Corri Williams completed probation for burglary five years ago, but the punishment didn’t seem to end there.
Everything from finding a steady job to a place to live proved difficult after the conviction, said Williams, who eventually found a job as a volunteer coordinator at the Opportunities Industrialization Center of Oklahoma County. She said prospective employers were impressed with her credentials, including a master’s degree in criminal justice administration, but withdrew their offer after running a background check.
“Even though you’re not getting in any trouble, because the charge is still there, they think you’re a liability,” Williams said. “It’s like ‘Oh, how do we know you’re not going to go back?’ And it’s been nine years for me.”
