Civic Engagement

Strongly in favor of reform. Individuals should be allowed second chances. A conviction that resulted in one year probation extends to a 15 year, life draining, feeling of hopelessness, job planning where for the interview you are more worried if the application will ask the question or you hope it only says 10 years and not "ever been convicted". This worry rather than focusing on doing good in the interview. Every facet of your life revolves around your mistake. Apartment hunting,job searching, volunteering, and on and on. People do change, people can change, people can learn from mistakes, I have. I have been able to give back for what I had done but it sticks with me, Its always there, 15 years. I didnt get a year probation and sent on my way, I got a 15 year sentence without the bars. Please give us hope Duval. I had a dream for my future after what I did, a dream to change and give back more, But I cant, Im stuck, 15 years.

i agree with the cori reform as i am a victim of current cori laws. About 5 yrs ago i just returned from the iraq war. I was assaulted and fought back. The other guy pressed charges on me. I had a court appointed lawyer who told me to plead and it would just be a misdemeanor rather than fight it because i had no case and i was a soldier and deemed dangerous with my hands. Well it turned out to be a felony. As a result with over 10 yrs in the army and no other cases i cannot get a job in law enforcement or any good job. I cant even return to the military. We really need a change.Its not fair.

How can a person support themself if minor charges stay on their record so long?

My husband is still unable to SEAL his record from a conviction from when he was 19 years old. He is now 33 years old and is breaking his back working as a laborer. He has wanted to find a different line of work including become a prison guard and is unable to get a different line of work due to his CORI record. He has since worked full time providing for his two children. He obeys the law, doesn't drink or do drugs. I fully support Deval Patricks CORI Reform Bill.

This is such a desperate situation for so many people in our neighborhoods; people who have made mistakes, often years ago, who continue to be punished by unemployment, which only breeds situations that encourage recidivism. If you cannot, for whatever reason, support decriminalization of marijuana, please reform CORI laws so that nonviolent offenders do not have to submit to record-checks for positions where it is simply irrelevant. With our budget crisis, the more people we have employed and out of jails the better.

Yes! I fully support this. Finally, someone who believes in change and forgiveness, especially for adolescent mistakes and those who have acted out because they were victims of their environment... and have learned to forgive others and become peaceful citizens!

there are many young men and women with one time felony convictions that are marked for life.these young people need a second chance and will never get it with the present cori laws.

CORI reform is a must. Even to volunteer now CORI checks are being done. 10 years for a misdemeanor is too long. These individuals need to be able to support themselves and be productive. Many are minor incidents that have haunted them over and over now. Sometimes it takes a few incidents before someone changes. We're not talking murder, armed roberry here. I am talking about simple verbal assaults, or disorderly conduct. Drunk and mouthy. These are things many young men and women change as they mature. CORI reform is a must.

I am strongly in favor of shorter sealing times.

I am favor of reform. If a person made mistakes in their past but has paid their debt to society and stayed out of trouble for over 10yrs why must they continue to pay for the crime for the rest of their lives? Cori stops people from trying to move on and become a positive part of society. They can't get a good job, can't help their children in school activities because schools do CORI checks. This is a life sentence for some and is not fair. People change and need a second chance. This is not fair!!!!

I fully support this issue.

I am absolutely in favor of CORI reform. Please Governor Patrick use your clout to push CORI Reform through the legislature this session.

i no that this a strong issus for the people of lynn

In order to change the high rate of inmates returning to jail, the reform of CORIs must take place.

Back in 1999 I was convicted of possesion of an illegal drug substance with the intent to distribute. (Felony) I was young and made a big mistake, no excusess..

Since then I have never been in trouble with the law, I have attended school to become an electrician and have been working very hard as an apprentice for 2 years now. I have recently found out that upon my apprentice completion, I will not quilify for a Mass. electricians license becuase of my felony conviction. According to the law (Now) I will have to wait about 5 more years before I can petition to have this felony on my record sealed.

Since I found out about this current CORI reform I have been under allot of stress and even feel like my life has been ruined becuase of my mistake when I was younger.

