NEW LEGISLATION FOR PARDONS AND RESTORATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS GRANTED SHOULD INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR CONVICTION SEALED BY THE COURT
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Jun 4th, 2018Someone from Bristol, VA writes:
You know people should have a second chance at life. Some people do learn from their mistake and wants to better their self but the record hold jobs against you. Please make it to where we can have a second chance and let us expunge or seal the crimal record: it was hard enough doing the time and all the stuff you have to go thru -
Dec 2nd, 2017Ronald M. from Gibsonton, FL writes:
I don't think picking and choosing what felonies qualify and what don't is the right approach..people like myself pled guilty out of fear and intimidation and the victim was a child predator and my children was involved so don't shut the door on everyone else to make sure there is room for yourselves,people that served their time for violent crimes have paid their debt as well...but I understand the situation of people currently on probation or in prison how will it affect them,,I believe if a felony forgiveness works...then everyone and yes everyone with a felony should get another chance and people serving probation or sentences should be forgiven immediately after completion..can someone tell me how many people we need to petition to make this happen?...I actually emailed the white house last on this exact issue....I am depending on this to workREPORT COMMENTS
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Oct 31st, 2017Someone from Altamonte Springs, FL writes:
I think that after pardon Fl should be able to erase the crime by sealing or expunged the crime bcs is not fair is somebody have a good conduct pay the crime in jail and have a good conduct after many years without been arrested ALOT people need a second chance and need jobs the city and the state are paying ALOT money in jail and prisons the society need programs the should have a program like probation like see if the individual is not getting arrested and have a good behavior after few yrs and then give them the second chance of a expungement or sealing their records ALOT people commit mistake and people learn from their mistakes ALOT people have record for adjudicated guilty I think that if you already plea guilty and served your time and you don't be committed a crime and you become a good citizen without having another record this person should be able to get a second chance. Fl need to chance the law for better and to help this people for a better future if Fl changes the law it won't be ALOT people in jail it would be more jobs a less pay for jail bcs ALOT people will chance their ways in society.I believe that we have a good governor and he we the time will change the law I can see how much he offer to the community governor Rick Scott is doing a good job and I've my faith on him that he will do better.GOD BLESS HIM AND HIS FAMILYREPORT COMMENTS
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Jul 21st, 2017Someone from Plainfield, NJ writes:
It is mind numbing that a mistake can make you a second class citizen for your entire life no matter how long you remain trouble free or how you prove you reformation because you don't have political connections or money for lawyers.REPORT COMMENTS
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Jun 16th, 2017Someone from Woodbridge, VA writes:
With having been convicted as a first time nonviolent felony 13 year ago myself, who has a family and is hardworking; I completely agree! Finding employment at first was difficult, but then I got lucky and found an employer that looked passed my mistake and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to prove myself. I have had the opportunity to grow in the industry but due to my criminal record have been limited to the positions I can hold/apply for to advance in my field making it difficult to obtain the pay grade/position within the company that I am more than qualified for and should be receiving. This makes things hard not only career wise but also for my family due to not being able to grow income with the cost of living these days. My rights have been restored and I plan on asking for a pardon but as mention in some comments of this post a"p" stating that you have been pardoned doesnt do anything like a sealed record would. Hopefully the Government will wake up and see that sometimes people make a mistake that they regret and just need the chance to do better. Wake Up America! Stop judging others! Not all people are bad people.REPORT COMMENTS
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Jun 9th, 2017Someone from Phoenix, AZ writes:
I agree, a new law needs to be in place even if it is 10yrs later after a conviction or whatever it is better than nothing at all. We did the crime, paid the time, the fee's, and mending our wrongs only to see be shut out by the world.REPORT COMMENTS
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Feb 26th, 2017Zachary M. from Aurora, CO writes:
We need this to happen across the State of Colorado also because of Colorado being a corrupt and immoral state governmentREPORT COMMENTS
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Feb 16th, 2017Someone from Lexington, OK writes:
The only legal way they can take our firearms away from us is to make us all felons. So is it any wonder why America locks up more people then any other country in the world. Most Americans don't have a clue what's going on until they are slapped with a felony for spitting on the side walk or jaywalking! Way to many misdemeanors are being re-classified as felonies. Once a felon, you'll play hell getting a pardon or restoration of your civil rights. And you can still kiss your gun rights bye bye. To many state Governors are stipulating "No Firearm Rights" to pardons. Something I find very interesting is this: Every piece of legislation pertaining to civil rights restoration or felony expungment on the federal level has died in the house judiciary committee. This will only stop when every single American citizen tells their representatives "ENOUGH"REPORT COMMENTS
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Feb 10th, 2017Someone from Midlothian, VA signed.
