Exclusive Truth

My home state of Ohio recently enacted legislation that purports to open the way for

lower-level, non-violent offenders to gain access to career and employment opportunities

previously closed to them as a consequence of their criminal convictions. One newspaper 

headline grandly proclaimed "New Law Gives Ex-Offenders Hope."  Don't get caught up in 

the hype.

For me, the celebratory nature of the praise heaped upon Governor John Kasich and the 

bi-partisan supporters of this vastly overrated "reform" offends and dismays.  Thanks to

the entrenched stubbornness of political conservatives, and the moral spinelessness of less 

conservative politicos and self-elevating "reentry advocates," the claimed benefits of the new

measure far exceed its foreseeable impact.

Persons convicted of violent or sex offenses, for instance, are categorically excluded from

even the opportunity to apply for the awkwardly-named Certificate of Qualification for

Employment. The undeniable import of this legalized exclusion?  A very sizable

percentage of convicted persons in Ohio shall be legally viewed as unqualified for 

employment.  Indeed, this terribly misguided exclusion will arguably make it even harder 

for persons convicted of those crimes to earn a legitimate living once they have served 

their sentences.

In fair disclosure, I served 30 years in Ohio prisons for aggravated murder and aggravated 

robbery--as a first time offender.  As a very young and spontaneously foolish young man, 

psychologically undone by six months of unemployment, I attempted an armed robbery 

that went horribly bad.  I went to prison, served my time exceptionally well--evidenced 

by the fact that I gained parole over five years ago, while many of the fellows who were 

in prison when I got there remain there--completed a bachelors degree, and am on 

schedule to complete a masters degree in this calendar year. I'm a reasonably respected 

case manager for homeless men--most of whom have criminal backgrounds.  Yet, the 

legislation at issue here summarily deems me unqualified for employment.

I reject that categorization as morally untenable, and politically irresponsible.  Eligibility

for the Certificate of Qualification for Employment should be determined on a case-by-

case basis.