Update on Ohio Senate Bill 197 Which Seeks to Expunge Felony Convictions
by Nick Fishman
You might recall a couple recent posts where I respectfully disagreed with Ohio State Senator Shirley Smith’s proposed legislation that would allow some serious felonies convictions to be expunged from individual’s records. This was Senator Smith’s way of addressing the issue of those with convictions being excluded from jobs and the increase in recidivism rates when employment cannot be found.
That is a serious issue and one that deserves proper consideration. However, as I said before, inhibiting potential employers’ ability to make an informed decision is no way to address this problem. If such a measure was adopted, an employer that conducts background checks wouldn’t see the expunged conviction.
I was scheduled to meet with Ohio State Senator Lance Mason last week to discuss our concerns about this bill last week and I was looking forward to blogging about some of the ideas I had already discussed with his staffers. Unfortunately, Senator Mason had to cancel the meeting (it was for a very good personal reason). We are going to reschedule, but rather than wait for the meeting, I thought it would be nice to share one of Senator Mason’s remedies to this problem as relayed through his staffers.
Senator Mason believes that one such way to remedy the issue of re-entry into the workforce is to introduce tax credits to those that hire former convicts. I happen to believe that this idea has merit and am impressed with his ability to introduce a solution that serves all interests. I don’t know how it would be paid for, but in concept it doesn’t punish employers by keeping them in the dark about the people it hires and creates a way to get those who wish to enter the workforce after a criminal conviction to do so without having to lie on job applications or be fearful that past transgressions will automatically eliminate them from all employment opportunities.
This effort by Senator Smith is one we commonly see duplicated throughout the country. And in most cases, the intention is to make sure former convicts have a fair chance at assimilating back into their communities and can become productive memebers of society. These are honorable intentions. However, the ideas that Senator Mason has seem to strike a delicate balance of serving all parties involved.
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December 4th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
i am a convicted felon, i have served my time and i have done my probation, getting off 3 years early . i did something in my life totally wrong it happened all in a 7 month time span, and because i have 2 cases i’m not eligible for expungement. but if senate bill 197 passes the judge in my case would have the option to say yes or no. i think this would be the right thing to do. we give the judges the trust of making decisions on every other siuation, why not this one. I really need that thing they call a second chance..thanks for listening ….praying for a second chance…narda
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I am also a convicted felon who has served time for my wrongdoing.
I am ineligible for expungement due to having 2 cases. I have been a law abiding citizen for over 15 years now, and I still feel like I am being punished for a crime that happened years ago. (I was young and naive.)If senate bill 197 passes, I will be able to move on with my life and finally get a college degree. I have recently been let go of the college program I was in, due to the felony conviction, and I have been at a stand still since then. Society in general, doesn’t realize what it’s like to be constantly told that you can never amount to anything. This is because there never seems to be an opportunity for a second chance.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:20 am
does anyone know the status of senate bill 197?
February 5th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
We all make mistakes; this country was founded by rejects from the Britain. But that did not stop a great nation to grow. In the Bible it says; we should forgive our fellow man or woman. Why should we be vengeful towards our people who try to live beyond mistakes. We grow from our mistakes learning to endure the pain that took us there. Why can’t things change, the world changes, life changes, situation changes and so do people. I’m not going to talk about what I did in the past. It is about what I am going to do now. Now I am going to fight for my right to be an American. One who can contribute to our country. Not one who is going to take away from it. Let’s not talk about, let’s do something about it. I am tired of being a skillful American, with something to offer. I have kids, I want to be a positive influence in their life too! I helped build this country too, I not going to lie down and be stomp on until I die. Let’s do this along with the Senator! If you have any ideals to move forward and not backwards email me.
iservedmytime@hotmail.com
February 15th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I too am a convicted felon of the first degree, one that does not allow for expungement. This happened over 10 years ago, how long do I have to pay for my crime? Shouldn’t “time served” BE “time served”? Even if we had to keep our record for several years past our incarceration, if a person reintegrates with society and is again a “tax payer” they should be able to move on with their lives and get a decent job. Most “decent” job employers and even temp services, won’t look once, let alone twice, at an application of a convicted felon. Enough is enough. If we are once again “useful members of society” then let us regain the right and have a chance to continue to prove that people are able to be rehabilitated.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:14 am
I found this site to support ex felones. We should support this petition! Sign up! http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-labeling-and-discriminating-against-ex-felons It’s states “petition overview | letter
STOP LABELING AND DISCRIMINATING AGAINST EX FELONS IN EMPLOYMENT!!!Target:STATE OF CALIFORNIA and the U.S. CONGRESSSponsored by: J. CHRISTIEI believe that it should be ILLEGAL to discriminate solely because of the stigma of the label EX FELON. Ex-Felons are people and would just like to reintegrate back into society and live a honest and upright life with the right to employment without having to check the infamous box which says, ” Have you ever been convicted of a felony?” As you have read my story @ http://www.myspace.com/36bluejay you will have faith that not all who are convicted are ANIMALS as portrayed by the justice system; therefore some of us need NOT be categorized and this is why I need the support for a new law for those one to two time offenders who have proven themselves unlike the rest.
There is no JUSTICE for ex-felons whom may have been convicted of at least one crime and have payed there debt to society and lived a honest and upright life, with sobriety and peace? Why aren’t there any AVENUES?
http://www.constitutioncenter.org/education/ForEducators/Viewpoints/WeThePeopleC ountsForEx-Felons,Too.shtml
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060331/NEWS/603310342/1036
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0401/p04s01-usju.html
I believe that if a person made a mistake within their life and has not only paid the consequences, but learned from the demeanor which put them in the position they were in, they should be restored ALL their civil rights and citizenship WITHOUT and clauses. Let me add this very significant point, I am not in support of those career criminals or revolving doors and I trully feel that one-time offenders SHOULD NOT be categorized with those types of offenders, just as Politicians, Celebrities and Athletes aren’t being categorized as felons! You can read more on this in my life blog in the above links.
“…I feel as though I’ve been diagnosed with an untreatable contagious disease for which I MUST BE Quarantined…” written by J. Christie
From: iservedmytime@hotmail.com