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New laws allow criminal offenders a second chance
So-called “second chance” laws, allowing some criminal offenders to expunge or seal their records, go into effect this summer in Tennessee, Missouri and Ohio. At least 17 states have such mechanisms for clearing criminal records, according to The Tennessean.
Criminal convictions, even for misdemeanors, can bar an individual from getting a job, voting, securing some kinds of housing or being admitted to college. The new state laws allow some offenders a clean slate under specified conditions.
In Tennessee, a measure that went into effect July 1 allows one-time, nonviolent offenders to permanently expunge their records. Offenders must wait five years after all court requirements are met and go before a judge in the county where they were convicted. Most offenses eligible to be expunged are property crimes involving goods worth less than $1,000.
“These things (criminal records) are life-altering,” David Raybin, a Nashville criminal defense attorney, told The Tennessean. “To permanently brand somebody with something like this to where it destroys their ability to work or go to school, there’s no reason for it anymore.”
Ohio’s Collateral Sanction Reform Bill removes job barriers for nearly 2 million Ohioans with criminal records. It allows a person to seal one felony and one misdemeanor conviction, or two misdemeanor convictions, according to The Plain Dealer. The law also creates a certificate of qualification allowing felons access to occupational licenses, such as for truck drivers and barbers.
A Missouri law signed this past week by Gov. Jay Nixon allows offenders to expunge records for about a dozen crimes, such as passing bad checks or using a forged credit card, according to The Associated Press. One-time offenders must wait 20 years for a felony and 10 years for a misdemeanor, complete their sentences and pay restitution.
There should be also more
There should be also more security products involved with making sure that these criminal offenders do not get into mischief. We can’t just sit around and hope they behave.
Ohio should be ashamed of
Ohio should be ashamed of what it is and represents, offering only the bare minimum to acts like it’s doing something helpful to those who have turned their lives around. They force people to be branded and live with a stigma the rest of their lives even after they’ve paid their debts to government and society, when in reality they never pay their debt because they’re never allowed to have their lives back and be a supportive member of the state and society. The states that have made real changes and have recognized the need for these kinds of things and have made real progress should be praised. Ohio had always shown that they don’t care about the people who live in their state from law enforcement to the courts, they’ll get the chance to have it all reciprocated when Christ comes to judge those who defrauded and mistreated the poor and people who’ve turned their lives around
all these states are getting
all these states are getting theses laws while MS keeps locking people up.its bad for the ones who get out and stay out living a positive life and being a vital key to society, their families,friends,community,and so forth.i was convicted of forgery and credit card fraud and served 2 1/2 years and got out did what i was supposed to do.that was 8 years ago and it still hurts me on jobs and i will have an associates degree in may 2013.i know what i did but must i pay for it the rest of my life.when robbers,murderers,child molesters get off scott free and my crime was non-violent.discrimination,i can tell you all about it.companies dont hire felons or i have the worst luck.UPS said resume looked good but my record prevented that.they have some way to cover theirselves so they wont get a lawsuit put on them.in this topic gender,race ,religion is not a factor!
When I was twenty years old I
When I was twenty years old I was convicted of felony possession of marijuana. I am now thirty years old with a son. Since my conviction I have obtained a bachelor’s degree, and I have been accepted into two different masters programs; however, I haven’t pursued a graduate degree because of the cost, and I am not sure that I could find a job that would allow me to repay the debt. My problem with the justice system is that sometimes justice shouldn’t be blind. I am not the same person I was ten years ago, and I believe most aren’t. I have matured and have more obligations and responsibilities, more importantly, the conviction of possessing an amount of marijuana that can fit in the palm of one hand ten years ago is now affecting the quality of life that I am able to provide to my son. Comparatively, I still acted and spoke very much like a child or immature young man then as well. I believe there should be an end to this stigma somewhere in the future. If anyone knows something I don’t about the laws here in Tennessee about expunging a felony, please e-mail me.