Please help me in support of Deval Patrick's plan on changing this current CORI reform law.

Thank you..

All groups interested in court reform or JUSTICE. We are trying to reach as many in Massachusetts as possible to assist in removing a very bad judge from the bench. If we succeed, it will send a message to other judges in our state, and other states may follow.

If you are kind enough to pass this on, please contact me with what groups it has been sent to. If you are in Mass., even if you don't want to participate in this particular activity, please contact me so we know who is out there that KNOWS how bad this system is and the damage it does to so very many. Together we can make a difference. Divided we shall be conquered. Please contact me at: gmejustice@yahoo.com All we are seeking is JUSTICE IN A COURT OF LAW. Please get involved. Let All Witness

Here's what we're doing to gather signatures for the petition SUGGESTED OPENING LINE: "Would you like to sign a petition regarding JUDICIAL ACCOUNTABILITY?"

When people ask, the pitch should be something ...

PLEASE take action on the Cori Reform. Most businesses have a "blanket response" of NO. Regardless of wether it's related to work environment or not. Each situation is different & should be individually addressed . Many fathers are unable to fulfill their custody support obligation. If they can't do that then the court will put them in jail! That certainly doesn't help the cause. Then it's another burden on the State, which makes it a "NO Win Win situation".

This is long overdue! I found out that I had something on my CORI report from when I was a 16 yr. old DSS juvenile - while I was working as the director of an important Public entity! Needless to say, this caused me extreme grief and embarrassment - totally unnecessary. When I tried to have it expunged due to the fact I was a "juvenile", it was suggested that I just have it 'sealed' as it is "very complicated" to go through the process of trying to totally remove something from a CORI. I am over 50 years old and a well-known Community Advocate - but when people see a "sealed" record and are STILL suspicious!

I have seen first hand how an unfavorable CORI from 10 years ago can prevent someone from moving forward. Reform is nessacary - along with work place policies regarding CORI reports.

I was convicted of a felony 8 years ago and wrongly told by the courts that i was convicted of a misdemeanor at the time, i served no jail time, only paid court costs and according to the state had all the ramifications of a misdemeanor. I only recently found through applying for jobs that i had been convicted of a felony. As you all know this makes it almost impossible to find empoloyment. I support the lowering of the legnth of time to have records sealed as i have not had any trouble whatsoever in almost 9 years now since that day.

I was arrested on false charges because someone told a lie. The charges against me were dismissed for lack of evidence, however, the arrest remains on my record forever. I have been turned down for jobs because of this, and am finding it almost impossible to find work despite my education and experience. Being hauled off in handcuffs in front of my coworkers and thrown into a jail cell was traumatic enough, but now I have a life sentence for a crime I never committed----and can PROVE I never committed!

All laws need to balance the needs of public safety,justice, and public safety. There is no reason that some CORI reform can not be enacted that balance all three. For example, the certificates of rehabiliation portion of hb1416 does not hurt victims of crime or endanger the public, it does allow for those who have decided to take responsibility for their actions to have documentation that shows that they have taken responsibility. Most people behind cori reform refer to their past conduct as a mistake. Those opposed to CORI take that to mean that they do or have not taken responsibility for thier actions, and in some cases this is the case. But, anyone who wants to move on from a past action that caused them to get CORI must take responsibility for it and make restitution whenever possible. It appears that the certificate of rehabilitation provision is designed for these people.

I think when legislators look at the sealing provision they look at laws in other states. This ...

I support the reform and the Governor 100%. This man will eventually fix this State. It has been broken for a long time . The repairs will take time, I only hope he can keep chipping away. Please let this continue!

I believe that those have become involved in the criminal justice system, and have paid for thise choices should pass be allowed to begin. I believe this because in the Commonwealth of Mass, many citizens although albeit staunch supporters of societal laws that there is a time when enough becomes enough. I believe that when a person has been paroled or released and who after seven yrs has lived a life that depicts change, that he/she should be able to move on and become able and available to seek any kind of employment that is suitable to their education and or experience.

