"The reality is once you are convicted of a felony ... and if you don't hear anything else I tell you today, I want you to get this and understand it: The collateral consequence of becoming a convicted felon is a life sentence. You are sentenced for life."
-- Bernard Kerik, former commissioner of the New York City Police Department, spoke Oct. 21 on "The Urgent Need for Criminal Justice and Prison Reform in America" at the Penn State Forum.
"We have gotten away from the days of second chances. You know we hear this term constantly in this country, 'America is the land of second chances.' I promise you; I promise you, from personal experience. I can tell you, that's a lie; that's not true. As a convicted felon, we get no second chances. There is no second chance."
The next Penn State Forum will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6. Robert D. Braun, David and Andrew Lewis Professor of Space Technology at the Georgia Institute of Technology, will speak on "Our Generation’s Space Race," in the Ballroom at The Nittany Lion Inn.
The Penn State Forum Speaker Series is open to the general public. Tickets may be purchased through the id+ office in 103 HUB-Robeson Center, by phone 814-865-7590 or email idcard@psu.edu. For more information, visit http://pennstateforum.psu.edu/.