The Secret Life Sentence of Being a Felon | Harley Blakeman | TEDxOhioStateUniversity

The single most meaningful criminal justice reform we can do is abolish criminal records.

But your white so you got privileges

Paid a debt to society is so ridiculous. The thing you paid the legal consequences of your actions. Who knows how many lives JUST this individual ruined? He was caught with 800 pills who knows how many addictions can be linked back to him.
After you move on from legal consequences you've got societal consequences. That's what is being paid afterwards. Nobody HAS to take a chance on anyone and why would they especially when they have access to a huge pool of non-felon applicants.

The AI binning algorithm has made it nearly impossible to get a job if it is a company hiring through them. Has gotten awful since the pandemic.

I can't imagine how it feels to have to admit, "I'm a convicted Fellon!" I can't imagine! It wasn't his fault when he was a kid God decided to screw him over!

I don’t really care about the success stories of some of these felons. If I end up in jail, I’m still seriously gonna consider taking my life.

I finally just got 2 felony convictions expunged from my record in Kentucky after 15 years of living in shame. I'm so happy I could cry! I can now vote and own a gun again! Until a couple years ago you couldn't expunge a felony in Kentucky and you remained a felon for life

When any nation or state cares more about its felons and criminals with weapons —than good citizens—-one knows instinctively where the nation is headed. And its eventual loss of freedoms for anyone.

What is sad that Felony record stays for life like every time, unless if there’s a very rare circumstances.

I am not a felon, but I do see that permanent record not only deter people from becoming felons. It also deter felons from making good choices.

Because of this societies lack of compassion to seal records after all conditions of conviction are met ,it makes me happy when these "law abiding citizens get a felony" for being just as capable of breaking the law by their choice.
Enjoy your life long discrimination for your crime like we do.

I still pay,EVERYDAY,for a beer run I did in 2023.was charged with an aggravated robbery for threatening the store clerk outside.wasn’t enough that I did 12years in TDC and completed my parole.I’m STILL punished for this everywhere I go.can’t even get CDL TRAINING right now because none of these schools will take me.Great video though.

Just finished my testimony on this on my page life as a felon is rough . But it gets better.

I committed theft when I was 19. I never offended again, paid my restitution, and even got my record expunged. I’m 37 now and was just rejected from a dream job because of one mistake. Even though my record was sealed, they fingerprint for background checks and can still see sealed convictions. The system is completely broken and gatekeepers are everywhere. I feel for anyone who has been treated poorly simply because of a record. My new goal is to start my own company and give others the second chance they deserve.

I refuse to accept being a "Felon". I didn't do it. I never understand how people can do this stuff. I won't accept this fate. I will not go out and be a rehabilitated.


I didn't do it! I want one thing, and that is to inflict revenge on those bastards who did this to me!!

Funny how employers can't discriminate unless you have a record? Or if you don't have a high school diploma for entry-level manufacturing or union job.

Good luck to all ex felons throughout the states. After all it is a life sentence in or out of jail, recidivism at it's finest smh... Is not easy.

VERY Sad story. God be with you.....

Stop discrimination against felons!

It is a life sentence in many ways

Story of my life as well. I got in trouble when I was 19, in 1997, for vandalism and theft charges, and was given a 12 year prison sentence, eligible for parole after serving 30% of it. I served 3 1/2 years, got out for 6 months but with no opportunities and facing violating parole for not maintaining employment I tried to flee my state and my past, and ended up stealing a car in the next state over, catching 1 more felony and 20 more years added to my sentence, for a total of 32 years (side note: the car I stole had the keys in it, I drove it 1 mile, and it was retrieved undamaged - and they wanted to give me a life sentence for that). I ended spending all of my 20s in prison, minus 6 months, and got out in 2007. Since then have had no problems with the law, but also 0 opportunities of note, and this also applies to being denied housing. In addition to the 10 years that I served, I also got through 14 years of parole, which just ended last year. I too went to college, thinking that it would open some doors for me, but quickly came to realize that my felonies outweigh any positive things I have done since. I also live in a state where getting your record expunged is not possible, ever. I'm 45 now, have never had a single thing in my name, and feel pretty hopeless about my chances in the future. Though I'm not incarcerated anymore, I feel like I've been in prison since the day I committed my first offenses and that there is no escape. I would love nothing more than to be part of society again, and have a lot I could contribute, but for a country where everyone would agree that people deserve second chances if they have served their time, I have found that the reality is the exact opposite.

Come to europe, in many countries criminal records have a expire date if no crimes have been committed.

Just thankful I never had to worry about breaking the law to such extremes of a felonious charge

philosophy books > bible

I have 7 felonies and they have never held me back from anything.

Got mine as a minor for a non violent offense, got clean and went to college then couldn't get any jobs to complete the "internship" (job) required to graduate.
Stayed clean another four years trying to get abiob using my education before going back to drugs after society clearly didn't want me reformed, sadly were a scarlet letter country

As a Peer Support Specialist, working with ex-felons with Substance Use Disorders, Housing is the one thing I get stuck on. So many apartments see "felony" (ESPECIALLY if it involves drugs) and throw the application away. Where are these people supposed to live? They aren't allowed to live outside the county. I must have called dozens of apartments.
I'm still looking for solutions. I have 35-40 job openings for ex-felons on my list right now - three health clinics, and two or three dentists.
Not one felon-friendly apartment, and only one felon-friendly landlord.

