>> THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY: >> FIRST, FEMALE BABY BOOMERS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THEN, BEHIND THE HEADLINES: THE CHALLENGES FACING INCARCERATED WOMEN AS THEY REENTER SOCIETY.

>> HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY," A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

UP FIRST, THE BOOMER ELECTION.

THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IS HEADING INTO THE FINAL WEEKS AND BOTH CAMPAIGNS ARE IN OVERDRIVE.

THERE IS ONE SURPRISING SECTION OF THE ELECTORATE THAT FEELS ITS ISSUES ARE NOT BEING DISCUSSED.

BOOMER WOMEN ARE RELIABLE VOTERS AND ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A BIG SAY IN THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION.

SHOULD THE CANDIDATES FOCUS MORE ATTENTION ON THEM?

THIS WEEK, DEMOCRATIC POLLSTER CELINDA LAKE RELEASED A SURVEY THAT FOUND BOOMER WOMEN HAVE THREE TOP CONCERNS.

>> ONE, THEY'RE EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT THEIR CURRENT ECONOMIC STATUS AND RETIREMENT SECURITY.

THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT RISING PRICES AND RISING TAXES; THEY FEEL VERY SHORT ON MONEY.

THE SECOND THING WE FOUND IS THAT THEY OVERWHELMINGLY, AND BIPARTISANLY, BELIEVE THAT SOCIAL SECURITY IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

71 PERCENT SAY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR CANDIDATES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY DON'T THINK THE CANDIDATES ARE TALKING ENOUGH ABOUT IT.

AND THE THIRD THING, AND THE REALLY INTERESTING THING FOR THE FUTURE, IS WE FOUND THAT CAREGIVING WAS THE SLEEPER ISSUE OUT THERE.

55 PERCENT OF BABY BOOMERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN, OR CURRENTLY ARE CAREGIVERS.

>> IN FACT, TWO-THIRDS OF BOOMER WOMEN SAY THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE WHO TALKS ABOUT CAREGIVING POLICIES.

THAT MIGHT BE WHY HILLARY CLINTON HOLDS A STRONG LEAD AMONG BOOMER WOMEN.

NEERA TANDEN FROM THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS SAYS THIS IS OVERLOOKED, IN FAVOR OF STORIES ABOUT HOW CLINTON HAS NOT MOBILIZED THE YOUTH VOTE AS MUCH AS BARACK OBAMA.

>> SHE'S DOING MUCH BETTER WITH BOOMER WOMEN THAN EVEN PRESIDENT OBAMA, WHO WAS HANDILY REELECTED.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS A GLARING ABSENCE IN THE POLITICAL DISCUSSION.

IT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THAT BOOMER WOMEN ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

BOOMER WOMEN HAVE BEEN THERE FOR HER AND THEY WILL BE A STRONG CHAMPION IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

IF SHE WINS IT WILL BE BECAUSE OF BOOMER WOMEN.

>> THE GENDER GAP IS VERY LARGE BETWEEN BOOMER MEN AND BOOMER WOMEN, AND IF SHE WINS, IT WILL BE BECAUSE OF BOOMER WOMEN.

WE'VE NEVER HAD MARRIED MEN AND MARRIED WOMEN DISAGREE AS MUCH AS THEY DO OVER DONALD TRUMP AND HILLARY CLINTON.

AND WE ASKED A REALLY FUN QUESTION.

WE ASKED MARRIED MEN AND WOMEN "DO YOU USUALLY VOTE THE SAME WAY AS YOUR SPOUSE?"

AND MARRIED MEN SAID, CONFIDENTLY, ABSOLUTELY.

73 PERCENT.

THE SAME WAS AS MY SPOUSE.

49 PERCENT OF MARRIED WOMEN SAY "I VOTE THE SAME WAY AS MY SPOUSE."

WE CALL THAT THE "SURE, HONEY" FACTOR.

>>BUT DIANA FURCHTGOTT-ROTH, A TRUMP SUPPORTER, SAYS THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE'S PLAN WILL APPEAL TO WOMEN, TOO.

