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| Ohio legislators ease the burdens on ex-cons |
| By theotherpaper.com |
| Published: 06/07/2012 |
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Nearly one in four Ohioans have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, according to state records. br> But for many, once they’ve paid their penalty or done their time, their troubles historically have just begun. The difficulties of surviving, much less thriving, in society with a criminal record can drive a man to, well, want to do bad things. And they often do, finding their way back to the clink on the heels of their first stint. br> But what if that transition was easier? What if many of those collateral sanctions were taken away? Might an ex-con choose to take the straight and narrow more often if the playing field was more level on the outside? br> Apparently your state legislators—and your governor—think it’s worth a shot to find out. A reform bill aimed at reducing as many as 800 collateral sanctions facing ex-offenders is expected to be signed into law by Gov. John Kasich very soon. br> The goal is to make it easier for ex-cons to find a job on the outside. But have legislators gone too far bending over backward to accomplish that noble goal? br> Senate Bill 337 and House Bill 524 received overwhelming support from your elected officials. Sponsored in the House by Reps Tracey Maxwell Heard (D-Columbus) and Ross McGregor (R-Springfield), and in the Senate by Reps Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) and Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland), some are calling the bill “a model of how the legislative process should always work.” br> “Who knew Democrats and Republicans could work together—and on something that is considered heavy lifting,” said Heard, who worked for almost two years to get the bill to the floor. “You have to do legislation like this in a bipartisan manner because if not, we’re just throwing someone under the bus for being soft-sided on crime.” br> Instead, Heard said, “We’re smart on crime.” br> Based on best practices from other states, “We’re producing what we all say we want: reform, law-abiding employees and tax-paying citizens,” said Heard. “You don’t get that with what we had before.” br> And if the collaborative spirit that created this bill seems all too good to be true, imagine how inmates and ex-offenders must feel now that the state has seemingly shelved its political differences to make their lives outside the bars run smoothly. br> Once signed into law, the reform will not only allow ex-cons to apply for certain occupational licenses and certificates that were once off-limits, but also allow judges to issue a certificate of qualification for employment for certain ex-offenders. br> It goes a bit farther—surprisingly far, in fact—to the point of allowing ex-cons to seal their criminal records and slide on their child support obligations in some cases. And nobody seems terribly upset by any of this. br> Juvenile court records have historically been easy to seal, but this legislation originally suggested not just sealing the criminal records of Ohio’s youths, but outright expunging and destroying them. br> Dennis Hetzel, executive director of the Ohio Newspaper Association and president of the Ohio Coalition for Open Government, said those pieces of the bill were eventually amended and deleted. br> But now, even adult records are easier to hide. Under current law, adults who have just one felony conviction can petition to have it sealed. The new law would make it possible for judges to seal one felony and one misdemeanor or two misdemeanors. br> So what’s the big deal? Read More. |
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