My husband, a felon who has served his time, is rejected at every job application he makes. This leaves me to shoulder the burden of all our bills, creating a significant struggle for our family. This is not an isolated issue; it's the reality for many families with members who have past felony convictions.

The current law stipulates that a felony must be 5-7 years old before an individual can secure employment anywhere. This system sets up felons for failure by feeding them false hope of employment and a fresh start upon release from prison. However, this is far from the truth.

According to The Sentencing Project, as of 2020, over 19 million Americans have felony convictions - that's approximately one in twelve adults. These individuals face significant barriers when seeking employment due to their criminal records.

Not providing these individuals with opportunities contributes to their depression and increases recidivism rates – a cycle we need to break for societal improvement and economic growth.

We urge lawmakers and relevant stakeholders to review and reform these laws that hinder felons' reintegration into society after serving their time. Let's provide them with fair chances at rebuilding their lives through gainful employment rather than setting them up for failure and despair.

Please sign this petition if you believe in second chances and support the call for change in laws governing employment opportunities for felons.