Sounds like the lecturer went to a federal prison instead of a state prison: which is far more violent.

Much respect

Great video 🙏

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You can give him a try.. He helped me expunge mine too

I know there are Many people willing to clear their crime records, so they can at least get good jobs. I was one of those people, but I hired a hacker who helped me expunge my Criminal records. He can also help recover funds from a scammer... Hit me up on instagram for more info

Reality is felons actually work harder to achieve than those who have no felony to be realistic

It's the corporations that are the problem. They set the standards. People get used to it. It seems like America always has to have a class to discriminate against. Currently it's felons. Really needs to be a federal law that 10 to 20 years after your conviction of anything short of agg murder you can have your record sealed. If you can go 10 to 20 years without a single conviction, you're not living a criminal lifestyle

Ugh this is so relatable. I’m trying to become a licensed therapist and I’m so afraid my felony will bar me from licensure…. I’m afraid to get myself into huge amounts of debt just to be told no I can’t help the people who need it the most. I’m afraid I will be stuck at the same dead end job making no money to be able to support my son. As a single parent, I just want to be able to give my son the life he deserves, yet my biggest fear is my son having to suffer for his mom’s past drug addiction. 😣 I can’t even get a job within the mental health field to gain some experience because of my 1 felony. I have no previous criminal record, and no post criminal record, 5 years clean, and have a phenomenal work record. Life is so hard 😢 I’m trying not to give up, but it’s just mentally exhausting to be rejected over and over again.

Its not a secret

I can so relate. I'm honest about my background. Just a month ago I got hired in a great position. No where on the online application did it ask about my background. I started, filled out all the new hire paperwork, which also said nothing. I spoke to the HR colleague and told her the truth about my past. She questioned me asked me why & what happened & I was honest and told her. She then asked me leave & I complied. She called the next day and said "they're sorry but unable to move forward with my employment" She said "but we believe in second chances so I urge you to apply again in the future" (blew my mind) It's so hard. I've tried everything, I'm super discouraged but trying not to give up.

We live in an Unforgiving society that categorizes and labels people.

Im thinking about going back to school but I dont know where to start or even if I will be hired with a felony can someone please help me

I'm surprised at how many views this talk has received. I first saw this talk before my incident. I happen to have experienced something traumatic in a foreign country. The mistakes... whether they were theirs or mine will not let me live. Be strong, brothers and sister... mothers and fathers. Thank you for sharing with us, Harley.

I'm sorry but I feel like rightfully convicted felons, that commit crimes that have victims deserve what they got. People ask for drugs, no one ask to be r*ped, robbed, or attacked.

I got a felony when I was 18. Complete sleeve tattoos. Became a christian changed my life. Got 2 degrees working on 3. Work in the tech industry making 100k+. Dont give up keep going. The most important part is what you can control. Yourself. Your attitude perspective and how you treat others

Im on home confinement and having a difficult time getting a decent job. I spent 3 years down over drug conspiracy. It’s hard out here

What's insane to think about is he's a felon, I'm not, but he 10 times better person than I am. What does that say about the state of American legal system?

In my personal opinion is not the prisoners you have to fear while in prison as much as the guards the guards especially the power Trip types...... That is if you're not in a high security prison if you're in a medium security you should probably worry about the guards more than the prisoners

This video brought tears to my eyes. I appreciate your effort to help those in our position

I have 2 Bachelors, 2 Masters, and Rank 1 in Education, and a Class D Felony from 2012 that keeps me from working. I’ve been in Recovery for 9 years now, but you wouldn’t know it by the way I’ve been treated. I’m a single mother with 2 children, and I only get $60 in child support and some food stamps (thank god for the food stamps!). I have worked on my feet for last several years taking jobs for cash because no one will hire me. I can hopefully expunge my record at the end of this year, but if the KY state general has his way, it’ll be mandatory to make class d felons pay $1500 for expungements. I’m poorer now than I’ve ever been in my life and have just turned 50. I’m so sick of worrying about $. It’s like being on drugs again without the drugs! I have so much to offer. I have dreams. And my children have had to suffer in poverty because of me. We live with my elderly mother, and every day, I pray to God not to take her because we’d be living in my car if it weren’t for her. I’m in a constant spiritual battle, as it is all I can do not to be bitter and resentful. Where is the help for people like us? I feel like I’m walking around in an open air prison just for me.
I’m pulling for all you people. My heart goes out to you. May we stand together in support and agreement that we will work together for changes. May the good lord bless you all.

An ex felon is a felon for life..it must change.

I’m a 26 year old ex felon and I feel like having a felony got me suicidal

You get in trouble in America, America DOES NOT WANT YOUR TAXES NO MORE! 😂😂. I literally have so much to say about this issue. 🤬