>> WE'RE GOING TO ELECT MR. TRUMP, BY REDUCING TAXES AND INCREASING ECONOMIC GROWTH.

HE'S GOING TO GET THAT CORPORATE TAX RATE DOWN FROM 39 PERCENT TO 15 PERCENT.

IT'S GOING TO DRAW BUSINESSES BACK INTO THE COUNTRY.

HE'S GOING TO REDUCE TOP-RATE TO 33 PERCENT, WHICH WILL INCREASE INNOVATION AND RISK-TAKING.

AND FOR WOMEN, HE HAS A CHILDCARE CREDIT THAT'S GOING TO BE REFUNDABLE AGAINST TAXES, ALSO AGAINST SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES.

>> LAKE EXPECTS SUNDAY'S TOWN HALL STYLE DEBATE SHOULD BE INTERESTING AND SUBSTANTIVE, AND IT IS A MUST WIN FOR TRUMP.

REAL VOTERS ARE GOING TO INSIST ON HAVING THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE INTERESTED IN QUESTIONS THAT AFFECT THEIR FAMILIES.

THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN THE CANDIDATE FAMILIES OR TWEETS.

WE HAVE NEVER HAD A PRESIDENT ELECTED WHO LOST TO DEBATES.

IF DONALD TRUMP LOSES BOTH DEBATES I THINK HILLARY CLINTON IS GOING TO GET INTO OFFICE.

IS WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> IT'S TRUE THAT BOOMER WOMEN HAVEN'T BEEN MUCH TALKED ABOUT DURING THIS ELECTION.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MILLENNIALS, YOUNG WOMEN, WOMEN OF COLOR, ET CETERA.

BECAUSE THEY'RE CONSIDERED A LOCK FOR HILLARY.

IS IT TRUE AND ACCURATE?

>> I THINK BOOMER WOMEN ARE NOT TALKED ABOUT BECAUSE THE CULTURE IGNORES THEM TOTALLY.

I THINK THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE DISGRACES.

WE CONTROL A GOOD BIT OF THE MONEY, A LOT OF THE ECONOMIC DECISIONS AND EVERYBODY IGNORES US.

IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE ELECTION.

>> LOOK, BONNIE, BOOMER WOMEN WERE HILLARY'S MOST ADDER EPT SUPPORTERS IN 2008.

NOW THEY GOT A BUCKET FULL OF NEW TRUMP REASONS TO STICK WITH HER.

>> IN THIS ELECTION YEAR ANY CANDIDATE WHO TAKES ANY VOTING BLOCK FOR GRANTED IS A FOOL.

>> AND I WOULD AGREE THAT THE WOMEN NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON MORE IN THIS ELECTION.

>> DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING GO FOR TRUMP?

>> NOT THE COLLEGE EDUCATED ONES, NO.

I DO THINK THERE IS A LOT MORE ATTENTION ON THE FLASHY MILLENNIALS BUT THERE WILL BE A LOT OF BLAME GOING AROUND IF THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FOCUS ON OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS AS WELL.

>> LET ME GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHT FROM THE GROUND BECAUSE I'M DEALING RIGHT NOW COORDINATING EFFORTS WITHIN THE CAMPAIGN THERE ARE WOMEN ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY THAT HAVE FORMED SPONTANEOUSLY ORGANICALLY WOMEN FOR TRUMP ORGANIZATIONS.

WOMEN RAISING MONEY INDEPENDENT OF THE CAMPAIGN TO DO BUS TOURS AND ORGANICALLY IT IS AMAZING AND THEY'RE ALMOST ALL BOOMER WOMEN.

SO THERE IS A HIDDEN VOTE AND I KNOW THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.

THERE IS A HIDDEN LAKE.

>> WELL, HOW BIG IS IT?

>> THAT'S WHAT WE'LL FIND OUT ELECTION DAY.

