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H.R. 1529, The Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2009 (517 comments ↓ | 4 wiki edits)
H.R. 1529 would permit expungement of records of certain nonviolent criminal offenses.
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Visitor Comments 
LET'S GET R DONE
October 10, 2009, 12:20am (report abuse)I think high profile celebs on board is the way to go. If we could find an established organization like the ACLU, Urban League or NAACP to join in our plight, celebs would be more likely to align with us. Tony Dungey, Mike Vick, Martha Steward, Oparah and Marion Jones are more likely to sign on to an organization vs a grass roots group of ex-cons. People with no dog in the fight minimize us as ex-cons crying sour grapes. An established organization would change that unfair perception. We know that money makes the world go round, so we could donate our funds to the organization that champions our cause. This would give us "skins in the game" and the influence we need. Additionally, we can be counted in the organizations membership roster. Who knows? We could be numbered north of 1 million people (ex-cons). This is a solid voting/lobbying block and that is the only thing the "powers that be" seem to understand. Just a thought, let me know what you think. LET'S GET R DONE
logical
October 10, 2009, 1:18pm (report abuse)LET'S GET R DONE - yes.
We've been chipping away at various politicians and organizations, maybe heard but not heeded. We need to show some strength and get a well-known name or organization who will make a real commitment to the cause.
What if we got a Senate version of the bill? How about someone like Al Franken as the author? He seems beholden to no one, and unafraid to do the right thing. I also think we should concentrate on Bobby Scott and Danny Davis to champion the HR bill. We can just be honest - and say that perhaps Rangel and Conyers are not in a good position to do it, and we are looking to one of them to lead this - with lots and lots of support from us.
Our Support_for_HR1529 Yahoo group has enough people to make a viable organization - at least to start out.
.*.
October 12, 2009, 11:24am (report abuse)Franken is a clown all dressed up in a suit. All you get from celebrities is shiny white teeth and nothing else. You want Oprah - you can have her. She is starting to lose her clout and more and more people are simply ignoring her.
Besides all that this bill is bad legislation anyway.
No Time For Fools
October 12, 2009, 9:21pm (report abuse)OK .*. you have had your say. Now run along and play somewhere else and let the adults get on with important business.
katetees
October 14, 2009, 11:30am (report abuse)We need this in all states. It id ridiculous in North Carolina. I have a misdemenor from five years ago and I was disqualified for a position I started. The only thing asked on the application was HAVE YOU BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY IN THE LAST 7 YEARS. The answer was no. My background came back and they dismissed me from employment because of that misdemeanor. How are people suppose to support themselves and families. This job had nothing to do with my charge and they knew I was a hardworking, dependable employee. I disputed it with the facts and they denied giving my job back.
Dishman
October 17, 2009, 4:59pm (report abuse)This would be the Greatest thing that has happened in the U.S. in years. This nation talks a lot about rights around the world, but then they treet they own citizens that have made a mistake (one) with a life sentence on their rights. It dosn't matter whether they served time in prison or recieved probation they still have the stigma of a life sentence due to the fact that they have to answer yes to a felony conviction if asked. This will give them the same right as a pardon an also remove the chance of publicity by making it private. I have a blimish from a stupid mistake, and 20 years later I still regret the day I defrauded the bank. I paid them back and completed my 5 years of PROBATION. AND I HAVE NEVER THOUGHT ONCE OF DOING ANYTHING THAT IS A VIOLATION OF THE LAW. I HAD MY CHANCE. And I know they are millions of others that are in the same boat as myself. God Bless those that make the Bill become LAW
Reform Now
October 17, 2009, 9:23pm (report abuse)Dish,man, just to be sure that you know, the benefits of HR1529 are better than a pardon. If you have a federal felony conviction not evena Presedential pardon will remove it from your record. That is why we are fighting so hard to get the bill passed.
escobar
October 18, 2009, 5:12pm (report abuse)Dishman
someone on this board referred me to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/support_of_hr1529/
It is a support group for the one time transgressor and their families. Consider joining we need as many as possible to get the word out.
brentjames
October 20, 2009, 10:02am (report abuse)Fax Congressman Scott at 202-225-8354. The bill is in his committee and it needs to be reviewed and sent up for a vote.
