Take a chance......let the past be the past

From 1995 until 2010 I carried the legal status of "convicted felon".    With this came many barriers in my life.   Long after I had paid my debt to society I was still barred from many jobs, places to live, and other opportunities.   The second many people hear "felon" their ears close to anything that is said afterward.

This weekend my wife and I went to my hometown, Tacoma, to see a concert at the Tacoma Dome. 
This morning, before leaving to come home we took a drive around town.   Me taking in all the memories of my time there.    We drove by where Fred Meyer used to be on 100th in Lakewood.  It is at this store that I was given a chance.    

In 1995 I became a convicted felon, having plead guilty to charges I had in front of me at the end of my use of the meth of the 90's.  I was in the thick of the chaos that ravaged the county during this time.  Pierce County was the meth capital of the world, not the title any county would want to have.  Myself, having been in deep with meth had committed crimes and was left in front of a judge getting the all to fateful status of "convicted felon" twice over.  This happened in 1994 & 1995.  I was finally able to get myself on a path to recovery starting in early 1996.   I went to treatment for the second time and was able to begin what would bring me to where I am today.   Today I am a fully productive member of society.  I work, pay taxes, and am highly involved in the community I live in.     I am a father, husband, brother, and friend.   I have a full life.  I was fortunate to be able to go back to the courts in 2010 and have my felonies vacated from my record.  Since that time I have been able to have many more doors open up for me that were closed prior.   For fifteen years, ten years after I had completely paid my debt to society in all ways,  I carried the "convicted felon" status.   Fortunate for me, no more.   For many others this isn't the reality. 

Carrying the moniker "convicted felon" is a heavy weight to bear.   Many people, just like myself, are convicted of felonies that are what are termed "non-violent drug related crimes".  Yes, they are serious.  Yes, they need to be accounted for.   Yet, many years after we pay our debt to society, just trying to get a job can be near impossible.  You might be able to get a job, but, in a lot cases, these are not "career" type jobs.   Many times when applying, just getting past the "box" is impossible.  The "box" is the one that asks the applicant, before they have any chance to explain his scenario, whether or not they are a convicted felon.  Just checking this box usually means you won't even get a call.    This happens even years after one has paid their debt to society.  

I remember this happening to many times.  It got to where I wouldn't even apply if I couldn't get to a manager to talk about the scenario first.  I knew what would happen if I didn't.  My application would go into the round file......gone.    I for sure didn't apply to large companies or state jobs, just didn't happen, they always had the box to check.    Even applying for an apartment this would come up.    I could understand how someone might not want to rent to someone if they ONLY see an application with the box checked.  Having no history and a stack of applications, guess which ones they wouldn't look at....yup, you guessed it, the one with the box checked. 

In 1995 I caught a break.  A big one.    My brother in law was able to get me an interview at Fred Meyer for a Loss Prevention job.     I had worked in LP after getting out of the military in the late 80's, but, now after my convictions, I believed it was a lost cause.  I told him he was crazy for even trying, but, he asked me a fateful question......"what do you have to lose?".....and he was right.  What was the worst they could say?  No?   I was working and going to school during this time.   I didn't need the job, but, I sure did want it.  I went to the interview.  I was given a chance to tell my story and show them I was NOT what my background check said.  I was more than a status given by the court.  Guess what.....I got the job!    It took some time and effort, both of which I was willing to give, but, I got the job and it turned into a near ten year career.    Because I was allowed to tell my story and show where I was now, I was seen as a whole person, not just a mark from my past.  

The above is one example of what I KNOW could be many chances for others just like me if they were just given a chance.    Many times this doesn't happen.    All to many.    The box is checked and that is it.    No more opportunities to explain the individual circumstance.    

When in town I always pick up a News Tribune.   I read an excellent article that prompted me to write here.    The article was about opportunities for convicted felons to get jobs due to there being to many jobs and not enough applicants.   Many employers are taking a chance on convicted felons and are seeing great results.    I know others just like myself, people in recovery from substance use disorders who committed crimes while using.  Now, and since the time of their last conviction, nothing.  No new charges, no continuing issues.  They have paid their debt to society.  Yet, they are still marred by their past.   Many are felonies that are non violent and drug related.  You take away the drugs and the behavior goes away.   We need to stop penalizing them.  We need to give them a chance.  




Comments

Popular Posts