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Resolution
Second Chance Act WHEREAS, the
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
is dedicated to the preservation of the most
basic civil rights to life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness for all Latinos and
minorities, including the right to be free from
governmental cruelty and oppression; and
WHEREAS, according to the
United States National Council on Crime and
Delinquency, “The United States’ incarcerates at
a rate 4 to 7 times higher than other western
nations such as the United Kingdom, France,
Italy, and Germany and up to 32 time higher than
nations with lowest rates such a Nepal, Nigeria,
and India;” and
WHEREAS, a disproportionate
percentage of those individuals incarcerated in
the United States are Latinos, African
Americans, and other minorities; and
WHEREAS, upon release from
prison, parole, or probation these ex-offenders
are consistently denied employment and other
benefits, thereby causing broken homes,
neglected children, poverty, and additional
burden to taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, unlike almost all
states which provide for some system of
expunging records and thereby provide a
meaningful chance for ex-offenders to rebuild
their life, the federal system offers no such
relief except in very limited, misdemeanor
cases; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the League of United Latin
American Citizens calls for the immediate
passage in Congress of the “Second Chance Act
for Ex-Offender of 2007” (HR 623) which allows
first time, federal, non-violent ex-offenders to
prove by clear and convincing evidence to their
sentencing judge that they have rehabilitated
themselves through community service, education,
and renunciation of drug use, and that they are
thereby worthy of expunction of their federal
record so long as they remain crime free, drug
free, industrious member of our community; and
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the League of United Latin
American Citizens calls for the immediate
passage in Congress of the “Second Chance Act”
(S 1060) which calls for the funding of local
programs which are dedicated to the support of
ex-offenders who are struggling to re-enter as
law abiding, productive citizens, whether they
were incarcerated by either the state or federal
government.
Approved this 14th day of July
2007.
Rosa Rosales
LULAC National President |
