Ex-Convicts Get a Second Chance

Second Chance Act of 2007 and Cleanslate Provide Help

Shamontiel, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Apr 19, 2008 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

Yes sir, I am aware that you have spent ___ number of days, months, and years around rapists, murderers, burglars, molesters, and drug dealers. I know that because of your new criminal record, most temporary agencies will not consider you for future candidacy, and as for a permanent position, hope and pray that nobody does a background check on you. Schooling? No, we don't have funds for that. Didn't you read enough in the prison library? Father? Well, you better be ready to pay child support or else you'll end up here sooner than you think. Housing? Not my problem. Find somewhere to live in a neighborhood that may be filled with other ex-cons and probably people who are waiting to pull you back into prison. You say your parole officer doesn't want you around these people? Well, move then. You say you don't have money to move? Not my fault. You shouldn't have committed the crime. Innocent? Yeah, that's what they all say. So what if some of you all are. What does that have to do with us? The government has better things to do than find a safe home for you or give you a second chance. Done your time? Once a criminal, always a criminal. Now here is your five dollar bill. Get the hell on!

The above attitude has been that of the US government's for decades. A prime example of that would be Governor Rod Blagojevich, who vetoed a bill to remove questions about a person's past criminal record from employment applications. When prisoners are released, they are given a five-dollar bill, plenty of snide remarks about coming back soon, and no hopes of finding a legal job or spending money until they get on their feet. However, with Bush finally signing the Second Chance Act of 2007, on April 9^th, and programs like Cleanslate, repeat offenders may be less popular.

Cleanslate is a three-year old nonprofit company that employs people who have had troubled backgrounds. These individuals are hired to clean streets and vacant lots; complete landscaping; and work on snow removal, as interns, and make $7.50 per hour. Cleanslate also recycles glass and plastic bottles; paper; and cans, and encourages neighborhoods to keep their environment neater without litter. The internship does not expire until the program can find a position for employees that will be permanent and make approximately $10.50 per hour. Cleanslate targets companies that are entry level but there is an opportunity to rise in position. Cleanslate is part of the Cara Program, and 32% of the participants in the Cara Program have a criminal record.

The Second Chance Act of 2007, co-sponsored by U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis, assists with drug treatment, mentoring, and transitional programs for community organizations. According to the Chicago Reader, five criteria must be met in order to qualify for the Second Chance Act:

1. No convictions for a violent offense and no conviction for a nonviolent offense besides the past convictions that time has been done for

2. The sentence requirements have been fulfilled

3. At least one year of drug and alcohol free living, and rehabilitated enough to appease the court system

4. Mandatory earning of a high school diploma or GED

5. One year of community service

The ex-prisoner would file a petition to the U.S. Attorney Office for the district he lives in, and the U.S. Attorney has the opportunity to make a recommendation to the court. After this part of the Second Chance Act is complete and, if approved, his record will be sealed. Although this information would still be mandatory if an ex-con wanted to get a license to carry a firearm, when applying for a civil service job (ex. Police officer), or in any criminal investigation. But as long as the ex-offender can stay out of trouble, the Second Chance Act of 2007 may help keep people out of jail while monetary positions like those of Cleanslate will help them when most companies turn up their nose at anyone with a past record.

A program like this may help improve the community, specifically the Black community. (One out of 100 adults and 1 in 9 young Black men are in prison and jail, according to the Pew Research Foundation.) Eight hundred thousand of 2.2 million people are Black men in prison, according to the US Census Bureau. According to the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Chicago Defender, 33,135 adult parolees (20,423 or 61.6% are Black), and 2,044 juveniles are on parole (1,114 or 55% are Black). It will take effect on October 9, 2008 giving representatives the opportunity to set up new programs and request grant proposals to the U.S. Department of Justice.

One hundred sixty five million will be provided per year to local governments and nonprofit companies to get former convicts on their feet. Americans are already paying $35,000 to $40,000 a year to house people in prison. Why not use those same tax paying dollars to keep people out of prison and possibly make neighborhoods safer to live in?

Published by Shamontiel

Shamontiel is the author of Round Trip and Change for a Twenty, and in mid-October became the Chicago Tribune s Digital News Editor. She works on National Travel, Health and occasionally Breaking News, and w... View profile