She’d gone to Gillette Stadium with three friends, four among hundreds looking for jobs at the Patriots’ home turf. When Freeman’s turn came, the woman at the employment table was more and more encouraging as she went through Freeman’s application.

“It’s ‘Yes, yes, yes, then, oh… wait,’ ” Freeman recalled when the reviewer hit the page where she’d noted her drug conviction. “ ‘What does this say? You have a felony?’ ”

by Nicole Collins Bronzan Communications Director, Legal Action Center

LAC Applauds National Drug Strategy, Urges Allocation of Sufficient Funding for Prevention, Treatment and Recovery and Repeal of Discriminatory Barriers

By Sean Flynn

Daily News Staff, The Newport Daily News

April 3-4, 2010

Noah Kilroy was sitting in a prison cell for each of his birthdays between the ages of 19 and 23.  Now, as a recent graduate of Salve Regina University, he will enter law school in September with high aspirations of becoming a public interest lawyer. 

by Katherine Gregg, Providence Journal State House Bureau

PROVIDENCE — In a sharp turnaround, Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch is now backing the early expungement of the case files of an entire class of admitted criminals, regardless of what they did.

Katherine Gregg, Providence Journal

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The chairman of the special legislative commission that recommended the decriminalization of marijuana in Rhode Island has introduced a bill to make possession of an ounce or less of the drug by an adult a civil offense, punishable by a $150 fine.

By Katherine Gregg

Journal State House Bureau

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A state Senate commission has recommended the decriminalization of an ounce or less of marijuana.

by Luke Thomsen, former A.C.I inmate, current RIC student

The stigma of being a convicted felon can make the prospect of higher education seem like a far-off dream, something too lofty to even consider. Well, I am here to tell you it isn’t so! It’s never too late to enhance your education, and the roadblocks are surprisingly few. There are numerous resources for people struggling financially, and most schools are just waiting for you to call.

by Jesse Capece

The Employment Program at OpenDoors began in the first week of May in 2009.  In its new format the Employment Program offers a number of seminars and workshops designed to give formerly incarcerated men and women the tools, tips, skills, and knowledge that they need in order to be able secure employment.  The seminars and workshops are held over the course of four separate days.

by Annelise Grimm

With support from the Corporation for Supportive Housing, OpenDoors Housing LLC has purchased a building at 485 Plainfield Avenue in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Providence to be converted to subsidized green section 8 housing units. Upon completion, the building will provide housing for clients, as well as program and office space.

01:00 AM EST on Monday, March 1, 2010

By KATHERINE GREGG
Journal State House Bureau

PROVIDENCE — When it wraps up its 3 1/2-month inquiry later this week, a Senate panel is expected to recommend decriminalizing possession of relatively small amounts of marijuana.