Welcome to We Deserve Our Lives Back.com 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. SOMETHING REALLY NEW! INTRODUCED 6/9/2010 H.R.5492 -- Fresh Start Act of 2010 (Introduced in House - IH) To permit expungement of records of certain nonviolent criminal offenses, and for other purposes. Rep Steve Cohen [TN 9th] introduced H.R. 5492 'Fresh Start Act of 2010' on June 9th, 2010 (link to full text: TEXT LINK: ) and guess what: This bill would provide for the possibility of expungement of certain criminal records in limited circumstances and ONLY nonviolent, first time, offenders by adding a new subchapter to Chapter 229 of title 18, United States Code providing for the possibility of expungement. These requirements are so simple that the average offender could apply with little or no legal help. The benefits that can be derived by passing this bill will have a far-reaching effect. Sound familiar? It should, but with a few key differences; Rep. Steve Cohen is on the sub committee on crime and terrorism, the right place for where this bill will ultimately end up. It already has 14 cosponsors, and one of them is Rep Charles B. Rangel (tells you where he thinks H.R. 1529 is headed). H.R. 5492 was referred to the House Judiciary on June 9th, 2010 (Link to status of H.R. 5492 LINK: ). The wording in this bill is almost identical but with better backing it has a better chance. REMEMBER WHEN THIS SESSION ENDS THIS BILL DIES SO EVERY EFFORT NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO BACK IT AND HELP PUSH IT THROUGH. H.R. 1529 DATA REMOVED NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT AND DO SO QUICKLY. The only chance for this Bill to fly is NOW! Soon the control needed to make this work will no longer be in place. It doesn’t matter if you support Congressman Rangel because this is not his bill. The plain and simple truth is this Bill will have a positive impact on you, or your friends, or your family, most certainly on our country. It will improve the lives of thousands of deserving Americans who, unfortunately, made a mistake. These people, like everyone else, deserve a second chance. Me, you, your family, your friends, your relatives all need to get on board and contact our representatives (use this link, pull down your state and add your zip code in the window (Plus 4 not required) REPRESENTATIVE LINK) A sample form letter is posted at the bottom of this page. As I see it there are three logical steps to making this bill a reality; Step 1: In order for this to get the proper notice the bill needs cosponsors. The only way for that to happen is to get in contact with your representative and tell them how important it is to YOU. A sample form letter is posted at the bottom of this page below the hit counter. Step 2: (This one is the most important but you can't get there without step 1) This bill must move out of the subcommittee to be voted on. Contact points are listed below. You can use the same format in the letter at the bottom of the page for this. Subcommittee on Crime Terrorism, and Homeland Security Membership (links to individual committee members provided on the following page: ( COMMITTEE MEMBER LINK ) Democrats: Hon. Scott, Chairman, Virginia (3rd) Hon. Pierluisi, Puerto Rico, Resident Commissioner Hon. Nadler, New York (8th) Hon. Lofgren, California (16th) Hon. Jackson Lee, Texas (18th) Hon. Waters, California (35th) Hon. Cohen, Tennessee (9th) Hon. Weiner, New York (9th) Hon. Wasserman Schultz, Florida (20th) Hon. Quigley, Illinois (5th) Republicans: Hon. Gohmert, Ranking Member, Texas (1st) Hon. Poe, Texas (2nd) Hon. Goodlatte, Virginia (6th) Hon. Lungren, California (3rd) Hon. Forbes, Virginia (4th) Hon. Rooney, Florida (16th) Please note, as it stands there is a link to the list of “Hearings and Schedules” at the top of the page and if you click on it you will note H.R. 1529 is not listed!!! Step 3: When it makes it to the floor it must be voted on. Here again is where prodding of your representative is required to vote in favor. Again the contacts are listed above and below. A few dozen people calling will not have the desired result. The only thing people in Washington understand is numbers. Perhaps one of the best ways to get this to them with the numbers is a petition drive. Get out there to your local gathering place (like the Mall, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, etc.) with a blank petition (sample soon to be posted below the sample letter). It would be good if you had someone who could explain the bill, and a copy of it, so people can see the actual wording. PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL THE SIGNATURES ARE LEGITIMATE. Without the proper support of the people it will do what it always does and FAIL! Please contact everyone you know to prevent this from happening. It is too important to too many people, to our country, and to our way of life. Help give people the second chance they deserve. Other links to new or existing supporting sites: YAHOO GROUPS: SUPPORT OF H.R. 1529 How can you help? We need everyone involved and their friends and families to contact the chairman of the Judiciary, their representatives on the Judiciary committee, every organization listed below, and any other person or organization that can help push this bill into reality. As it stands the bill is in the hands of the Judiciary. Since it is not on their schedule, it would appear they have no intention of reviewing it. No action on their part assures the bill will fail. It must be considered in order to be returned to the House for review. Sufficient public interest can move mountains. In this case, enough people and organizations need to contact the Chairman of the Judiciary committee (Link to contact site) to convince him there is a cause for action. Who to Ask for support and/or help For More information on how you can help pass this Bill contact JMcCHODE@aol.com If you have additional information or links to pass on please contact our webmaster Last update 06/13/2010 SAMPLE LETTER TO CONGRESSPERSON The Honorable (full name) Re: H. R. 5942 “Fresh Start Act of 2010” I would like to draw your attention to H. R. 5942, 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. At this moment H. R. 5942 sits in the House Judiciary Subcommittee. 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) You may contact me at jaimelwoodard@gmail.com or by telephone at 201 966-1251. I also invite you to join co-host Pete Cossaboon and me for our podcast called "Fantastic Felons" which may also be accessed through a link on the left side of this page. Thank you, Jaime
John McHann's site,
http://www.federalexpungement.
(Room #) (Name) House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative ----------------:
