H. R. 1529 - The Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2009

Sign the Petition : 2,272 Letters and Emails Sent So Far

Dear [Representative],

I am writing on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of men and women who, having been convicted of a Federal Felony, and regardless of the sentence handed down by the courts and having “paid their debt to society”, are also being handed a hidden life sentence that is not a part of any judicial proceeding.

H. R. 1529 - The Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2009 legislation was sponsored by Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY) on March 16, 2009. Rep. Rangel has been trying - unsuccessfully since 2002 - to get this expungement of federal convictions bill passed. So, 2009 must be the year he meets with success.

A first time, non-violent offender who has paid their full debt deserves a second chance. They deserve an opportunity to earn their lives back. These people are not “hardened criminals.” Rather they are quite ordinary people who have made a bad decision. They know it, they take full responsibility for their actions and they are full of remorse for the pain that they have caused to their families. Many too are so called “white collar” offenders who had very good jobs before they made a mistake. Even someone like Martha Stewart fits this category. However, unlike Ms. Stewart most of these people do not have a merchandising empire to fall back on. Most will never be able to regain their previous position. They are disenfranchised in too many ways to enumerate here.

Even US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has championed the need for more carrots as we have so many sticks. So many of these young men and women who have non-violent convictions for example – marijuana possession, are given probation sentences. They graduate with Master's degrees, or Law, or Science, or Education degrees, but they cannot even get a job working in a Walmart or volunteering to tutor children - all because of their felony conviction. If the House Judiciary Committee would vote – Yes, and pass H.R. 1529 to expunge their conviction, these well educated and qualified young people could make a difference in their communities. Instead the current system gives them the Stick - a permanent life sentence. They drift from one underemployment job to next, if they can find one, for the rest of their lives.

There is much rhetoric from many in the justice system and Congress, about how much is being done to rehabilitate those who have committed a crime, how much is being done to prepare them for their return to society. These are hollow, meaningless words when the reality is that we do everything possible to hamper previous offenders from regaining a productive place in society. Then we raise a hue and cry about how high the recidivism rate is.

The concept of “permanent punishment” with no hope of restoration for a non-violent first-time offender is void of any of the commonly held concepts of fairness. This bill is not a Democrat/Republican, Conservative/Liberal, or Black/Latino/White. Rather it is simply doing the right thing - the human and humane thing.		H. R. 1529 - The Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2009

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People signing the "H. R. 1529 - The Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2009" petition!

  1. Sat., Mar. 13, 2010 12:50 AM    link robert m. | Livermore, CA

    its been impossible for me too find a job for the past 2 years.i get denied every job i apply for because of my non violent felony i have on my record.i want too contribute back too society,but feel i will never get a chance too.its extremely hard too support my family now because of this.i want things too change regarding felons and employment.

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  3. Fri., Mar. 12, 2010 5:55 PM    link Sarah H. | Irving, TX

    I've never commited a felony but I know people who have...a few of them got sold drugs in the past and went to prison for it. They tried desperatly to find a decent job, and because they can't, they go right back to selling drugs. Not every felon is able to change..that's why more than half of them go right back to prison. BUT, there are the few individuals who want to do right but can't because society has cast them away for mistakes in their past. Stop letting all these damn immigrants come over here and work for pennies without LEGAL papers and tell these felons they don't have the same rights as every other American when they HAVE PAID THIER DEBT TO SOCIETY.

  4. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  5. Fri., Mar. 12, 2010 10:24 AM    link Isaac V. | Winters, TX

    I have just finished an 8 year probation sentence. I am just finding out exactly how hard it is to actually get a respectable job. i am just wishing that we could actually get another chance in life and not be labled for life.

