical labor when i have the education to do much more and make real money. its very discouraging. trying to stay focused. i seriously want a second chance at a real career not just a j.o.b. so this is my life forever? im a Christain i believe in second chances. give me a chance to prove myself is all i ask. im 28 a black woman,and 3 year ago i was convicted of a felon. i’ve always believed that the real punishment would start upon release from jail, when you’re ready to start being a productive citizen and pay taxes. Being a felon taints you. Why should i have to settle for a burger job when i have the background to do much more and make more money. why do i have to work in factories physical labor when i have the education to do much more and make real money. its very discouraging. trying to stay focused. i seriously want a second chance at a real career not just a j.o.b. so this is my life forever? im a Christain i believe in second chances. give me a chance to prove myself is all i ask.

]]> By: Velvet Brown http://libertyandpride.com/do-felons-deserve-a-second-chance/comment-page-1/#comment-7020 Velvet Brown Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:31:08 +0000 http://libertyandpride.com/?p=1566#comment-7020 Ok so the law should read if you commit a crime you can never work again... wtf? Anybody is capable of committing a crime. Its stupid that's y its not written that way. It cost money to live How am I suppose to support my family? If I had to worry about every convicted felon I would drive myself crazy, u should be happy that u know because its the ones u don't know about that should have you worried. If I didn't open my mouth to these employers I would have a job. Its discrimination Ok so the law should read if you commit a crime you can never work again… wtf? Anybody is capable of committing a crime. Its stupid that’s y its not written that way. It cost money to live
How am I suppose to support my family? If I had to worry about every convicted felon I would drive myself crazy, u should be happy that u know because its the ones u don’t know about that should have you worried. If I didn’t open my mouth to these employers I would have a job. Its discrimination

]]> By: Velvet Brown http://libertyandpride.com/do-felons-deserve-a-second-chance/comment-page-1/#comment-7019 Velvet Brown Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:13:47 +0000 http://libertyandpride.com/?p=1566#comment-7019 And fast food joints? Ha! No luck there... and race has a who le lot do with it whether they want to realize it or not. Most of the time the court system has a lot to do with this too. Everybody talks about taxpayers money, well if u put as much effort into making a way for convicted felons woman especially to finding a way to employ some of us who want to work then maybe u wont have to pay as much... And fast food joints? Ha! No luck there… and race has a who
le lot do with it whether they want to realize it or not. Most of the time the court system has a lot to do with this too. Everybody talks about taxpayers money, well if u put as much effort into making a way for convicted felons woman especially to finding a way to employ some of us who want to work then maybe u wont have to pay as much…

]]> By: Velvet Brown http://libertyandpride.com/do-felons-deserve-a-second-chance/comment-page-1/#comment-7018 Velvet Brown Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:59:10 +0000 http://libertyandpride.com/?p=1566#comment-7018 I can say that Jerome is not lying and I'm a woman. I'm 29 year old mother of 6. I've been a convicted felon since 2005. I can only speak myself. I have a family to provide for as do most people. I've applied to company's that most women and men my age wouldn't dare step foot in, I've interviewed with different employer's and they all tell me the same thing "if I already had a paying job..... blah blah blah. People talk about a convicted felon this a convicted felon that, what were we before we made that choice? A human being ok. But I paid society back so why am I still punished? So yes its possible that jerome couldn't obtain work I've been trying for the past five. I can say that Jerome is not lying and I’m a woman. I’m 29 year old mother of 6. I’ve been a convicted felon since 2005. I can only speak myself. I have a family to provide for as do most people. I’ve applied to company’s that most women and men my age wouldn’t dare step foot in, I’ve interviewed with different employer’s and they all tell me the same thing “if I already had a paying job….. blah blah blah. People talk about a convicted felon this a convicted felon that, what were we before we made that choice? A human being ok. But I paid society back so why am I still punished? So yes its possible that jerome couldn’t obtain work I’ve been trying for the past five.

]]> By: DeAndre http://libertyandpride.com/do-felons-deserve-a-second-chance/comment-page-1/#comment-6960 DeAndre Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:03:13 +0000 http://libertyandpride.com/?p=1566#comment-6960 Okay this has to be the most closed minded thing I've ever read in all of my years of living. Do you really understand how quickly people go back to prison. Just because you have gotten a lucky break in life doesn't mean it happens to everyone. You are the exception not the rule. I can't even get into a college because of my criminal background. No flipping burgers or anything. Yes, many people make mistakes in life and should they get a second chance? I believe it's in America's best interest to give them a chance. You talked about how much it would cost taxpayers to help transition these guys back into society. Obviously don't know anything about recidivism. One thing that keeps ex-cons from acting out again is by having a fulfilling job. With that said, in order to house a prisoner it'll cost about $40,000 a year. So you can house them for a while in hopes that they don't act out again or you can house them behind bars for a lifetime. Everyone deserves a second chance. The sad part is half of the people that don't want to give people second chances call themselves followers of Christ. Okay this has to be the most closed minded thing I’ve ever read in all of my years of living. Do you really understand how quickly people go back to prison. Just because you have gotten a lucky break in life doesn’t mean it happens to everyone. You are the exception not the rule. I can’t even get into a college because of my criminal background. No flipping burgers or anything. Yes, many people make mistakes in life and should they get a second chance? I believe it’s in America’s best interest to give them a chance. You talked about how much it would cost taxpayers to help transition these guys back into society. Obviously don’t know anything about recidivism. One thing that keeps ex-cons from acting out again is by having a fulfilling job. With that said, in order to house a prisoner it’ll cost about $40,000 a year. So you can house them for a while in hopes that they don’t act out again or you can house them behind bars for a lifetime. Everyone deserves a second chance. The sad part is half of the people that don’t want to give people second chances call themselves followers of Christ.

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