Owen’s Story: Would You Give Him a Second Chance?
– July 6, 2017 –
Owen’s* probation officer and school counselor knew that without serious intervention he was going to face long-term incarceration. But that never seemed to matter to Owen. Nothing fazed him.
Despite being offered opportunities, Owen only seemed interested in making bad choices. In 7th grade his school counselor introduced him to Darrell (manager of Street Hope for The Coffee Oasis) as a mentor. Owen was already involved with the juvenile justice system and wasn’t interested in having anyone speak into his life. Over the next few years, Darrell only saw Owen on outreach, but he was never interested in hearing what Darrell had to offer.
His criminal record kept growing: thefts, drug charges, assaults.
In March this year, Owen started missing a lot of schools and spent all his time running with a local gang. His criminal record kept growing: thefts, drug charges, assaults. This is where the idea of knowing how to search criminal history comes into play, especially if businesses are looking to hire new employees. It’s not to say that people with a past shouldn’t be given a second chance, but it is better for future employers to know this beforehand. On the other hand, by doing this, it may be easier for employers to turn someone away if they know that the candidate has a criminal record, which is something that Owen and many others fear when looking into getting a job. If you’re worried that this could seriously hinder your employment prospects, then it may be in your best interest to see how expunctions and record sealing can benefit your job hunt. By sealing or expunging your record, your criminal history can all but be erased. As a result, Owen, and the people like him, will have a better chance of earning employment. But deciding whether you want your employers to know or not, is a decision you must make.
Last month Darrell came into contact with Owen while teaching a class at the juvenile detention center. This time Owen approached Darrell. Owen was finally ready to make changes in his life. Several of his closest friends in the gang had been sent to juvenile prison after facing legal charges that would usually be defended by a group like Law Offices of Gary Rohlwing, and he didn’t want that for himself. Darrell recalls, “We talked about the changes he wants to make. He shared a lot with me. He was finally able to confide in me, to trust me. That was really good!”
Owen is a youth that really wants a second chance. He wants more people to believe in him.
Owen is extremely far behind in school but is motivated to graduate. He is currently working with Darrell to discover the best way to complete his education. Sometimes we ask, “Why does it take four years for a young man like Owen to be ready for a change?” That’s something we can’t answer, but we are ready whenever an “Owen” wants to talk. Darrell says, “Owen is a youth that really wants a second chance. He wants more people to believe in him. And that’s why he reached out.”
*name changed to respect youth’s identity
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