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This is the audio taken from testimony heard March 17, 2003 in the Law Enforcement committee.

HB 181 died in committee.
May 20, 2003
Sorry guys HB 181 did not make it out of committee. It saddens me to report that we tried so hard to get this bill passed, but in the end we failed. I am angry will all of the people who told us that DA was a problem, and then they did nothing to help us. Deferred adjudication is an issue that will not go away, and unless we come together to find a solution, then DA will continue to cost us, jobs, apartments, benefits, education, state licenses, and much more. If you have visited my site and done nothing, then you have robbed yourself and me. I am angry with those of you who chose not to get involved because of your fear of being discovered. It is childish to believe that your background can be discovered when it is open for everyone to see.

Politics is about doing not about sitting around and waiting for others to do for you. I expect a better participation next session. I know those of you who have contributed have been amazing, and I thank you. Believe me, I know how many people visited my site, and we have done a lot in a few short months. Next session I promise to build us a better web page. I would also like to state that I have made close friendships, and with others we have had disagreements, I am glad that we had the opportunity to work together to try to solve this issue. We are real people with real families and lives, and we just want to live our lives with a clear conscious. I have met people who because of DA now value honor, integrity, and law.

I had a great time trying to get this great bill passed, and in the end we failed, but what is life if we never fail? I think that if HB 181 did not pass this time, then it was not meant to be. Perhaps next time people’s hearts will open up to us, and they will be brave enough to speak. I will not pamper you, our readers, with applause and meaningless congratulations. I will say that we did a much these past months, but it was not enough.

Thanks to Jessica Farrar, Susanna Hupp for introducing HB 181. Thanks to the Law Enforcement Committee, and the Senate Criminal Justice Committee for listening to our testimony, and thanks to all of our dedicated readers who participated in the politics of the Great State of Texas.

God bless Texas,
Valente Gonzalez

Media groups call on Perry to veto criminal records bill they have 2 articles out in the same newspaper.
6/14/2003
by Valente G.
http://www.dallasnews.com/texassouthwest/ap/stories/AP_STATEGS_0113.html
If they take the link off click here

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/tsw/stories/061303dntexveto.11e20.html
If they take the link off click here

The media association will stop at nothing to prevent good people who have reformed from putting their past behind them. The bill they are talking about is SB 1477, it is a good bill and it is a fair bill, because is allows people to only apply to have their records sealed after 5 or 10 years. The media associations are wrong in saying that this bill should be vetoed.

The Media Association is saying that this bill would benefit those people who have a pattern of criminal behavior. The truth is that it will not. This bill SB 1477 will not benefit those people who have a pattern of criminality in their past, a pattern means that they have continued to have run-ins with the law. This bill is geared to the first time youthful offender. It allows a Judge to determine if the punishment was effective in changing the character of individual who severed under deferred adjudication.

According to the article in the Dallas morning news,
“The media critics said the bill would prevent employers from learning about the criminal history of potential workers. By having the records sealed, an applicant could lie on a job application that asks him to disclose his criminal history, the broadcasters association said. "Employers have a right to know about the past behavior of potential workers," said Paul Watler, a Dallas attorney and member of the broadcasters association's Open Government Task Force." Really this issue is about the news organizations worried that they will not be able to have an easy job at digging up dirt on people. We know about the media, and they thrive on scandal. Just look at current news stories in Texas.

Poverty is what the government wants for you if you have DA.
May 29, 2003
By Valente G.
If you are reading this article and have done nothing to fix the situation regarding deferred adjudication issues in Texas then do not be surprised if next time you look for a job you cannot find one. Understand this, if you do nothing then, you will be out on the street. You should help out in anyway that you can, be vocal in the issues that affect you Call your State Rep's, call the Governor, and be dedicated to this cause. The existence of the web page is not a reason for you to relax. The web page cannot fight the battle for DA, we need lots of people to help fix the problem.

Read some of our testimonies.
May 29, 2003
By Valente G.
We have gotten many emails from our readers. We have posted the stories here so that everyone can see that they are not alone. Click Here to read Testimonials

Deferred is a curse on young people's futures.
May 29, 2003
By Valente G.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/05/30/politics/main293951.shtml
If they take the link off click here
Everyone messes up when they are young, I was no exception, and neither are the president's daughters. The law of deferred adjudication is going to put a legal scar on these young women. Jenna was ordered to have 36 hours of community service a $600 ,and attend alcohol-awareness classes, and to have to live the rest of her life with deferred adjudication on her record. Her sister was also caught and will also have a criminal record for the rest of her life from this, all because they were young and broke the law. Texas law is broken because it criminalizes people forever. The fact that people can never finish repaying their debt to society means that the law is cruel and unusual. Readers need to understand that everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone gets caught. Remember readers; those people who criticize you are hypocrites, there is no one alive who is without sin.

