Group wants ban lifted that prohibits drug felons from receiving public aid

Citizens for Effective Justice, an organization dedicated to helping convicts succeed after prison, held a press conference Tuesday calling for a federal ban they claim harms some inmates to be lifted.\nHal Taylor, the group’s president, has been working with inmates at the Monroe County Jail for the past two and a half years. He said the legislation, which doesn’t allow convicted drug felons to receive benefits such as food stamps and other temporary assistance, is detrimental to rehabilitation of the inmates. \n“Without these benefits, many ex-offenders may become desperate and, having no alternative, return to a life of crime,” Taylor said. \nTaylor said many former inmates return to jail because they don’t have a support system to get them on their feet after being released.\nCEJ’s Director of Public Information Bruce Bundy said the organization does not support a pending bill that would only partially lift the federal ban in Indiana. \n“We strongly urge the Ways and Means Committee to amend the bill so that Indiana simply opts out of the ban,” Bundy said. \nBundy also said access to federally funded benefits should be available to convicted drug felons in the same way it is to other citizens. He said that to deny them these benefits is further punishing felons after they have already done their time.\nThe members of CEJ would like to see Indiana adopt legislation that takes a stand similar to Oregon’s law regarding this issue. Oregon law states that its citizens will not be denied assistance due to a conviction on drug-related felonies. \nCEJ will hold a forum at the Monroe County Public Library on Sunday, Feb. 25 from 2 to 5 p.m. to discuss the ban.