Letter to the Editor: Going from being Locked Up to being Locked Out

(The following Letter to the Editor has been submitted by Chris Smock):

"All of us have done things in the past we weren't proud of.  Fortunately, people were willing to give us a second chance.

That isn't always the case in the life of a convicted felon, however.  When they're released from prison, they want to fit back into the world and prove that they have changed.

It is heart breaking to see how closed minded some people can be. 

When a convicted felon hands in a job application, the potential employer will do a background check.  And BOOM!  You're done! You will never get called back!  Why?  Because most employers won't ask you any questions after seeing a criminal history—even though you might have changed while in jail.

After a week or two of having their job applications rejected, the former prisoner is tempted to live on the street with no job-- because that is where they feel accepted and no one asks about your background.

Everyone deserves a second chance.  If you're an employer and you get a job application from someone who has spent time in jail, let them prove they learned from their mistakes.  Everyone deserves a second chance—especially those who want a chance to prove they deserve one.