>> IN TERMS OF HIDDEN VOTES, WE CAN GO BACK TO THE PRIMARY AND LOOK THAT DONALD TRUMP UNDERPERFORMED HIS POLL IN VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE PRIMARY VOTES AND BY THE WAY IT'S VERY NICE THAT THERE ARE SPONTANEOUS THINGS HAPPENING AND I LIVE IN THE STATE OF COLORADO.

I'M AN OUTSPOKEN CONSERVATIVE, LONG TIME REPUBLICAN.

I HAVEN'T BEEN CONTACTED BY THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN BUT GUESS WHO I AM GETTING CONTACTED BY?

HILLARY CLINTON.

>> THAT'S BECAUSE THEY READ YOUR POSTS.

I'M NOT SURPRISED THE NON-COLLEGE EDUCATED WOMEN WHO SUPPORT TRUMP ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THEM AND THAT YOU WOULD NOTICE THEM EVEN IF NOBODY ELSE NOTICES THEM.

LOOK WHO THEY ARE.

THEY ARE THE MOST DESPERATE OF WOMEN.

IT'S THEIR HUSBANDS WHO WERE DEPENDING UPON MANUFACTURING JOBS AND IT IS TRUMP WHO IS PUTTING OUT THE BIG LIE THAT THE FUTURE FOR AMERICA LIES IN SOMEHOW GETTING THOSE MANUFACTURING JOBS BACK FROM CHINA OR YEMEN FOR GOD'S SAKE.

IT'S NOT THAT ANY OF US HAVE A GOOD FIX ON WHAT TO DO, BUT IF YOU ARE LIVING IN A TRAILER CAMP AND THE MAN THAT YOU WORK FOR, THAT YOU'VE DEPENDED ON IN YOUR LIFE HAS NOT HAD A JOB FOR A LONG TIME, AND NOW WE FIND THAT THESE MIDDLE AGED WOMEN HISPANIC MEN ARE NO LONGER LOOKING FOR JOBS, YOU ARE DESPERATE AND ANYBODY WHO SAYS ANYTHING YOU ARE GOING LISTEN TO.

>> I'M GOING TO ADD TO THAT IN THE SENSE I READ A PROFILE ON ONE OF THE WOMEN WHO SUPPORTS TRUMP AND THE INTERESTING THING I THOUGHT ABOUT IT WAS NOT ONLY WAS HER HUSBAND, THE SITUATION THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED.

SHE WAS.

A WOMAN WHO WORKED FOR THE RAILROAD, SUED THEM DUE TO SEARPT, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU GO DOWN THE LITIGATION ROUTE ANYBODY CAN TELL YOU IT GETS HARD TO FIND WORK IN THE WORK YOU WERE TRAINED TO DO.

SHE IS NOT FINDING JOBS, FALLING INTO FINANCIAL DISARRAY.

A LOT OF THE ANXIETY HAS SET IN AND LED HER TO BELIEVE TRUMP AND THE STUFF HE HAS PUT OUT THERE.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, YOU HAVE NOT COLLEGE EDUCATED WOMEN SUPPORTING TRUMP IN STRONG NUMBERS BY 20 SOMETHING ODD PERCENT BUT WHEN YOU GO DOWN TO THE COLLEGE EDUCATED WOMEN WHO ARE BOOMERS YOU'VE GOT ABOUT 30% OF THEM GOING WITH HILLARY AS OPPOSED TO TRUMP AND THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT ROMNEY WHO WON THEM BY 6% IN 2012, THAT'S NOT A GOOD SIGN FOR TRUMP.

>> SINCE I'M 3-1, THREE ANTI-TRUMP ONE PRO-TRUMP, THE POINT IS YOUR CHARACTERIZATION IS IF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT TRUMP ARE ALL DESPERATE AND WOMEN ARE TRAILER TRASH IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE.

THE WOMEN I'M TALKING ABOUT ARE COLLEGE EDUCATED, THEY'RE VERY BRIGHT AND THEY'RE OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY SEE ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR THEIR FAMILIES IS DEPENDENT ON GETTING SOMEBODY IN THERE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE ECONOMY AND UNDERSTANDS HOW TO CREATE JOBS AND THAT'S NOT HILLARY.

