William Aubin, My Story, My hope for Change*******Please note do not send any donations or monetary gifts to this page just a signature is needed, I am trying to change the law and by no means struggling financially.  After signing just go to page and click “Sorry I can’t do anything right now”

Thirteen years ago, on a fateful day, June 2006, I was in active drug and alcohol addiction and made an execrable and terrible decision. I drove my vehicle while I was under the influence. As a result, I committed my 2nd DUI in 10 years (my first in 1996) I finally turned myself in on an active warrant from the June 2006 DUI (that I ignored for 13 years) in November 2018 , I pled guilty to my second DUI within 10 years and I pled guilty to a felony. I did this, turning myself in to the Lehigh County court in Pennsylvania where I received my second DUI while doing temporary work as I lived in Illinois. I did this as a final step to clean up my past. I did this after being 10 years sober through the use of intensive treatment for my substance-abuse and mental health treatment for my anxiety and depression. I flew out to Pennsylvania, turned myself into the court, was incarcerated, paid the fines, participated in the online driver safety program and was evaluated for substance abuse by a licensed facility to determine further punishment and/or treatment. I would like to state that a day doesn’t go by where I don’t ruminate about the consequences of my actions of getting behind the wheel and driving while intoxicated. I could have seriously injured or killed someone. It makes me sick to my stomach.
The evaluation I received stated was that I did not have to get any more treatment as I had been sober for 10 years, and from the letters of support from family and friends. Since that time, for over a decade, I have been clean and sober and completely rehabilitated my life.  But I have also permanently lost my livelihood do to these charges, I worked in the medical field with 9 years of post high school education wasted because of my convictions.

Another issue is that when I returned to Illinois from Pennsylvania my Illinois license had been revoked from this charge.  Gaining employment has been difficult. I have had many offers but they are pulled after my background check. Despite my transformation, I have been unable to escape the draconian consequences of my felony conviction, DUI conviction, and not being able to have a valid drivers license since I have returned to my home in Illinois. I have been punished, but now my children are acquiring my past and they are now affected by my poor choices. I am pleading for mercy and help. I am pleading for a second chance, so that I can become employable, so that after I complete my education in alcohol and other substance abuse counseling (CADC), I can become a state licensed clinical drug and alcohol counselor and licensed professional counselor, help some of the millions of addicts, get them healthy and sober. They can reunite with their family and hopefully find a place in society where they can contribute and gain employment to support themselves and families by getting a second chance.  I am pleading for this so I can obtain my degree, provide a good life and support my family that includes three children under the age of five.

Nationwide, it is estimated that approximately 19 million Americans have felony conviction records (Prescott & Starr, 2018). Ex-offenders face many hurdles particularly with regard to employment, housing, and social reintegration. Federal law alone imposes close to 1,200 collateral consequences, (National Inventory of Collateral Consequences of Conviction). These collateral consequences and hurdles have been collectively referred to as a “new civil death." However, there is a cost-free way for Governor J. B. Pritzker and the legislators of the State of Illinois to give rehabilitated convicted offenders true freedom and an opportunity to become valuable, meaningful members of society-- expungements. Expungements offer the possibility of releasing hundreds of legal and socioeconomic consequences at once; by allowing individuals to apply for jobs, housing, schools, and benefits as though their convictions did not exist. In Michigan, a 2018 study has provided epidemiological evidence that people who receive expungements have extremely low recidivism rates, while they experience extremely high rates of enhanced employment opportunities and earning potential. Granting expungements to non-violent, non-sexual ex-offenders who have demonstrated rehabilitation benefits not only the individuals receiving those expungements, but society as a whole.

In purported recognition of the effectiveness and benefits of expungements and second chances, Illinois elected officials attempted to broaden access to expungements, but unfortunately, their effort has failed miserably. In Illinois a DUI cannot be expunged.   For example, three years ago, a law was passed allowing Drug Court graduates broadened access to expungements, but yet only 1,353 of over 6,000, or 22%, of eligible Drug Court Graduates have received expungements. I am one of the people who have been unable to obtain an expungement after successful graduation from Court supervised parole and requirements , sustained recovery, and demonstrated rehabilitation. I have been denied an expungement.  If final, this denial will have disastrous effects on both me, and my wife, and my children.  

My story, like that of thousands of other Illinoisans --is one of tragic drug and/or alcohol dependency and the opportunity for so-called second chances that the Legislature meant for drug courts to offer. The denial of my expungement risks thwarting my endeavors to become a counselor, help other members of society, and support my family financially. I have made so many efforts to obtain a second chance, but I have largely been ignored. My voice alone is not enough. I am respectfully asking you to help support my request for clemency and appeal to the legislators To  revise the expungement statutes so that expungements are in fact granted to those people who have demonstrated rehabilitation. I thank you in advance for your support.

******Please note do not send any donations or monetary gifts to this page just a signature is needed.

 
 
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