Aaliyah Alexander
October 20, 2009, 11:57am (report abuse)This bill is like a lot of them that look good on the surface buts sucks when you read in between the lines. I don't know how many of you have ever taken the time to read BOP policies but they are pretty ambiguous. They allow anyone to get in trouble for any reason. In addition to this I know a lot of friends and families (Mainly African-American) who get write ups from CO's on an ego trip for things like un-tucked shirts. My husband got a write up because I kissed him on the cheek in the visiting room and that is now on his record. Because of that he will not be able to reap the benefits of this bill because it says that the inmate "has not been subjected to punishment" while incarcerated. This bill needs be a bit more specific because BOP is ambiguous.
Alexander McGee
October 20, 2009, 6:20pm (report abuse)Aaaliya Alexander. Well. I', Alexander. I have to tell you that the prison record will not be taken into consideration to get the reliefs under this bill.
What counts is if your husband committed a non-violent crime. That's it.
If he was convicted because of a non-violent crime then he will qualify to get hist record expunged.
States already have these provisions of granting Certificates of Rehabilitation,Certificates of Good Conduct, Certificates of Relief from Criminal Disabilities and Expungements BUT the federal government has none of it.
There are NO reliefs from a federal conviction. These people in Congress are criminals and oppressors themselves and really don't care much about the millions of us no matter the thousands of letters sent to them over the past ten years to get this bill passed.
But the fight must go on.
I'll give an advice: if you're applying for a job just say NO if asked about a conviction. As long as is not under oath you're not committing any crime.
Aaliyah Alexander
October 22, 2009, 4:32pm (report abuse)That is the sad reality! Thanks for the clarity. I am to the point where instead of applying for job's we just make our own.My Congressional leaders should be aware of the fact that all things done in the dark shall be brought to the light. BOP had better check themselves because I am and paperwork is sloppy and policy gets covered by the fact that BOP has no oversight. Until now.
Signed...
Mrs. OVersight
Reform Now
October 22, 2009, 8:05pm (report abuse)Thanks Alexander for your reply to Aaliyah. You are correct concerning HR1529. There are 5 requirements and, thank goodness, none of them are at the discretion of BOP. Aaliyah is right on one point though and that is her statement about BOP policies being ambiguous. I submit that they make them up as they go and they seem to answer to no one. Congressmans assistant recently told me that an inquiry by their office to BOP often goes unanswered. Pretty strong if you can blow off a Congressman with impunity. If you are "watchdogging' them, good for you. Join the Yahoo Group as Escobar suggested. Your input and determination will be welcomed. We are small but growing and will not quit trying to get this bill passed. Nothing else even comes close to providing the benefits that '1529 will give.
tasha wms
October 23, 2009, 9:09am (report abuse)i think everybody deserve a second chance especialy children
Again I say...
October 23, 2009, 10:28am (report abuse)FVCK the United States. Don't give them your sweat anymore. If they won't let their jack-boot off our necks, why should we pay them taxes and pledge allegiance to them any longer? Really...fvck 'em.
TomJenkins
October 26, 2009, 12:40pm (report abuse)THe House subcommittee where this bill is currently sleeping meets later this week to discuss racial disparities in the justice system. It would be a good opportunitiy for Congressman Scott to bring up the advantages of having HR1529 pass. If they are trying to achieve equal justice, then they need to remedy some of the damage already caused by overzealous prosecutions. Call Congressman Scott's office, or anybody else on the Subcommittee, and tell them to bring up HR1529.
brenda
October 26, 2009, 7:39pm (report abuse)I fully give this a thumbs up. I wish I could write my Congressman. I did once, his reply had nothing to do with the subject/issue at all, so prayer will have to do.
Reform Now
October 26, 2009, 9:49pm (report abuse)Brenda we have all had this experience time and time again. Don't be deterred. Write again and tell him that his response is not acceptable and demand an appropriate response. Follow the lead of Mr. Jenkins. Come join the support group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/support_of_hr1529/
There you will find the addresses of all of the members of the subcommittee that Mr. Jenkins refers to, additional information and others who support this bill. You will be welcome.
6823K
October 29, 2009, 12:16pm (report abuse)I am currently petitioning (PC 851.8) for my 10-yr old arrest record to be "destroyed" with the OC Courts right now. With all my research, I am representing myself. I am college educated - currently working towards a master's degree in public administration. But I can't even step into an internship that fingerprints, let alone trying to obtain a good job. One thing I want everyone to know: Having your records "sealed" or expunged DOES NOT mean they can't see it. Because they can. A better understanding is this: Think of your record as a class that you once failed & you decide to take it again for the 2nd time. Even though you passed it the 2nd time around, it will show up on your transcripts that you failed it the 1st time but your passing grade is what counts b/c it's reflected on your GPA. I have taken too many classes on our criminal justice system (aka CJS). And, I am now researching current bills & policies of the US. I can say this: THE CJS IS NOT AIMED AT REHABILITATION.