>> SINCE HE HAS BEEN... AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE FLIP.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

SINCE HE HAS WALKED BACK EVERYTHING, EVERY PROPOSAL HE HAS WALKED FORWARD FROM THE WALL FROM I WOULD ABOUTING A WALL TO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

HOW DO YOU... DO YOU HAVE LIKE A WAND WHERE YOU DIVINE WHAT SIDE OF THE ISSUE HE IS ACTUALLY ON?

>> NOW IT'S 4-1.

>> NO, I'M SERIOUS.

BUT BECAUSE AND I ASK THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE MOST WELL KNOWN IN REPUBLICAN CIRCLES FOR BEING PRO-CHOICE BUT YET YOU ARE A FERVENT SUPPORTER OF TRUMP.

>> AND I'M WELL KNOWN FOR BEING A BUSINESS WOMAN WHO STARTED SEVERAL COMPANIES WASHINGTON NATIONAL BANK AND HAD TRUMP AS A CLIENT AT THE END OF THE 80s SO I'VE WORKEDDED WITH MAN.

I KNOW HOW HE IS AND I NOY HE WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON TO WORK WITH, CLEAR ON DIRECTIONS, LET US DO OUR JOBS, CHECKED IN ON KEY TIMES.

REWARDED US HANDSOMELY WHEN WE PERFORMED AND PAID HIS BILLS ON TIME.

YOU CAN'T ASK FOR MORE.

>> BUT JUST WAIT A MINUTE, THAT ITSELF NOT TRUE.

HE WOULDN'T BE IN BUSINESS IF THAT WEREN'T THE CASE.

BUT MORE TO THE POINT, HE IS NOT A POLISHED POLITICIAN.

HAS HE HAD TO EXPLAIN SOME OF THE STUFF HE HAS SAID?

IT DRIVES ME NUTS WHEN HE TALKS AND WON'T FINISH A THOUGHT BECAUSE HE THINKS YOU KNOW WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT AND A REPORTER WILL SAY TO HIM YOU SAID...

HE SAID NO THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID.

IT'S NOT WHAT HE MEANT BUT SOMETIMES WHAT COMES OUT IS NOT POLISHED.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING HE HAS PRACTICED OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND SOMETHING HE HAS LEARNED TO CHANGE.

HE IS DOING MORE OF THE TELEPRPLTER BECAUSE WHEN HE IS SPONTANEOUS, THE WAY HE SAYS IT IN HIS NEW YORK FASHION IS NOT THE WAY THE PERSON HEARING IT IS GOING TO TAKE IT.

>> WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO FOR BOOMER WOMEN AND CAREGIVERS.

>> LARGELY I THINK BOTH HE AND HILLARY HAVE A VERY STRONG CONCERN ABOUT CARE GIVING AND I THINK ACTUAL WILL I A LOT OF THEIR POLICIES ARE THE SAME.

THE BIGGEST THING HE IS GOING TO DO FOR ALL WOMEN AND MEN IS GROW THE ECONOMY.

1% GROWTH WE ARE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS IF IT DOESN'T GET BETTER.

HE KNOWS HOW TO GROW THE ECONOMY.

THEY DON'T.

>> I JUST HAVE TO SAY ONE THING.

IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK, HE IS GOING TO TAKE 11 MILLION PEOPLE, 75% OF WHOM PAY INTO THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM TO THE TUNE OF $ 10 BILLION A YEAR... >> TALK ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

>> PAYING INTO SOCIAL SECURITY THAT MONEY IS COMING INTO MY CHECK AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY COMING INTO YOURS.

I THINK WE ARE ABOUT THE SAME AGE.

>> NOT TAKING SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> OKAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR...

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE FACT IS THAT ELIMINATING 11 MILLION PEOPLE AND IT WOULD BE MORE THAN THAT, TAKING THEM OUT THE WORKFORCE IS NOT GOING TO HELP THE ECONOMY.

