Do Felons Deserve a Second Chance, Obama Thinks So [Reader Post]

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Should convicted felons be given a second chance? Barack Obama thinks so, and he thinks the tax payers should have to foot the bill. He made his view on this issue more than evident during a town hall meeting in Elyria, Ohio on January 22nd. Here is a excerpt from this Ohio town hall meeting, where a 29 year old felon who has never had a job in his life asks Obama if he will help felons get a job.

Jerome the felon asks Obama:

“I’m 29 years old, and I’ve never had a job in my life. I went to jail when I was younger. It’s like hard to get a job as a felon. Is this — any programs that hire people with felonies like something that — because it’s sad, it’s like — 29 years old, I’m 29.”

Obama Answers Jerome:

“Look, I’m proud of the fact that you’re bringing this up because there are people who’ve made mistakes, particularly when they’re young, and it is in all of our interests to help them redeem themselves and then get on a straight path. Now, I don’t blame employers obviously for being nervous about hiring somebody who has a record. It’s natural if they’ve got a lot of applicants for every single job that that’s a question that they’d have in their minds. On the other hand, I think one of the great things about America is we give people second chances.

And so what we’ve tried to do — and I want to say, this has been a bipartisan effort — when I was in the Senate, working with Sam Brownback; my Vice President, Joe Biden — passing a Second Chance Act that helps to fund programs that help the reintegration of ex-felons.

It’s smart for us to do. You know, sometimes people say, well, that’s just coddling people. No; you reduce the recidivism rate, they pay taxes, it ends up being smart for taxpayers to do.”

Shame on Jerome, if he really wanted a job he could get one. He is playing the victim card. In reality he is only a victim of his own bad decisions. Taxpayers already pay for convicts to be in prison, now Obama wants us to pay to get them a job? Don’t get me wrong, I believe everyone(well, almost everyone) deserves a second chance, but it is not the responsibility of everyone else to provide that second chance.

Now before you start sending me nasty emails saying “you are stupid, and you just don’t understand how hard it is for felons to get a job.” Please allow me to stray from the beaten path for a moment and tell you a bit about my own experience.

I am a convicted felon. Five felonies to be exact. I spent the later part of my teenage years (15-19 years old) as a drug addict. Between ages 18 – 19, I lived out of the back of an Oldsmobile, and skipped around from job to job (i kept getting fired for some odd reason, hmm) to raise money for my heroin habit. I continued this pattern of living until I was finally arrested, charged with 9 felonies, convicted of 5 felonies, and sentenced to 1 year and 2 months in prison. One day, as I was sitting in my cell, I thought to myself, “this isn’t the life I want. I want something better, and I’m going to get.” So I made a plan for what I was going to do when I got out, and I decided to use my time in there wisely by educating myself. I started studying college algebra, then moved on to calculus and finally computer science. I also applied for college while I was in prison, so I could attend as soon as I got out. My release day came, and guess what, I went out and got a job flipping burgers the next day.

I worked the early shift at my new job . Public buses didn’t run that early in the morning(in VA, if you receive a felony conviction you lose your license), so I walked to work, 5 miles, every morning. When my shift was over, I hoped on a bus, and went to the local community college to take a couple of classes. When I got out of class the buses weren’t running so I walked home, 4 miles, every night. This process repeated everyday for 9 months until I finally saved up enough money to pay off all of my court costs, and go through all of the red tape required to get my license back. When I finally got my license and my car back, I went out searching for a new, better job. I found 2 jobs. Who would have thought that a convict could get 2 jobs (Jerome couldn’t seem to find 1 in 29 years). I met a wonderful girl at one of these jobs, and we eventually got hitched! Fast forward 4 years and I am happily married, the proud owner of a brand new home, 6.5 years sober, have a good job, and I am almost done with a bachelors degree in computer science (I pay my own way through school, so I only take as many classes as I can afford).

I told you this story to tell you this. I know it is hard to get a job if you are a felon. I do understand. However, if you are a felon, you are not a victim of society, you are a victim of your actions. It is not the responsibility of tax payers to provide you with a second, it is your responsibility. In the United States there are infinite possibilities for a second chance, but you have to go out and get it. It will not come to you. Don’t let your criminal record hold you back, use it as a lesson in life. If you work hard, pursue your dreams, and strive to be a good citizen, good things will happen. That is the beauty of liberty and freedom, you have every opportunity to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get on the right track in life. How could you not love a country that has allowed a drug addicted, homeless convict to become a sober, homeowner, with a beautiful wife, and lives the American dream everyday. God Bless America!

Crossposted from Liberty and Pride

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Im a felon….. I was 18 on drugs don’t even remember that night 21 years ago ….. the first couple of years out of prison was rough…..got some small charges misameners …… but then I had a kid then a job then a wife then 2 more kids a house found god and received one of the highest awards for our church …….. I hunt and fish and I live every day and got my shit strait…….. that felony has haunted me but when I left the bad behind and found god… put love in my heart and started living his law I’m much happer ……. the government has giving up on this American but I trust in god …….. none know I’m a felon I even talked at a town meeting about gun rights and was on TV ……… I believe in the constitution I don’t have my rights I don’t brake the law but I still have freedom of speech

