Hello, my name is Sara Rippeto. I am petitioning for convicted drug felons to be granted expungements from their records after five years, granted there are no more charges during this time. What this means is; five years after a drug felony conviction the felony would be permanently removed from a person's record. This would give someone the ability to adopt a child, the right to vote, travel overseas, obtain fire arms, enter college degree programs that give background checks. Also give someone the ability to obtain better employment which would afford them a better life. 

Why is this important to me?

I started using drugs at the age of 15. I ended up with a guy who introduced me to methamphetamine at the age of 17. At the age of 19 I was convicted of 4 felonies for distribution and promotion of methamphetamine.  I went through four months of treatment, 21 days in jail and stayed clean. I also completed 7 years state probation. I'm 31 years old and have been off drugs almost 12 years. I have two years of college and would like to enter a nursing program. The state of Tennessee requires a background check. Guess what? I can't work in any medical field, school district or law enforcement. There are countless jobs I cannot pursue because of a criminal record. I cannot even adopt or foster a child, all because of bad choices I made as a teenager. I would like to rectify this for the entire state. It starts with us. I would like to get as many signatures as possible to turn into the Senate and House of Representatives to get this passed as a law. Everyone deserves a second chance. People do change. Drug addiction is bad enough, if anyone can over come addiction why oppress them any further? Just about everyone knows someone or has family in addiction. Imagine if they changed, wouldn't you want them to be able to pursue their dreams? Please take a moment to make some dreams come true.