In 1997 I was charged and convicted with a third degree felony for credit card abuse in the state of Texas. I served 90 days in Harris County jail, time served with no probation. Seven years later I was convicted in Duval County for a third degree felony on the charge of uttering a forged instrument, 30 days time served - no probation. At the same time I was also convicted in Clay County with a third degree felony for uttering a forged instrument serving 90 days - no probation, both sentences served consecutively. In the first case I was sentenced for using stolen property, only I did not know it was stolen. In the second and third case I was aware that I might be committing crimes, but was desperate for money and took my chances. In all three instances I did not serve prison time as the court did not deem my crimes adverse enough that I deserved to be locked away in such a manner, yet here I am treated as if I have done hard time.

I am a convicted felon, I have paid my debt to society, and so how is it I am still paying for what I did? I understand I have lost my rights, but must I bear the stigma of being a criminal forever? It has been six years since my last conviction and since then I have not committed any unlawful acts against the people. To the contrary I have been working to better myself and be more productive and positive, yet I still cannot gain meaningful employment because of my past actions.

Many people believe I do not deserve the chance to prove I can be an honest, contributing member of society. Many people believe I am beyond rehabilitation or redemption, that I do not deserve the chance to earn my rights back. To this I disagree...

I will not justify why I did what I did. I will only say it happened, I have paid what I owe, and want only to get on with my life. I ask you how am to I better myself to help create a better social order if that order believes I am not worth the cost?

Am I so awful that when I admit I have done wrong it justifies every opportunity to be closed to me? Should I not be given full and fair consideration in employment? I am not asking for hand outs, preferential treatment, or jobs set aside for me. I am quite capable of competing for positions within a company the same as the next person; I ask only to be considered without bias of being labeled a criminal. I feel I have to lie about my past and live in fear of the truth being revealed which only further reinforces falsehoods that I am not to be trusted. If I disclose the truth about my past admitting to my wrongdoings I am automatically excluded from being able to do what I am capable of and that isn't right.

I believe most individuals return to crime and become part of the revolving door of the penal system because of the stain of having committed a crime. How can one be rehabilitated, released back into the fellowship of the people, and not given a chance to prove oneself if it's already been decided one cannot be trusted? Is it not the responsibility of the community to forgive, to give the individual the chance?

I believe criminals give up their rights in a civilized society when conscientiously deciding to break the law and continue to do so. I also agree that once convicted a felon should prove one is capable of being reinstated within society, but the individual has to be given that chance.

I have paid my due to society for crimes I have committed should I not be given the chance to redeem myself, or am I forced to be branded for the rest of my life? Bound and condemned unjustly to repeat the same cycle within a system supposedly designed to reintegrate, but only stigmatizes because of biased and prejudiced views.