Trey
October 30, 2009, 10:24pm (report abuse)There's lobby groups for hire, like keystothecapital.com which are expensive, but can maybe get someone on the inside of the closed doors of these congressmen. The other thing might be if we can get somebody to testify at a hearing. I don't think the congressmen really understand how important an expungement is. If you don't have a clean record, you can't do even the most basic things any more.
Reform Now
October 31, 2009, 10:25pm (report abuse)6823k, you do understand that HR1529 only applies to Federal Felony offenses? Have you read the bill carefully? Of course the justice system can see a sealed or expunged record but the point is that a potential employer or some fly by night background check outfit can't and the CJS would have no reason to unless the ex-offender messes up again. It may not be perfect but I don't see anything better out there.
Trey, you are not alone in your thinking and I am sure you know that you probably do it alone. I give you the same invitation I gave Brenda, join a group. There is power in numbers.
6823k
November 2, 2009, 11:16am (report abuse)Reform Now, yes I did read the bill & I do understand it. My point is that if this bill passes, it would set a precedence for my case to be granted in court....hopefully. In addition, I plan to present a copy of the messages posted here to show the judge just how many people are struggling b/c of discriminating employers against those with a record.
1278
November 2, 2009, 3:29pm (report abuse)I truly believe in second chances. I am talking here about non-violent crimes. It's not right to make a person pay for the rest of their life for a mistake. After paying the price for it, they should be allowed to get an education, housing, good jobs, without having to constantly disclose they past mistake, which makes most of life difficult if not impossible. Everyone makes mistakes, some of us just get caught breaking the law. Can anyone really say they never broke the law? I doubt it. Walking away with a pencil that doesn't belong to you is a form of stealing....
escobar5565
November 2, 2009, 4:56pm (report abuse)6823k: What federal circuit or federal district court did you file your petition? If it is only an arrest record you just may win. It is the convictions that are harder to expunge. Good Luck! And please keep us posted of your progress.
Reform Now
November 3, 2009, 9:27pm (report abuse)6823k, if you need more evidence to show the judge there are three petitions, that I know of, supporting HR1529. They are on the Care2 petition site, Change.org and the Petition2Congress site. There are many comments that you could reference. There are links to these petitions at the Yahoo Group site previously referenced. As Escobar said, best of luck, our hopes are with you and please do keep us posted.
Cry me a river...
November 6, 2009, 7:30pm (report abuse)for the 10.2% unemployment numbers coming out today.
Now you know how we feel.
Perhaps if this country wasn't so unforgiving, enough people would actually CARE and do something about this for EVERYONE.
We deserve jobs too people.
Hate to say it, but if i can't find work WHY O WHY should i care about the 10.2% that can't either. Most of these people are the very ones who've been hatin' on us for years.
Take a walk in my shoes.
Trey
November 7, 2009, 12:06am (report abuse)Well, I can at least understand the pain those 10.2% are feeling now, since I've lived with it for almost 10 years. If I could pass a background check and get back to work, I would help the economy instead of being a drag on it - but I have an old conviction (check fraud) and can't help anyone. I would if I could. THis bill needs to pass. Now. For decency's sake.
Gross Imbalance of Justice
November 10, 2009, 12:47pm (report abuse)this from the huffington post:
Last week, JPMorgan agreed to a $722 million settlement with the SEC stemming from a risky derivatives deal that drove Alabama's most populous county to the brink of bankruptcy. As part of the settlement, JPMorgan neither admitted nor denied wrongdoing -- despite ample evidence that it had engaged in plenty of wrongdoing. This is what passes for justice on Wall Street: regulators give a company a ding to its bottom line, and are ready to quickly forget the whole thing and allow the company to move on to the next lucrative money-printing scheme. When corporate perpetrators don't have to admit they did anything wrong, it's as if the crime never happened.
Gross Imbalance (con't)
November 10, 2009, 12:52pm (report abuse)Ariana further writes:
"So no wrongdoing admitted, and time to move on to the next lucrative money-printing scheme. How tidy. This is what passes for justice on Wall Street these days. If you commit a petty crime and hammer out a plea bargain, you'll have to admit wrongdoing as part of the agreement. But put on a suit and commit a billion dollar crime and you won't even have to admit you did anything wrong. It'll be as if it never happened. Which, of course, makes it much more likely that it will happen again."
