Welcome to We Deserve Our Lives Back.com/ Expungement Legislation Group
I am Jaime L. Woodard, the founder of this web site dedicated to promoting legislation that will allow many first time, non-violent ex-offenders an opportunity to return to society and regain their lives as productive citizens. They will be given the opportunity to become productive citizens who are free from the lifetime stigma of a federal felony conviction. This stigma has become a civil death sentence for many.
Most citizens believe that when someone who made a mistake has completed the punishment decreed by the court, that person has "Paid Their Full Debt to Society" and are thus free to resume their lives as they were before. Nothing is further from the truth. Under current Federal law, someone convicted of a federal felony will suffer the collateral consequences and lifetime stigma of the conviction, regardless of the magnitude of the offense.
In our judicial system, the magnitude of the felony offense determines the degree of punishment decreed by the courts. The collateral consequences suffered upon completion of an offender's court ordered punishment is not. Under federal law, the post conviction treatment of a non-violent offender is the same as that of someone who may have committed the most egregious of violent offenses. There is a remedy for this injustice for those who have violated state laws. Many jurisdictions allow ex-offenders to apply for expungement of their criminal record. State courts grant the request for expungement in many instances. There is no such option available to the ex-offender under current federal law.
Jaime Woodard
201-966-1251
jaimelwoodard@gmail.com
Face Book Page-Jaime Woodard
Twitter Page and all social network pages under the name- wedeserve
The Second Chance for Ex-Offender act of 2011
112TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 2065
To permit the expungement of records of certain nonviolent criminal offenses.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 1, 2011
Mr. RANGEL (for himself, Mr. COHEN, Mr. STARK, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida,
Ms. BASS of California, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. LEWIS
of Georgia, and Ms. SCHAKOWSKY) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
SAMPLE LETTER TO CONGRESSPERSON
The Honorable (full name)
(Room #) (Name) House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Re: H. R. 2065
The Second Chance for Ex-Offender act of 2011
Dear Representative ----------------:
I would like to draw your attention to H. R. 2065, a Bill designed to provide relief for first time nonviolent Federal offenders by creating a possibility for expungement of their criminal records. This Bill would boost our economy, while assisting thousands of Americans, allowing them to get their lives back, gain meaningful employment, and become productive members of society once again. While some State courts already allow for this type of relief, the Federal system does not.
I believe criminals should be punished, but I also believe in fairness. First time nonviolent offenders should have an opportunity to get their lives back once they have paid their required debt to society. As it stands, no one with a single Federal felony conviction can.
[Insert here a short personal statement on how this has affected you, i.e., I have a degree in ___ and am unable to work in this field due to my felony conviction. If this Bill were passed I could obtain meaningful employment in support of my community and of my family]
I ask for your support in moving this Bill forward so it can be voted on in a proper manner. I know there is not enough time for everything, but there should be for something as important and sensible as this is to a productive citizenry.
If there is anything I can do to help get it passed please let me know.
Sincerely,
(Name)
(Address)
(Phone number)
(email address)
Our Community needs each other
Provisions for an expungement law that would help non-violent state offenders are great. In fact the more provisions on a state level brings our community of first-time, non- violent, ex-federal offenders closer to our single provision for an expungement on a federal level. Our community is ignored, we are a multi race community united for a common cause .
We are first time ,non-violent,ex-federal offenders that are never mentioned yet we are grouped and tallied with statistics that only benefit non-violent state offenders and exclude the non violent, ex-federal offender population.
Our cause is equally important. The disparities in provisions for an expungement leads us to determine that unless we teach the world of the unfairness we have been enduring as first time, non violent, ex- federal offenders our cause will be left unnoticed. Corporations, correctional facilities, the media and politicians have continued to red line our community during and after the rehabilitation process. Which enhances public hysteria, promotes recidivism and demoralizes any return to self sufficiency.
I have listened to many committees, panels and groups speak about ex-offenders. They have promised to understand our cause, they have said it is not fair the way we are treated.They have claimed that their staff is aware of HR 2065 the bill for non violent ex- federal offenders.
How can they help us without any representatives from our community? Law enforcement has reps that are or were officers. Firefighters have reps that are or were firefighters but forums that concern our future lack the key essential which is a member of our community. We have judges, politicians and businessmen deciding our fate.
Deciding if we are good enough for parole or probation.Deciding how many years that past before we are deemed worthy citizens. Deciding which programs they can cut and which ones we need.Taking our rights away for life and boasting that they are fighting to end recidivism.
Correctional Corporations of America and other private prison corporations broker back door deals to build more prisons and lobby to politicians to create federal laws to keep their jails full. Minimizing recidivism would have a direct effect on the fast growing for profit prison industry.
The federal bill HR 2065 would allow provisions for an expungement for first-time, non-violent, ex-federal offenders who meet the bills criteria. Previous federal bills have died in committee for the past decade. If this bill is not reintroduced or does not become law, many first-time, non-violent, ex-federal offenders are going to have their one and only non-violent conviction for the rest of their lives.
Brave members of congress such as Congressman Charlie Rangel ( D- New York) who spearheaded the sponsorship of the bill for 10 years and Congressman Steven Cohen ( D- Tenn ) who re-introduced the bill in the last congressional session should be honored for being bravery.
Our movement is for anyone who demands change and who is willingly to voice their concern about the lack of justice in the justice system. All of our members are leaders in the movement for first time , non violent, ex- federal offenders. We need leaders on the front line or covert leaders of information in our cause for an expungement provision.
No one has vested interest in our cause except our community.
We are a muti-race community united for a common cause. Our community is a family in the struggle for fairness.
Our community reminds me of Claudette Colvin, Mary Louise Smith, Aurelia Browder and Susie McDonald. These women all refused to sit in the back of the bus before Rosa Parks. The NAACP was looking for the perfect person to spearhead the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Rosa Parks was their perfect person.
I just don't want our cause to go unnoticed by all the people we contacted because they are looking for the perfect candidates to support.
We are not asking any politician to be soft on crime. We are not asking for a political favor.
We are not making excuses for our crime. We are not glorifying criminal activity. We have been convicted, served our time and endured hardship as a fair post release punishment.
We are asking that our politicians consider the humanitarian aspect of our cause.
We are asking that a bill pass into law to allow first-time, non-violent, ex-federal offenders the opportunity to expunged there one and only record. Our community of first time, non violent ex federal offenders will not allow our representatives to ignore us because they assume we can not vote. Many states allow ex offenders to vote. There are two bills for federal expungement legislation, for first time non violent ex federal offenders. The bills are HR 2065 The Second Chance for Ex Offender Act of 2011, sponsored by Congressman Charles Rangel and HR 2449 The Fresh Start Act of 2011 sponsored by Congresman Steven Cohen. We need either bill to pass into law. I want to end by saying we have trade skills , we are educated, we want careers, we deserve federal expungement legislation and we deserve our lives back.
We are not Terrorist
A member of our community made a valid point. Each bill is sent to a subcommittee for a hearing and a vote. HR 2065\ HR 2449 are sent to the subcommittee on Crime & Terrorism and Homeland Security. We are not terrorist and we have not compromised homeland security. We agree the it is important to hold a hearing and vote on bills that punish terrorist and anyone who comprimises homeland security but we should not be associated with terrorist. How are these bills ever gonna pass into law when the committee has to vote on bills to punish terrorist and those who jeopardized homeland security? We need the bills to be sent to another committee? A committee that would take into consideration that we have offenders that only have one record and have not been in trouble for 10, 15 and 20 years.
