Addressing the Transportation Barriers Associated With a Criminal History
SPARC has identified six priority areas which hold the best potential for improving opportunities for employment & self-sufficiency for individuals with criminal backgrounds. We have identified the lack of a valid driver’s license to be one of those priority areas, finding it to be even more disenfranchising than the infamous box on employment applications requesting the disclosure of a criminal conviction. SPARC is pushing to remove this barrier through advocacy, beginning with this online petition to restore provisional occupational drivers licenses, commonly known as "bread and butter" licenses.This preliminary petition is an attempt to bring greater attention to the barriers faced by individuals with a criminal history as it relates to obtaining, restoring and/or maintaining a valid driver’s license. The lack of a valid driver’s license is a significant barrier to employment & self-sufficiency and we are pushing to remove this barrier through advocacy for the restoration of provisional occupational driver’s licenses, commonly known as "bread and butter" licenses.
Section 1532 of Title 75 (Motor Vehicle Code) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes indicate that drivers license suspensions are issued following a conviction of the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act of 1972.
We have found that this provision severely inhibits the successful reintegration of those with a criminal history into society, limiting their ability to acquire gainful, self-sustaining employment, and satisfy their financial obligations.
It is very likely that many of you or someone you know has been negatively impacted by the lack of a valid driver’s license. So if the lack of a valid driver’s license has adversely affected you or someone you know, personally or professionally, and has been a barrier to become self-sufficient through the inability to drive to work, school, medical appointments or other positive activities, I encourage you to please click on the link below to sign this petition, and share it with your friends, family, neighbors and other networks and encourage them to sign it as well!
Thanks,
Southwestern PA Reentry Coalition (SPARC)
18 Comments
I'm unable to pay the large fines imposed on me. And now face financial difficulties and bills are going unpaid due to lack of employment
Is it a rehabilitation system or share cropping system that never lets them out? When they can't move away or get a job how could they not be around old friends and subject themselves to possible jail time for being around convicts?
Enabling past offenders to receive their license upon release will reduce recidivism. As long as they pay their fines and haven't commited a murder while driving. Why hold them back from past mistakes they have served time for ?
Without access to living-wage work, how can we, as a society, expect the returning citizen to succeed?
As a professional working with incarcerated individuals, I understand and am comfortable with DUI related license suspentions; however, suspended licenses from possession charges are, in my opinion, unust.
I feel they need these basic tools without them they will only be back in the system
We need this for our young children.
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Addressing the Transportation Barriers Associated With a Criminal History
SPARC has identified six priority areas which hold the best potential for improving opportunities for employment & self-sufficiency for individuals with criminal backgrounds. We have identified the lack of a valid driver’s license to be one of those priority areas, finding it to be even more disenfranchising than the infamous box on employment applications requesting the disclosure of a criminal conviction. SPARC is pushing to remove this barrier through advocacy, beginning with this online petition to restore provisional occupational drivers licenses, commonly known as "bread and butter" licenses.This preliminary petition is an attempt to bring greater attention to the barriers faced by individuals with a criminal history as it relates to obtaining, restoring and/or maintaining a valid driver’s license. The lack of a valid driver’s license is a significant barrier to employment & self-sufficiency and we are pushing to remove this barrier through advocacy for the restoration of provisional occupational driver’s licenses, commonly known as "bread and butter" licenses.
Section 1532 of Title 75 (Motor Vehicle Code) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes indicate that drivers license suspensions are issued following a conviction of the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act of 1972.
We have found that this provision severely inhibits the successful reintegration of those with a criminal history into society, limiting their ability to acquire gainful, self-sustaining employment, and satisfy their financial obligations.
It is very likely that many of you or someone you know has been negatively impacted by the lack of a valid driver’s license. So if the lack of a valid driver’s license has adversely affected you or someone you know, personally or professionally, and has been a barrier to become self-sufficient through the inability to drive to work, school, medical appointments or other positive activities, I encourage you to please click on the link below to sign this petition, and share it with your friends, family, neighbors and other networks and encourage them to sign it as well!
Thanks,
Southwestern PA Reentry Coalition (SPARC)
18 Comments
I can't get employed because of my DL issue and I have Degrees vthat are no good cause I need valid DL
I'm unable to pay the large fines imposed on me. And now face financial difficulties and bills are going unpaid due to lack of employment
Is it a rehabilitation system or share cropping system that never lets them out? When they can't move away or get a job how could they not be around old friends and subject themselves to possible jail time for being around convicts?
Enabling past offenders to receive their license upon release will reduce recidivism. As long as they pay their fines and haven't commited a murder while driving. Why hold them back from past mistakes they have served time for ?
Without access to living-wage work, how can we, as a society, expect the returning citizen to succeed?
As a professional working with incarcerated individuals, I understand and am comfortable with DUI related license suspentions; however, suspended licenses from possession charges are, in my opinion, unust.
I feel they need these basic tools without them they will only be back in the system
We need this for our young children.
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I can't get employed because of my DL issue and I have Degrees vthat are no good cause I need valid DL