Meanwhile, you and I are scarred for life my friends.
Screw the fascist Corporate States of America.
...and Justice for All.
November 10, 2009, 12:58pm (report abuse)my A55.
You will forgive me for never reciting that revolting pledge again for the rest of my life.
Salina Pjetas
November 13, 2009, 9:17am (report abuse)My son's wife was killed in a car wreck when she was just 19 years old. (They have a beautiful baby girl, as well) Sadly, after that experience, my son's attitude about life changed. He turned to drugs and alcohol. Eventually, his poor life choices led him to have felony convictions. My son is now in a drug and alcohol treatment program and he has a new outlook on life. He wants to go to college and get a master's degree; however, due to criminal background checks, it appears he cannot get into a great career to support him and his daughter. Please pass a bill that would give ex-offenders, who have truly changed their lives, a chance to contribute to society and have a chance to have a happy normal life. Thank you.
CHI-TOWN BOY
November 13, 2009, 4:56pm (report abuse)THIS IS A GREAT TOPIC AND I AM A 1ST TIME OFFENDER AND HAVE A GREAT RESUME AFTER THE BOP BUT NOW FOR SOME REASON I LOST MY JOB AND IT IS LIKE HELL TO GET ANOTHER 1. I AM ON BOARD WITH THIS BILL AND IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE IN CHICAGO I CAN CONTACT PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I DO KNOW A TON OF PEOPLE HERE. I JUST WANT TO HELP AND NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO START. THANKS CHI-TOWN.
Kevin
November 16, 2009, 12:43pm (report abuse)CHI-TOWN: If you want to help, organize your friends and go to Danny Davis' office and tell him we all need to get HR 1529 passed. Danny Davis is one of the key people to help pass something like this. Please report back to us and let us know how things go for you.
Robert L Davis
November 16, 2009, 10:33pm (report abuse)It's about time no one can get employeed after geting a non violent criminal act such as smoking pot. Wake up america even the president has smoked dope. Pass this bill.
Truth and Consequences
November 17, 2009, 11:32am (report abuse)I am against this bill. Paying your debt to society is one thing, rewriting history is another. An employer almost always asks on an employment application if you have ever been convicted of a felony. Expunging your record won't allow you to alter your answer unless you decide to lie. If I were in charge of hiring bank tellers, for example, I would want to know if the applicant had ever been convicted of felony theft so that I could at least make a determination if it were reasonable to hire that person. If the crime took place many years ago, that would factor into my decision. Convicted felons should not take away an employer's right to have information.
BlessedAreTheMerciful
November 17, 2009, 3:25pm (report abuse)I used to feel the same way as Truth and Consequences. Probably most people do or did. What I've learned in the past few years is that such an absolutist view is not practical or realistic. Unfortunately, our justice system is not infallable - innocent people get caught up in the system, and others are pushed into untenable situations by unscrupulous people sometimes. This alone is a good reason to support the Second Chance Act for expungement. But if that's not enough, then consider the practicality of it: You have thousands of people, who mean well and want to be productive wage-earners, effectively barred for life from good employment if they cannot earn that clean slate. You may think that an employer will be fair in considering a person with an old conviction, but in real life, that doesn't happen; probably because no one thinks that they will ever be convicted of a crime. The reality is that it could happen to nearly anyone.
I think records are unsealed for financial jobs,too.
ItsHardButTrustGod
November 18, 2009, 1:55pm (report abuse)Nothing is more difficult than seeing hope when there appears to be no hope. That is when God acts. God's power is displayed when men so no possibility of salvation. I believe the unintended consequences of a felony are cruel and evil. The Bible says "we will be judged by the same standard that we judged others by". Those that deem felons as unforgivable, will be judged by the same standards that they used to judge others. It's hard not to be bitter and angry, but it's more productive to be active and vocal. Pray, act, voice, work, be a part of what you want to bring about. Many evil people relish in your misery, don't give them the satisfaction, hold your head up high and stay strong and courageous. To much that is given, much is required. Those with power over your lives will be required to answer for their treatment of you. God has not forgotten you, nor will he allow your enemies to take the light of life out of your eyes. Trust God and lean not on your own understanding.
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For a Broken-Hearted Dad
When a commenter uses the handle “BrokenHearted Dad,” you can’t help but care about his story. He doesn’t tell it, but for him we should all take a second look at H.R. 1529, The Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act. Here’s t...