The Burden of a Criminal Record

Last week I blogged about a debate in USA Today concerning how much the public should have a right to know (in general) about the prior criminal records of their fellow citizens. Today, I got a first-hand lesson in how a prior record keeps someone from reintegrating with society and, maybe, pushes them back towards criminal behavior.

I did an initial appearance this morning for a woman charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute - the cops searched her house, found some crack, she admitted it was hers. Fairly open and shut. When I went over to lockup to talk to her before the hearing, I ended up sitting in while the judge's clerk took financial information from her to determine if she qualified for a PD. In talking about jobs, the woman said that she had two other jobs in the last year, but she lost each of them when her employers discovered that she had a prior felony conviction. As a result, she was on public assistance of various types and making ends meet by babysitting.

It's just an anecdote, and one with facts of which I'm not fully aware. Still, next time you think about how somebody's past doesn't necessarily dictate their future, it's something to think about.