Texas Felons Denied Access to Higher Education

In Texas, there are over 2,300 felony violations listed in the criminal code; many of which are considered misdemeanor violations in other states. With this vast list of felony crimes, it is reported that nearly 10 percent of the Texas population carries some form of felony conviction.

To carry a felony conviction in Texas, even after completing time in prison, on parole or on probation, you are forever barred from specific types of employment, unable to secure rental housing and, in many cases, unable to benefit from welfare programs. Without housing, employment and social services, many ex-offenders find they are unable to support themselves and their families and, as a result, find they must turn to criminal activity just to feed and clothe themselves.

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with a man who is an ex-offender. Charged with a felony, and placed on probation, following an incident in which his dog attacked a neighbor, this gentleman has lost his job, his family and his home. Unable to support himself on an hourly wage of $7.00 per hour, in a day labor job, he has found himself now residing in a motel, struggling to pay the weekly motel rental rate.

In my discussions with him, we talked about the variety of restrictions this one "criminal" incident has placed on his life. To my amazement, beyond his inability to find work and housing, I learned that he is also unable to return to college to finish his degree. As a prior student at a major university in the state of Texas, he is just short of finishing his bachelor's degree by five classes. However, because of his felony conviction, he is not permitted to return to that particular school.