  6. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  7. Wed., Mar. 10, 2010 11:04 PM    link Michael F. | Grand Prairie, TX

    I would like to open this comment by saying that prayer works!!!!! I have multiple felonies in different states due to my own impatience and stupidity. I was actually preparing to protest at random employers I've applied with to avoid recidivating!!! It's like I'm being penalized three times for the same offense. First, I carried out my sentence; secondly, I'm on parole... Then you mean to tell me that I can’t gain any stable employment for seven years??? Besides the fact that I've lost all my rights, which I thought only held true while being incarcerated... But, my issue is the slot employers try to trick the applicant with by saying that a conviction does not necessarily bar you from employment!!! ;) Right... So then why is it that when I tell the truth, based on all the experience that I have, I never get a call??? The sad thing about this altogether is that society glorifies bad boys by putting out television shows like PRISON BREAK, THE FUGITIVE CHRONICLES, COPS, I could keep going... But what the public doesn’t understand is that there are real people out here who have fell victim to that way of life. And after going through the legalities and so fourth... Why are we looked at as just offenders? Those of us who have offended and have been out here for years found rehabilitation within ourselves because the correctional facility sure as hell doesn’t offer that!!! But shortly put, IF GOD CAN FORGIVE US... WHY CANT SOCIETY??? GET IT RIGHT!!!

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  9. Wed., Mar. 10, 2010 10:00 PM    link Sharonda C. | Silver Spring, MD

  10. Wed., Mar. 10, 2010 7:23 PM    link louis c. | Brooklyn, NY

  11. Wed., Mar. 10, 2010 4:03 PM    link Brandie N. | Grand Prairie, TX

  12. Wed., Mar. 10, 2010 2:42 PM    link Amanda H. | Grand Prairie, TX

  13. Tue., Mar. 9, 2010 9:26 PM    link Name not displayed | Anderson, IN

    i am a 32 yr old man that messed up when i was younger and had to spend a year a a half in prison for a non violient crime now i cant get a job or nothing because of my feloney i want to pay society back and be a cop and help others and get crime off the streets i wish i could get someone to help me

  14. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  15. Tue., Mar. 9, 2010 9:02 PM    link Name not displayed | Westerville, OH

  16. Mon., Mar. 8, 2010 9:00 AM    link Name not displayed | Saint Albans, WV

  17. Sun., Mar. 7, 2010 6:42 AM    link Lawrence M. | Brunswick, OH

    Let's give them, and me a chance 2 start over...

  18. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  19. Fri., Mar. 5, 2010 10:26 PM    link Name not displayed | Knoxville, TN

  20. Fri., Mar. 5, 2010 4:20 PM    link Bentley K. | New Martinsville, WV

  21. Fri., Mar. 5, 2010 2:14 PM    link Nicole G. | Fort Wayne, IN

    What is important to me as a Social Worker is not what a client did 10 years ago, but what they are doing today, what accomplishments they've made and the road to the future they are on. I have seen far too many clients who have done the crime and done the time. They then make the changes necessary to live a positive life and our employment laws hinder them dramatically from being self suffient and successful. How much proving of ones self is enough for society, employers and the law makers?Example: Client is a 39 year old black man, convicted of Felony dealing and possession (cocaine) 1995 in Indiana. Possession of marijuana in 1998, which violated his probation from the 1995 charges. Did a total of 5 years in an Indiana prison. Since being released has had NO arrest or convictions- not even a speeding ticket, seriously. Since being released he has earned an Associates Degree from IVY Tech in Industrial Maintenance, is 4 classes short of a certification in Maintenance Technology from IVY tech, earned his CDL's from C-1 trucking in Fort Wayne, earned 3 Certification from the American Welding Society and can't get a job- unless he wants to flip burgers for $7.25 a hour- are we serious??? He has 4 children to support, not because he "has" to but because he wants to out of his own priority. His story is only one of thousands, reform is needed for him and others that are being pushed back into the streets for survival, into the depths of depression and hopelessness and being robbed of living up to their God given potential!

  22. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  23. Fri., Mar. 5, 2010 1:53 PM    link Name not displayed | League City, TX

  24. Fri., Mar. 5, 2010 1:27 PM    link Toni S. | Texas City, TX

  25. Fri., Mar. 5, 2010 1:13 PM    link Voncil L. | League City, TX

  26. Wed., Mar. 3, 2010 8:49 PM    link Lucille D. | Algonquin, IL

    Please give these individuals a second chance.

  27. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  28. Wed., Mar. 3, 2010 4:16 PM    link Rosenda M. | La Crosse, WI

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