“Don’t get me wrong, I believe everyone(well, almost everyone) deserves a second chance, but it is not the responsibility of everyone else to provide that second chance.”
DON’T GET ME WRONG- you don’t have a red-boned clue! Nobody’s asking anyone to ‘give them a second chance’! What they would appreciate is not being barricaded from obtaining a career and way to self-sustain. I can appreciate your intent in writing this piece- “picking yourself up by the bootstraps” and all- but there is so much more to this story than you seem to be aware of. For starters- it’s not just ‘felonies’. Misdemeanors happen at 10 to 1 the rate that felonies do; and they impede ones livelihood as well. We have lost perspective in this country- and no one seems to have the sense to get it back. We have more people in jails and prisons than any country in the world; barring China (possibly). And we’re all so scared of becoming socialist. GUESS WHAT- we already are, in all the worst ways. We have more laws, more policing bodies, more individual regulations, more tax- w/ little to show for it, and a public education system that is a joke. So- are you so grateful, and think that everyone in the US are so deserving of impediments to their own progress progress?! Well, consider this- we are also one of the only countries that holds on to old spent misdemeanors for life (as do the British Law based countries). 1 in 3 people in this country has some kind of record. Why is that do you suppose? Could it be for all the reasons I’ve posted? Or are we just a bunch of ‘out of control’ hooligans- pillaging and plundering the landscapes as we ride through town. They’d have you believe that; but it’s simply not true. Inspiring story though.

@Jetison Black: One of the reasons 1 in 3 people in this country has some kind of record is there is a lack of personal responsibility. They blame everyone else or their status in life for their fate instead of themselves. They commit crimes and then blame society when they get caught and are forced to pay the penalty.

How funny it is reading these comments. My husband spent 4 years in prison for when he was 17 to 21 because he and his friends stole cars…I read comments about people who were dealing, doing and selling drugs, armed robbery and assault getting 1 year? Wow…he has a job but you wouldn’t believe how hard it is to find a job that he can work where he can move up…

@Randy:

That is HORSE SHIT! You’re talking to be talking. Are you old? That’s seems to be the standard response from old people- who have NO CLUE what’s going on in today’s criminal justice system. I used to work in it- and know what’s going on. Tired of ignorant people, who are too lazy, and judgmental, to look deeper. Research your topic. Opinions are like *ssholes; everyone’s got one!

@Randy:

This was put out by a Prosecutors office. http://www.prosecutorintegrity.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Plea-Agreements.pdf Even police on jumping on board w/ criminal justice reform- because anyone who has arrested people for a living, like me, know that there are too many inconsistencies. And at the lowest levels, there’s little that can be done. Cops, despite what people think, are at the lower level

@Jetison Black: Maybe you should look deeper instead of criticizing others first. The current liberal philosophy is based upon postmodernism. Check it out and see how much impact liberalism has on the actions of young people. Then we can talk. Until then, you are just ignorant.

Look at war,s history,s and ours war,s 2nd chance yes iam a warrior but I learned the rules 1

@Jetison Black: Well, this was written almost 7.5 years ago. Perspectives can change a lot in that amount of time. I agree with you wholeheartedly at this point in my life. I actually regret the article but leave it up since it’s inspired a lot of good conversation. I personally have been lucky enough to be successful despite me felony record. However, over the course of the last 8 years I have been shot down for more than one job that I was more than qualified for, simply because of my record. I’ve been lucky enough to meet enough people that were willing to overlook my past and give me a chance. However, I have witnessed more that one friend either receive permanent criminal records for trivial actions or needlessly held back because of crimes which they had more than paid the price.

@Dr.D:

O.K. – let’s see a show of hands for everyone that’s ever broken the law…..and NOT been caught!! By you’re argument Dr., you are suggesting the same thing. So, a felon who has been caught, has committed other crimes and not been caught?! The same can be said for those who have no criminal record. I arrested shoplifters for years, and it was a well-known statistic- in that line of work- that for every 1 shoplifter caught, 3 got away. That same statistic applies to many crimes. NOW- let’s look at the arrest/conviction stats. We have more people in jails and prisons than any country in the world. Is it because we have more criminals?? Or is it because we’ve monetarily incentivised arrests and routinely trade due process for plea deals- as a standard practice today. NOW- apply that same stat to this stat (the fact that nearly 2/3rds of the population get away with a crime). Those people that don’t get caught are now working the jobs that they won’t give those who have been caught; and living better lives, condemning others, and knowing full-well that they don’t deserve it any more than the average American. NOW-
look up the word “hypocrite.” And you’ll see a whole bunch of finger-pointing condemnation; from people who are less than blameless. People like YOU.

If you’re interested in a justice reform petition that addresses the permanant barriers posed by old spent misdemeanors- and think they shouldn’t be- please read and sign.

https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/human-potential-being.fb49?source=c.fb&r_by=7048385

@Kelly Lord: what is the facebook page name?

A felon can get a job if a felon wants a job. This guy was convicted of burglary and had 15 felony charges. He had multiple arrests and spent 2 years in jail and has been employed ever since for the past 10 years. You just need to become intelligent.

https://amp.delawareonline.com/amp/778325001

https://www.indeed.com/r/8a84bbce680027e9

@TammyL: my son went out with a girl seventeen year ago….he just turned 19 and she said she was sixteen…but in reality she was 14. they had sex….she called my son with a cop listening and said she thought she was pregnant…and he said “you couldn’t be…I pulled out” and that’s where they got him, He admitted having sex with her & that was enough to charge him with carnal knowledge. he has been married for 11 years….has 3 children and a wonderful wife….he goes to work everyday…and he was honest and told them about the charge…the horrible thing is that he as to register as a violent sex offender….every month….and the little slut is laughing about it…she was mad because he broke up with her…she saw him with another girl….and this was her revenge. She even had the nerve to ask me if she could go with me when I went to jail to visit him….I am 65 years old and in very bad health…he is not allowed to come into my apt. bldg. as he is a sex offender….I’ve written to the governor…which was a total waste of time (I live in Virginia…and I HATE it here!@!@!@@

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