CHECK OUT THE RESULTS
THROUGHOUT THE EVENING AS WELL
AS THE BREAKING NEWS UPDATES ON
THE CBS17 NEWS APP.
PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA
COULD GET A SECOND CHANCE, A
BILL GETTING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
WOULD GIVE PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL
RECORDS A WAY TO KEEP IT FROM
IMPACTING THEM FROM THE REST OF
THEIR LIVES.
MICHAEL HYLAND IS LIVE AT THE
GEN.
ASSEMBLY TO EXPLAIN HOW.
Reporter: IT'S ABOUT GIVING
HOPE TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT
OTHERWISE HAVE IT.
I TALKED TO ONE WOMAN PUSHING
FOR THIS FOR YEARS.
20 YEARS AGO, I HAD
COMMITTED A CRIME.
Reporter: THAT COULD'VE BEEN
IT, BUT AS SHE RECENTLY SHOWED
ME SHE DID NOT WANT TO LET HER
CRIMINAL RECORD DEFINER FOR THE
REST OF HER LIFE.
THERE WILL BE SO MANY PEOPLE
THAT WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE HOPE
THAT THEIR LIVES ARE GOING TO
CHANGE.
Reporter: SHE WAS CONVICTED
OF NONVIOLENT FELONY IN HER 20.
I STOLE FOOD AND CLOTHING TO
KEEP MY CHILDREN FROM BEING
SENT TO FOSTER CARE.
Reporter: SHE SERVED TIME,
WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AND IS
LICENSED IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
THE SECOND CHANCE ACT COULD
CHANGE IT.
I WON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT
IT ANYMORE.
I WON'T HAVE TO -- PRETEND THAT
I AM LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
Reporter: IT WOULD
AUTOMATICALLY REMOVE CHARGES
AGAINST PEOPLE WHO ARE FOUND
NOT GUILTY OR HAD CHARGES
DISMISSED.
IT SETS UP A NEW PROCESS FOR
PEOPLE CONVICTED OF NONVIOLENT
CRIMES TO HAVE THOSE EXPUNGED
AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF GOOD
BEHAVIOR.
IT PASSED THE STATE SENATE
UNANIMOUSLY OVER A YEAR AGO.
IT IS AN IMPORTANT CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM.
YOU MAY HAVE BEEN CHARGED
WITH A CRIME THAT YOU DID NOT
DO AND BEEN FOUND NOT GUILTY,
BUT IF AN EMPLOYER SEES IT
THERE, IT MAY WORK AGAINST YOU.
WHAT MATTERS IS TO MAKE SURE
THERE IS FAIRNESS.
Reporter: IT HAS SUPPORT ON
BOTH SIDES.
ALL OF US WILL UNDERSTAND,
AND BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT ONE
DAY THINGS WILL BE BETTER.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE HOPE TO GET UP
EVERY DAY.
SHE SPOKE DIRECTLY TO
LEGISLATORS, THE HOUSE COULD
