Hello, my name is Jaime Woodard (201-966-1251 or jaimelwoodard@gmail.com). I am the founder of a website called WE DESERVE OUR LIVES BACK.com. The site was built to promote the passing of bills and to seek laws that help non-violent, ex-offenders. H.R. 1529 is a bill that would allow first-time, non-violent, ex-federal offenders to petition the court to have thier record expunged. “Inherent expunged authority: There is no general federal expunged statute, and federal courts have no inherent authority to expunge records of a valid federal conviction. See, e.g., United States v. Crowell, 374 F.3d 790, 792 (9th Cir. 2004). However, some courts have held that federal courts have inherent ancillary authority to expunge criminal records where an arrest or conviction is found to be invalid or a clerical error is made. United States v. Sumner, 226 F.3d 1005, 1009 (9th Cir.2000)”. - The current session 2009-2011 the Second Chance Act is H.R. 1529 of the 111 Congressional Session - In 2007-2009 The Second Chance Act was H.R. 623 of the 110 Congressional Sessions - In 2005-2007 The Second Chance Act was H.R. 662 of the 109 Congressional Sessions - In 2003-2005 The Second Chance Act was H.R. 1434 of the 108 Congressional Sessions - In 2001-2003 The Second Chance Act was H.R. 696 of the 107 Congressional Sessions - In 1999-2001 The Second Chance Act was H.R. 5433 of the 106 Congressional Sessions “No individual shall be eligible for expunged under this subchapter unless, before filing a petition under this subchapter, such individual--
‘(1) has never been convicted of a violent offense (including an offense under State law that would be a violent offense if it were Federal) and has never been convicted of a nonviolent offense other than the one for which expunged is sought; Permalink
‘(2) has fulfilled all requirements of the sentence of the court in which conviction was obtained, including completion of any term of imprisonment or period of probation, meeting all conditions of a supervised release, and paying all fines; Permalink
‘(3) has remained free from dependency on or abuse of alcohol or a controlled substance a minimum of 1 year and has been rehabilitated, to the satisfaction of the court referred to in section 3633(b), if so required by the terms of a supervised release; Permalink
‘(4) Has obtained a high school diploma or completed a high school equivalency program; and Permalink
‘(5) Has completed at least one year of community service, as determined by the court referred to in section 3633(b).
Supporters who want to sign the petition or view comments for H.R. 1529 can visit
we deserve our lives back.com and click on the tab, Petition for H.R.1529. Supporters can also listen to episodes of fantastic felons, a podcast on I-tunes that I co-host with Pete Cossaboon. Individuals who sign the petition may have thier name and comments read on the fantastic felon Podcast. Our community can e-mail the show fantasicfelon@hotmail.com
You can also post a comment on
change.org http://www.change.org/my_change/home
under the title second chance for non-violent offenders- founder Thomas Kinney .
H.R. 1529 is sponsored by Congressman Charles B. Rangel (NY Democrat). He introduced H.R. 1529 to the house in July 2007. Congressman Rangel finally heard the cries of our community who deserve their lives back. H.R. 1529 can be viewed in it's entirety at opencongress.org or washingtonwatch.com. The only option we have to help HR 1529 become law is to write or call members of Congress in the city that you reside. We need to express to the members of Congress the need that co-sponsorship would have helping the bill become law. Gainful employment is a stepping stone to a life long commitment to be productive again in society. I'm not making an excuse for what I did but we deserve a second chance.
The Second Chance Act has died in committee since the year 2000
We are educated, we have skills, we have not given up on ourselves and we deserve our lives back
“ Sec. 3632. Requirements for expunged”
The Second Chance Act of 2007 was signed by George Bush. It is not the same as the Second Chance Act of 2009 which supports H.R. 1529
Our community needs to be aware that H.R. 1529 may die in committee again. The bill has no-co-sponsors. Previously when the bill was H.R 623 it had 17 co-sponsors. We have decided to take control of getting the bill passed. I need our community to spread the word about H.R. 1529. First-time, non-violent, ex-federal felons can not partake in over 20 career choices.We need everyone to use all their media contacts to stress how detrimental it will be to pass H.R. 1529 into law. If H.R. 1529 becomes law it will decrease recidivism, crime, unemployment and welfare recipients. H.R 1529 will increase self-sufficiency, employment and create more employment opportunities during this recession. H.R. 1529 would eliminate recidivism, currently there are no bills, laws, programs or correctional facilities that reduce recidivism. A college degree is still not a safety net for recidivism, the only freedom the process of getteing your record expunged.
Thank you
Jaime Woodard