Feb 4th, 2017Lisa R. from Montverde, FL writes:
I have a son who did some stupid things as a 16yr old kid and got a felony. He didn't kill, rob, or have anything to do with drugs. He is now 30 years old with a family. He has always had trouble getting a job, but when he does get a job they tell him he a real hard worker. He can't get an apartment either. I truly believe that there should be a new bill/law regarding pardons and restorations regarding civil rights, for adults who received a felony under the age of 18 or 21. Who has spend their adult live trying to be a good citizen/person,REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelFeb 2nd, 2017Someone from Waynesboro, VA signed.
Jan 23rd, 2017Keith J. from Lake Wales, FL writes:
Was charged for a non-violent felony 33 yrs. ago. Received a full pardon with all rights restored and to the law I still have no rights. I have been a law abiding citizen ever since, not even a traffic ticket. I'm 55 now and just want my life back!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 20th, 2017Someone from Ashland, VA writes:
NEW LEGISLATION FOR PARDONS AND RESTORATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS GRANTED SHOULD INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR CONVICTION SEALED BY THE COURTREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 16th, 2017Lois I. from Knoxville, TN writes:
There are so many young men who made the mistake of sleeping with a girl 1 year younger then himself and got charged for statutory rape, It's so sad to completely ruin a young man's life for making a mistake that many of you have made. My nephew unforturnately grew up with ignorance, and I'm not sure he was mature enough at the time to even know what he did was breaking the law. However, he saw her picture on the news the next morning as a runaway, and trying to do the right thing, called the police in Enterprise, Alabama. There again, not mature enough to know better. They took him to jail, forced him to confess, and threw the book at him. He was charged as a sex-offender!!!!! Really, you have to be kidding. These kids are not sex offenders, but they have to live with it stamped on their drivers license and go by all the same rules that real sex offenders follow. It ruined his life; he can't get a job; it destroyed any self esteem he might have had. What a shameful situation that this is allowed to go on in a civilized country. He was paroled by the Governor of Alabama, but is still labeled as a sex offender! That's no help to him at all.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 12th, 2017Mike from Raeford, NC writes:
20yr plus misdemeanor. Law abiding ever since. Loss of 2A rights for life. Difficult to find a decent job...This is unconstitutional. Period.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 6th, 2017Someone from Barton, NY writes:
I have several non violent drug felonies that date back to 2001-2006. I was hired for a minimum wage paying job then quickly sent home on orientation day after a background check disqualified me for a CLEANING POSITION. I was open and honest about my charges on my application and at my interview but I feel I was only hired so the company couldn't get in any legal trouble for discriminating against a felon. It's been over ten years since my release from prison. Something needs to change. When I was released from prison I was a 33yr old single widow trying to raise two children on my own PLUS pay my cost and fines. I'm now 43, still trying to do the same thing and still struggling. If addiction is a disease then why am I being punished for life for having it?REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJan 1st, 2017Someone from Pearland, TX writes:
I live in Texas and in Texas if you have a conviction, you must get a pardon by the Governor and then get the conviction record expunged. Getting a pardon from the governor is an almost impossible task and it usually does not happen unless for some type of political reasons. it does not matter if the conviction was for a misdemeanor or a felony, it was a conviction you must first get a pardon to expunge or seal the record. How unfair is this process, where one person has sole authority over someone else's life? In America, a nation that was said to be founded on Christian beliefs....and yes, forgiveness is a trademark that belief system. If you make a financial mistake and go into debt, that debt can be forgiven every 7-10 years, depending on the kind of debt. Not so with a criminal conviction and it should be. I am in favor of legislation that would require ALL STATES to forgive convictions of individuals so long as the crime was not for murder, rape, child molestation or any crimes involving crimes against children and the elderly. If people have turned their life around and