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Here is a rebuttal to your letter Ms. Mosher. Now, I realize that I'm anal retentive, and even narrow minded. I've been hearing for yes, "I've paid my debt to society", from cry baby felons.
1. Did the victim receive complete and total restitution? Was everything taken from the victim replaced?
2. Has the victim's depressed mental health been restored? Did the victim receive the proper counsel for being a victim?
3. Has the state been paid for the housing, food, medical care and other expenses for housing the felon?
Even non-violent criminals leave a depressing, expensive trail of where and what they did.
I do not know Ms. Mosher's son's crime, but all things being equal....if one job position is open. And there are two applicants, one is crime free and one is a convicted felon. I would hope the honest applicant would be hired over a felon.
I've rarely met a convicted felon that was truly remorseful of what they did. They are very remorseful of being caught and paying the court regulated price.
Over thirty years in the law enforcement profession has given me this attitude. I always can support the victim and their family. I can never feel sorry because a criminal is identified and put away for their crimes against their chosen victim. And, when the criminal opperates, the entire community is a victim. While a criminal is locked in a cage, the rest of the community is a little safer. At least from that criminal. Now, I know I've pissed off the crying criminal cuddlers out there...dad gum, that's tough tussy! The Dog's outa here.
Crime Dog

Crime Dog,

I'm sure there are a lot of folks out there that fit your description. But often, when kids are young, they can make stupid mistakes. Mistakes and wrong actions do have consequences and they should.

However, I do believe that by not giving folks a second chance, we actually encourage them to continue living a life of crime instead of being a productive member of society.

cdOg,
i can understand where you are coming from - in all your years in law enforcement you probably mostly dealt with less than model citizens. committing a crime is a 'mistake' whether unintentional or intentional. how is it that society can expect others to forgive their own mistake(s), for example - let's say you lied to your wife about an extramarital affair - you found yourself in a lonely moment and made a very bad mistake ( and you are caught ) - you confess your mistake to your wife and plead for forgiveness and are truly repentant and remorseful and she actually forgives you - well now, your small community found out about your indiscretion and you are snubbed and can't even find a job because of your mistake. the question is... when is your debt paid in full and who truly has the right to continue to punish you for the remainder of your life?
cdog i hope you never have a son or daughter who makes a mistake such as this mothers son did. i believe you might have another perspective if the shoe were on your foot.

npicKer - i second your post !

I find the agony of this mother's situation heart wrenching. This LTTE bespeaks of the pain. That pain can be felt in the words she uses. A part that really hit me was, "We bend over backward for illegal aliens." I feel Ms. Mosher's pain in this one sentence.

It is sad when a person who is not a legal citizen of this country is able to obtain gainful employment when someone such as Ms. Mosher's son is not. That is further injustice.

nit & Buz, your posts above....SPEAK MY MIND!

Shalom

This mother is under the impression that her son has a right to a job and that employers who refuse to hire him are discriminating. Nonsense. Being convicted of a crime tells you something about a person, just as cheating on your spouse tells you something. What it tells you isn't good. Maybe it was a once-and-only-once thing; maybe you just made a youthful error; maybe you're reformed. But maybe not. Between a criminal and a non-criminal, I'd tend strongly toward hiring the latter. Why? Because he's apparently been able to avoid committing felonies, and that's a characteristic I would desire in my employees. Employers have nothing to "prove" to this woman; her son has something to prove to them.

Or brian, maybe one has just been able to avoid being caught!

Ever hear of forgiveness brian? With the attitude used in the postings, I hope you never need use of this (forgiveness). Because the way it has NOT been used can only be a symbol of how it will NOT be used in return.