I also believe and know that in order for an ex-offender to remain free and responsible that he/she must be afforded the necessary outlets ie, a chance for decent employment, substance abuse counseling, social services, reunion with family, and as many other support programs necessary to help make the transition. When these programs are made available.. and most importantly when they are used that the ...

Massachusetts is a sad state, even more pathetic

If a person is arrested because of false accusation from an EX partner and that person appears in court and charges are dismissed, That record remains on your CORI file, that is pathetic, why isnt it expunged ? If a police mistakenly arrest you and you are booked, later you are cleared of all charges, that arrest still lays in your CORI files, why isnt that arrest expunged from records ?

How pathetic can the law-makers of Massachusetts be ?

This state is a disgrace .

No wonder so many people are leaving this cesspool of a state.

CORI Reform is necessary. Discriminating against one group of people with sex-offense convictions is not! This is just plain wrong on many different levels.

We live in the United States of America...not some communist or dictorial nation without human rights.

As such, we abide by the constitution and its laws which were based upon certain civil liberties and inalienable rights. All men (and woman) should be treated equally. Those same equality rights apply to ALL of its citizens, convicted or not. People with sex-offense convictions should be afforded the same opportunities that all other convicted people are given.

That is, the same CORI Sealing statutes that apply to Murderers, Kidnappers, Robbers & Thieves, Drug Dealers and Users, Wife & Child Beaters, Gang-bangers & Violent Thugs, Arsonists, Forgers, Alcoholics with DUI's, Manslaughter, Embezzlement by executives that cost people their retirement savings....

People of all walks of life and with different ...

In 1986 I was in a car accident. Though I was not cited it was determined that my blood alcohol was over the legal limit in Massachusetts. I comlied with all the courts asked of me. Enrolled in the CASP Program, paid fines to the Victims witness fund and probation for a year. I have not had any other dealings with the law since 1986. Fast forward to today.

It has been 22 years since my accident and I have had no other issues with alcohol. I have 2 children, one biological and one adopted from China. I am currently working on my graduate degree for psychology. I am a life-long volunteer for the elderly and mentally challenged.

I have had 2 job interviews that are for non-profit agencies within the last month. I have yet to be contacted from these positions. I was not told it was due to my cori but was also told "it was up to the establishment and not the hiring manager". My Cori has had a few mistakes over the years which I did not know about or clear up till my ...

i support this issue. the reason being there are 2.8 million massachusetts residents who cant get a job because of their CORI. these 2.8 million people want to become tax payers and not to rely on the state.

I agree with you concerning the need to chance the CORI system now. Its been a problem for many years and we need a person to have the courage and leadership to change it. The system is not fair and punishes a person even if he is found innocent of a crime.

Hi I'am a single mother of three children, who has a cori,and because of that cori my life has been well stuck. Meaning I'am a very intelligent young women who in the passed had good job, and now because of this mistake I made I can no longer ubtained these kind of position, at least not for an other 15 years. because of the length to seal a record. It will hunt me for the rest of my life.. I believe if you pay your debt and and have no other conviction. Then having your record seal within 5 years is Human rights to reformed their lives back.

Isupport this reform,because a lotof young black youth go to jail, because they were following behind one of their friends, and get arrested for affiliation of a gang member selling drugs, or whatever, and can't even get a legal job, because of the cori checks, and feels even though he doesn't even hang around with those people anymore, he still can't even get a good job, because of his resent incounter with being affiliated with a so called old friend who was in a gang, but he wasn't. Their seems to be not chance for black urban men who have fallen into the continuing circle of a revolving system that tells them they need to get a job,and stop hanging in gangs,and stop selling drugs, but everytime they go for a job,they are refused because of their cori. So what do they to survive? Go back to the old neiaborhood, and get caught up again, because they feel taht society has failed them. I made a mistake,and now I have to co

I agree with all of the proposed changes to the CORI laws. We are keeping millions of people from being productive citizens even after they've paid their debt to society.

The wait time for the ability to seal reords needs to be adjusted drasticaly. People who do not re-offend, regardless of the crime, should be given an opportunity to seal their records much earlierthan 15 years.