rehabilitated themselves through education, civic responsibilities or any other method, they should be giving another chance. A study by Emory University found that: Ex-offenders who complete some high school courses have recidivism rates around 55 percent. Vocational training cut recidivism to approximately 30 percent. An associate degree drops the rate to 13.7 percent. A bachelor?s degree reduces it to 5.6 percent. A master?s brings recidivism to 0 percent. Unless society is made to allow ex-offenders an opportunity at gainful employment that offers an economic value, they will not do it. These comments need to be heard by all legislators and human resource professionals; to urge them to consider carefully the consequences of hiring decisions that are rooted in fear and prejudice. Not only are they closing the door on the future of an individual, but they are diminishing the talent pool and depleting the strength your organization while destroying the American communities, because the workforce refuse to absorb individuals with criminal convictions. The only way this will stop is if they are made to through new legislation requiring expungement and/or sealing of criminal records after a certain period, once the time is completed. Then, the background check companies need to be held criminal and civil liable if they publish old information concerning someone's criminal conviction once expunged and/or sealed.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelDec 17th, 2016Pro 2. from Saint George, UT writes:
When the people have done everything to turn here lives around and are Law abiding citizens over 10 years, the federal gun ban applies disarming from right to bear arms. The lautenberg law is truly a big mess and discrimination is being applied. Who is looking out for the people in making sure our constitutional rights are protected? Maybe Trump is in place for a reason. If it's true, the law does not supersede our constitution right to bear arms including the first. So therefore, the laws currently being applied has been unconstitutional making this a case for millions of people. It seems like for who wants to make it right by doing the right things in life, land a good job and protect your family would only cause road blocks for life. That's dehumanizing people and again the laws that were created are infringing on our constitutional rights making it impossible and the scare tactics remain. That is not the American Dream nor exercise your rights. I hope that 2017 will be a good start in this topic that the new congress and presidential line up will chip away and make it right for the people. The past leaders keep violating our civil rights and that needs to stop.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 28th, 2016J s. from Virginia Beach, VA writes:
My road to redemption, has not been easy and respectfully it shouldn?t be if I got in trouble. But once a person proves that they are rehabilitated, they should be provided a chance to be productive person in society. I have been offered 4 jobs in the past month, for them all to come back and state my 2008 misdemeanor (false application) is a barrier to hiring me, despite me gaining two degrees, becoming a notary, volunteering, and first and foremost never getting in trouble again, as the lessoned was learned. As I researched other state laws it seems to be a real issue with Virginia. I even attempted to contact a lawyer to help me with a simple pardon to at least get a job and basically was told I decided to get in trouble in the wrong state and how important it is to know the laws for the state you live in. By no way was the lawyer consigning breaking laws but believe in second chances and state my best bet may be relocating to a state that believes in second chances. I have a wealth of school loans, and just daily bills that need to get paid and having employment is critical to my livelihood. I wish everyone luck and I understand the pain.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 27th, 2016Keith J. from Lake Wales, FL writes:
I received a full pardon, was issued a firearm permit but I still can't go buy a firearm because I don't pass a background check. I received my pardon 16 years ago and have been a outstanding citizen now since I was charged 36 years ago.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 26th, 2016Tommy B. from Rustburg, VA writes:
If a court of law does not condem a person for life then neither should the society they rejoin either. Some people prove themselves worthy everyday of second chances. Now imagine people who are actually innocent and cannot prove it because they were convicted with no actual evidence. It is a living hell that I wake to every morning.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 19th, 2016Melba H. from Newport News, VA signed.