Shalom

Boy, I knew my letter would raise a few attitudes...that's fine.
1. I have never cheated on my wife, whether I was lonely or not. So the problem of being caught and re-accepted by her is not a problem that I'll face. I'm not a perfect husband, and far from it. I've been an ass-hole to live with and put the love of my life through my special hell. But infidelity is not an issue with us. Never has been and never will be. After all the years we have been together, she is the most beautiful and sexiest woman I've ever met and can still fire up the torch!
2. My wife and I have 9 children. Two of them are convicted felons. Both involving stealing at young adult ages. One gave the state several months in various state prisons. I love my children dearly, but will not cuddle them for their felonious behavior. They know where they stand with me on this.
I'm very close to all my children, though I was not always proud of them. The two that have felony records had to work 10 times harder to achieve things in life than their siblings did to achieve the same. That was their thorns to get over. At the present, all my children are doing well in business and their lives. My wife Linda and I have the love of all our children and 20 grandchildren.
So, I'm not as self-rightest as some of you thought. I have wore Ms. Mosher's shoes, and they fit well. However, I'm still anal retentive and narrow minded on this issue.
Note to Ms. Mosher. Your son will do fine in life over the years. But everything he earns will be fought for harder than someone without the felony conviction. That's his problem to bear and overcome. If he has strong constitution, morals, and personal honor, he will do well in life. Now, let him finish growing up! The Dog's outa here, again.
Crime Dog

One problem is that in the state of NC, a 16 year old charged with ANY criminal offense is automatically charged as an adult. Its not done case-by-case but generally across the board. So A kid that has just turned 16 may have had a lapse in judgment and done something wrong. Instead of understanding that children make mistakes, we penalize them and force them to carry a criminal record for the rest of their lives. While putting some thought about the penalty---keep in mind this same child that has just turned 16, cannot even go see a rated R movie without a guardian. This child also must be supported by their parents until they are 18.

Ms. Mosher- you have my sympathy. And its true what you said. Having that criminal record does NOT mean you actually committed the crime.

cdoG,
i gotta give you credit for being upfront and honest about who you are and where you stand on this issue. i don't judge you, however i'm glad i wasn't raised under your parenting. i made more than my share of mistakes growing up but my dads approach was somewhat more flexible, forgiving and understanding.
most people who have thorns eventually get over them and heal and aren't required to carry them around for a lifetime - unless of course others never allow them to heal.

Crime Dog
Just one more thing here, it sounds like your life includes no grace for others, even your own children. That is so sad. I am just glad as hell you never needed to be forgiven yourself. With the exception of your lack of being able to forgive, it sounds like you are a model husband, father and peace officer.

Has it always been your way or the highway?

If the debt to society has been paid, that settles it. It was the court who set the punishment and once served, it is done with. Perhaps being a cop has only hardened you to disbelieve the honesty that comes from others, even those who broke the law. Oh, by the way, with laws as they are, don't even tell people you have never committed an infraction. You too are one more who just didnt get caught.

Now I'm outa here

gaytony
you got it *having that criminal record does not mean you actually committed the crime.
thank you!!!!

brian444
I am under the impression my son has a right to a job, and it is discrimination to hold his record against him. being convicted tells you nothing about my son, our court system is not perfect,and inocent people do go to jail,I hope you never have to go through this with a loved one. with all do respect not every thing is black and white,thier are gray areas.

crime dog
not sure how to respond to you wow!!
you ask has the state been paid for its housing ect.
i'll go a step further how about the court appointed lawyer? the answer is no, how can it when no one wants to hire a felon.i am sorry for what you went through with your 2 children, I don't know what it all involved, but did they plead guilty? my son plead not guilty, because he was not guilty, he was offered a plea bargin and refussed it.because that would mean saying you did something you did not for a lesser sentence, so don't talk to me about honor. regardless our justice system is not perfect and people do go to jail for crimes they do not commit, and don't tell me that does not happen.being in law inforcement you know that it does. can you imagine what it would be like to sit in jail for a crime you did not commit, to come home and try to put it behind you and yet every day it smacks you in the face?

n.c patriot
thank you that is all I wanted to put out there, when the punishment the court hands down has been paid, that should be the end of it. anything else is discrimination.

nitpicker:
this is also true, if one can not find employment, to pay the bills, and be a productive member of society, that could turn to more crimes that may have never been commited.