The Story of a Convicted Felon

In a previous article I wrote about Sam, a girl I know who is on house arrest. She has been convicted on a non-violent felony and will be on house arrest for 6 months and on probation for 3 years. Sam has offered her advice and knowledge on how life after a conviction is changed forever. She is sharing how it has changed on a personal level as well as a work and financial level. The paragraphs below are her words as she told them to me.

When I was arrested, my friends and family were shocked. I had never been in trouble before and they had no idea of what I was involved in. I had kept it a secret from everyone. The best way I can describe it is that I was surprised at some of the reactions I received. A few of my friends just turned their backs on me from the beginning. Some told me that they supported me and that they would be there is I needed anything. Those groups of friends I have not heard from in well over a year. Then there are my true friends. The ones that have been there with me through thick and thin, these are the friends who demanded I call them the minute my hearings were over so they knew what was going on. These are the friend that went to the hearings, to the probation office, and the ones who called and offered support time after time and were there for me when all I needed was to talk.

Those other so-called friends that I have not spoke to in over a year. They left a whole in my heart. I was always to have a good friend is be a good friend but I have found that that is not necessarily the case. You can be a good friend and be shit on in return. My family has been there for me from day one. When I say my family, I mean my entire family. From my blood relatives to my in laws and down the line, they have been there. Never passing judgment or harping on my mistakes. The stood beside me when I needed them and for that, I am forever grateful.

Financially this has been hard. With fines, restitution, court costs, and house arrest/probation fees it is going to cost me well over $30,000. A huge chuck of change for the bad choices I had made. I had planned to go back to school before this all began and now I am stuck because I am limited in my job choices now that I have a felony record. Even once I find a job I can do, I still have to be able to get my foot in the door with my record.

Although my life has changed dramatically from this experience, I have learned things about myself and about the people around me. I am now better informed on whom I can count on and whom I cannot. I have spent many nights wondering what if. What if I hadn't did what I did, what if I hadn't gotten caught, but that doesn't matter because I did get caught. The best advice I could give anyone who has been convicted of a felony is to not give up. Your life is not over. It has only just begun. You now can start over. It is a tough and windy road to get back to the top but it can be done.

I am glad to say that Sam is my friend and that I have been one to support her through her trials and tribulations. She never expects sympathy for she has done. She just hopes the people understand that everyone is human and that everyone makes mistakes. Some are just bigger than others.