Nov 11th, 2016Kevin R. from Richmond, VA writes:
It saddens me to see how man takes God's world and do whatever they want to it it still enslaving God's people through bondage and greed.But the bible warns of these such people and also for sure us that the rich and hatred will be last,But we will over come one thing about African American family's is we know how to survive if God is for us you can never be against us,united we stand you restore a man or woman's rights give pardons to some and then don't seal the criminal record through a system of trust liberty and judgement how unconstitutional so on this day I petition to Congress to for these vital orchestrated changesREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 8th, 2016Angelia C. from Orangeburg, SC writes:
I too; suffer for a 30 year old violent crime in my youth. I face discrimination due to this crime. I have not ever in 30 years since broke the law. It does not matter in South Carolina.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelNov 1st, 2016angela h. from Manassas, VA signed.
Oct 29th, 2016Stephanie B. from Miami, FL writes:
I'm in Florida and I got into some trouble when I just had turned 18. I was sent to Juvi for 33 days and as a first offense I had two convictions and one withheld adjudicated. This is the reason why I cannot find a legal and respectable job. Employers do not care that it was over 12 years ago. Back in 2004, I was never told that I had a 3 year statute limitation to appeal the case. I would love to have a start over in my life.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelOct 27th, 2016Someone from Chesterfield, VA writes:
How can we work to get Virginia law changed to allow for expungement of deferred dismissals when a person complies with requirements and charges are dismissed? If the charges have been dismissed - why would expungment not be appropriate when a person has no other criminal record? Also expungement of first time misdemeanor convictions especially those that occur when a person is young....It is so strict in Virginia compared to other states. If applying for a job - 2 applicants could have the same misdemeanor conviction - but the applicant. from another state may have had it expunged so it won't be on their record while it would be on the Virginia applicant.... Is this fair?REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelOct 26th, 2016Someone from Gloucester, VA writes:
My husband's last felony conviction was in 2003 for driving intoxicated without a license. We were 15 feet away from our home when we got stopped can you believe it!? All these years later we finally find out about the automatic restoration of your rights for non-violent felons. I pray that his rights are restored and he can not only own a firearm but be able to vote especially in elections like the one coming up. We haven't gotten our answer yet but we are praying!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelOct 26th, 2016Someone from Gloucester, VA writes:
My husband's last felony conviction was in 2003 for driving intoxicated without a license. We were 15 feet away from our home when we got stopped can you believe it!? All these years later we finally find out about the automatic restoration of your rights for non-violent felons. I pray that his rights are restored and he can not only own a firearm but be able to vote especially in elections like the one coming up. We haven't gotten our answer yet but we are praying!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelOct 21st, 2016Someone from Valley, AL writes:
I can tell you its all ********. Felons will never get a break or stop paying for a mistake even if it was 40 years ago. They just do not care. So if you think they do or, you think some bloodsucking lawyer can help you think again. I have used every avenue possible to remove, pardon or any other option you can think of and cannot do it. Oh you get promises but, never come true. you have a better chance getting into to this country as a illegal and shooting someone and never getting caught then you do have getting forgiveness or removing a felony.. its a fact live with it.. no one cares.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelOct 18th, 2016Someone from Brecksville, OH signed.