Reporter Julie Elliot does not understand that deferred adjudication means "not convicted".
May 29, 2003
By Valente G.
In a story titled 3 runoffs ahead for The Colony Located at:
http://www.dallasnews.com/localnews/stories/050403dnmetDENCOVOTE.5af31.html
If they take the link off click here

She wrote "Jim Briggs, a 48-year-old auto shop owner, was convicted of selling drugs in 1987 but is not officially a felon because a judge deferred his adjudication and he completed his probation." This reporter does not know what Deferred Adjudication is, according to Art. 42.01. Sec. 5 (c) of the texas Penal Code referring to deferred adjudication
"a dismissal and discharge under this section may not be deemed a conviction for the purposes of disqualifications or disabilities imposed by law for conviction of an offense. For any defendant who receives a dismissal and discharge under this section:"

Senator Jeff Wentworth says we are convicted Felons.
May 23, 2003
By Valente G.
According to the article located at.
http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=180&xlc=999614
If they take the link off click here

Senator Jeff Wentworth said this about SB 1477."It will allow people convicted of felonies to be able truthfully to say that they don't have a criminal record," he said. "That's not a good idea."
These remarks are at odds with the texas penal code's interpretation of DA.
According to Art. 42.01. Sec. 5 (c) of the texas Penal Code referring to deferred adjudication
"a dismissal and discharge under this section may not be deemed a conviction for the purposes of disqualifications or disabilities imposed by law for conviction of an offense. For any defendant who receives a dismissal and discharge under this section:".

We urge our readers to understand that Jeff Wentworth may not have a solid understanding on this issue. If our readers wish to discuss this issue with Mr. Wentworth then please use the phones below or email him using his web page.
Phone (512) 463-0125
FAX (512) 463-7794

Mayor With Deferred Adjudication
May 23, 2003
By Valente G.
This article appeared on the web page at "http://www.nbc5i.com/news/2224214/detail.html"
if they take the link down then click here.
The article reads,
"Mayor Bernetta Henville-Shannon's criminal record dates back 23 years.
Though she denied it at first, court records show in 1979 she pleaded guilty to auto theft and faced drug and larceny charges when she was 20 years old".
They are trying to destroy this woman for something that happened when she was 20. She is not the same person now, and she is now under fire for having Deferred Adjudication 23 years ago. If anyone would like to participate in the poll then click on the link above to participate.

Please Call her and offer her your support.
Ms. Henville-Shannon can be contacted at:
972-625-3184 (home)
or via email at tcmayor@ci.the-colony.tx.us

Marty went to the Capitol and testified for SB 1477
May 7, 2003
by Valente G.
Marty wrote us, below are a few words from his email to us.

Wow, That was quick. Just after I sent the last email out to everyone, I received a telephone call from Senator West about SB1477. I mean within an hour. SB1477 was voted out of committee today and put on the uncontested calendar. Lets all pray that it stays there until it gets voted out of the senate.

Just so everyone knows, the bill could have gone to the senate floor for a debate and an individual vote. SB1477 was put in a group of bills called the "uncontested calendar", which means that no one is contesting it and it will be voted with the whole group of bills they just want to pass. After it gets voted out of the Senate, the whole process starts over again in the house.

Remember, what I said in the previous email, rumor has it that most of the representatives favor SB1477. I talked to Representative Joe Driver yesterday, one on one, in the elevator of the capitol. He is the chairman of the Law Enforcement Committee who is sitting on HB181. He told me that SB1477 "has a real chance" and that is what they are waiting on. Yeah!!!!

Just to fill everyone in, the Senate Heard My Testimony Last night in the Committee Hearing on Criminal Justice around 9:30pm. You can view that testimony and our testimony on March 17 in the House Committee Hearing on Law Enforcement for HB181 online at www.capitol.state.tx.us under "Live Broadcast". Valente Gonzales went last week for us and the hearing was postponed. Thank you Val!

Everyone who participated in sending their testimonies in deserves a round of applause!!! The timing was perfect. The committee had an entire folder full of emails and letters of testimony!

Be prepared to do this again in the House Committee and Hopefully to the Governor when he gets the bill!

Sincerely,
Marty
Wipe The Slate Clean

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