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Felon Instructor's Story Shows Power of Rehabilitation

3/25/2014

4 Comments

 
In the course of my work as pardon/expungement attorney, I occasionally encounter individuals that argue that my clients should not get to clear their criminal records.  It’s a do-the-crime-do-the-time argument where “the time” extends beyond the formal sentence into any future repercussions of their offense, regardless of proportionality.  Aside from the general vindictiveness of that mentality, this position also does a disservice to society as a whole. 

That is why I enjoyed reading Neil Steinberg’s recent article in the Chicago Sun-Times, which takes up the defense of a University of Illinois instructor who previously served time in federal prison.  The instructor had been part of a group that had committed several felonies, including a bank robbery in which a person was killed.  The article goes on to examine his life after the events of that case, and argues that his rehabilitation should carry more weight than his mistakes.

The lesson here is that even smart, creative people make mistakes.  While it is great that this instructor was still able to succeed, there are many for whom the burden of a criminal record is a life sentence.  Right now, there are young folks with world-class potential to become professors, doctors, scientists, etc. and are picking up criminal records.  Many of them will face so many roadblocks from their conviction that they never realize this potential.  You can extend this reasoning further and find that there are many hard-working, rehabilitated people that are unemployed or underemployed because of background checks finding a mistake they made long ago.  Most might not even realize that they have options to clear their criminal records.  When as a society we allow for great reservoirs of talent to go untapped, we all lose.

4 Comments
Corey Norton
3/25/2014 03:44:11 pm

I have a felony from 2008 for official misconduct that states I used a work computer for personal use. Since then I have got my bachelors degree, will have my masters in may, and just got accepted into a doctorate program. I have been waiting for 3 years to have my stuff expunged and hate having to mark "yes" for a felony in job applications.

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Jamyra
4/16/2014 10:55:23 pm

I truly enjoyed this article. I can relate to everything you wrote. Praying one day society can look pass my past and see that everyone makes mistakes and everyone deserves a second chance. We must make good on that 2nd chance, because our success story makes way for others to succeed, too. Thanks again for the article. Looking forward to a better day!!!

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Betsy
4/28/2014 04:14:42 am

Great story. I also am in this position. Graduate degree, many student awards, solid work history, longtime community volunteer. Trying to go back to full time work after finishing grad school and raising family, now can't find anything but part time, low pay work. I had a drug possession charge 23 years ago when I was very young. I am finding that many large employers now use automated application screening software, rejecting applications as soon as you mark the "yes" box...so why do they ask for an explanation if they have no intention of considering it? Just curious? It can be so tempting to not put it down and hope for the best. The only 2 good full time jobs I have had in over twenty years, they didn't ask (one was an old application form asking if I had had one in last ten years, I got lucky). And they never would've known because that charge does not represent who I am as an adult. I committed my crime when I was not long out of high school. I should be planning for my retirement now but am instead trying to get a foothold on a career.

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caroline
5/6/2014 09:19:43 am

Same here. I had a marijuana possession with intent that I can't shed. Lots of school and almost 20 years later, I am still judged.

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