Oct 10th, 2016Elizabeth F. from Chino, CA writes:
I have a felony from 8 years ago. I was in a very abusive relationship. During the relationship I developed a drug addiction. And he bought me the drugs to keep me where he wanted me. We had 3 children together. He wanted custody so I wouldn't leave and I told him no. We were not married. I had quit for almost a year when I relapsed. He was all to ready to jump in and keep me supplied. One night he gave me money to go buy some and I came home and was met by the cops. He set me up so he could gain custody. I am not trying blaming him. I was the one that wasn't strong enough to get away from him. In a result of this I have a felony. It is 8 years later and I am graduating pre-law. I have dedicated my life to helping domestic violance victims like myself and I can't even get a decent job to support my daughter, the only child I have. The other 2 were taken from me. I fought for 2 years. But because I was labled as a drug addict, and the judge had it out for me, I lost 2 of my children. I have worked so hard to be a survivor, and to make my life stronger and be a better person. I am never seen as who I am today and all my accomplishments because of this one felony I got 8 years ago. Something needs to change!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelOct 10th, 2016carlos w. from Charlotte, NC writes:
I would like to correct the grammar in my previous statement. As a counselor for over twenty years, working with at risk youth and adolescent teens, I have observed their frustration and devastation when they are overlooked or denied employment opportunities they are qualified for. After an error in judgement which resulted in a non violent felony charge. These individual have served their time, some 30 years and still have a felony record that continues to impact their lives in not allowing them to get a job or vote. The American dream has been cut short for them and so is the desire to better themselves in some cases. Imagine after 20 years of trying, just to get a no.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelOct 10th, 2016Carlos W. from Charlotte, NC writes:
I would like to see this law passes as it would help million American . I work with young adults who would benefit greatly and have a more prosprrous chance at life.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelOct 6th, 2016Someone from Hudson, FL writes:
I was 19 yrs old and a drug addict in 1980 when I was convicted of two burglaries over possessing stolen merchandise and for going into my ex girlfriends house to retrieve my clothing when I had been living there! She got mad that I was breaking up with her and called the cops and told them I broke in. I had a key that she gave me! I received two 5 year sentences run consecutive. Out of all that I did 11 months in drug rehab, 10 months in county and 13 months in state institution for youthful offenders. I successfully completed my parole and was terminated early due to my success. I went on to be a law abiding citizen, taught myself two trades, had three different business during my life employing other people and paid my taxes. In 2005 I applied to then NJ governor for a pardon / celemency to have my record expunged. These days you cant get hired ANYWHERE worthwhile with a felony on your record. Two years later they finally answered me. DENIED! what? Why? So here I am now 57 years old, disabled now and the country is becoming more unsafe by the minute. My wife and I adopted our granddaughter to raise her in safety and give her a chance to be a positive member of society. I not only paid my debt to society THIRTY SIX years ago but I also contribute as best I can. So here it is, we live in Florida now. I don't feel safe and I dont feel as if I can protect my family if an intruder came into our home. I cannot get a license to own a firearm to protect myself and family as provided under the second amendment. This is absolutely not fair anymore. I did not get convicted of a violent crime nor have I been in trouble since. I am what they would want to use as an example of a success story from the penal system. It worked for me. I knew I didn't belong there so I never went back. WHY ?Nearly FORTY years later can i not have my rights restored? Isn't this a life sentence? Where is the JUSTICE in this?REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelOct 5th, 2016Someone from Downingtown, PA writes:
Former VA resident. Mother of 3 disabled kids. Made a mistake in my early 20s and still pay the price unemployed 25 years later. Please consider passing a federal law to expunge non-violent felons records after they complete their sentences/ probation requirements. No one will hire you with anything on your record. Banning the box hasn't resolved this problem for any of us.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelOct 3rd, 2016Someone from Laurel Springs, NC signed.
Sep 27th, 2016Someone from Manassas, VA writes:
I was restored my civil rights though after 55 job applications in the last 4 weeks many have called interested in my skills and abilities though as soon as they hear or find out that i had a conviction for even a non violent felony I am denied the opportunity for employment! How does America expect us to survive out here. When all doors are closed to you for a bad coice you might have made 15-20 years ago as an 18 or 19 year old immature young man/person?REPORT COMMENTS
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