IT'S GOING TO HURT THE ECONOMY AND IT'S GOING TO HURT OUR ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE PAY TAXES INTO THE SYSTEM AND THEY GET NOTHING OUT OF IT.

>> ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IS THE SOURCE OF OUR SOLUTION TO SOCIAL SECURITY.

THAT AIN'T GOING TO WORK.

(ALL TALKING AT ONCE) >> TO YOUR EARLIER POINT, I THINK THAT THERE ARE COLLEGE EDUCATED WOMEN LIKE YOURSELF WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

THEY'RE JUST NOT AS MANY IS WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE SHOWING.

THAT WAS CERTAINLY MY POINT.

>> I DON'T THINK THEY'LL ADMIT SHEER SUPPORTING TRUMP.

>> WHY NOT?

>> BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SHAMED.

>> NO, NO... >> THEY'VE BEEN SHAMED BY THE MEDIA NOT TO SPEAK UP.

THAT'S WHY CELINDA HAD THEY DO IN PERSON POLLS THE NUMBERS ARE DIFFERENT THAN ANONYMOUS.

>> CONGRESS WOMAN WHAT IS HILLARY GOING TO DO IN TERMS OF CARE GIVING POLICIES AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR BOOMER WOMEN WHO ARE CARING AT THIS POINT FOR SPOUSES, MAYBE FOR SOME CHILDREN, BUT...

I MEAN CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN BUT ALSO MILLENNIALS WHO ARE IN THE TIP CALGARY SQUEEZE TIME, MANY OF THEMING, WHERE THEY'RE CARING FOR KIDS AND FOR PARENTS?

>> THIS CARE GIVING IS A SLEEPER ISSUE AND THE REASON IT IS A SLEEPER ISSUE WE ARE LOOKING IN THE FACE OF A REAL EMERGENCY HERE.

BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HAVEN'T DONE YET ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, AND HOW IF ANYTHING, THE KIND OF WORKERS THAT WE NEED, CERTAINLY NOT THE WORKERS HERE BUT THE KIND THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PUT OUT OF THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW WE NEED IN EVEN GREATER NUMBERS AND YET NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT IT.

TALK ABOUT BOOMERS?

TALK ABOUT WHO IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF... BUSINESS IT GOING TO BE THEIR SON OR DAUGHTER THEY HAVE TERRIBLE DEBT FROM GOING TO COLLEGE.

THEY'RE CAUGHT IN A WORSE VICE THAN THEY DON'T HAVE THE SOCIAL SECURITY TO HELP THEM OUT OF DEBT.

I THINK SHE UNDERSTANDS BOTH ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM AND HAS TALKED ABOUT THEM.

>> WE ALL KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE SERVICES WITHOUT FINDING SOMEWHERE TO PAY FOR THEM.

INGS SHE GOING TO RAISE TAXES?

>> SHE SAID SHE IS.

FOR THOSE AT THE VERY TOP WHO HAVE NOT HAD THEIR TAXES RAID FOREVER.

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME...

YES, WE HAVE, WHEN THE PRESIDENT BEGAN HIS SECOND TERM.

THERE WAS A DEAL CUT WHERE THERE WAS SOMEWHT OF AN INCREASE IN THE TAXES AT THE TOP AND...

BUT THE FACT IS THAT INCOME INEQUALITY IS THE ISSUE OF THE DAY AND THE WAY YOU GET AT THAT IS TO ASK WHERE IS THE MONEY?

WHO GOT THE MONEY?

(ALL TALKING AT ONCE) THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS I AGREE ON HER POLICIES.

ONE WAS A TAX INCREASE.

THE OTHER WAS TAKING MONEY, PERCENTAGES ON INVESTMENT INCOME AND CAPITAL GAINS.

SHE HAS TALKED ABOUT THE MOST INTRIGUING PROPOSAL IS THAT TAKING AWAY THE CAP ON I THINK IT'S $118,000 FOR SOCIAL SECURITY.

SHE IS TALKING ABOUT TAKING AWAY THAT CAP.

THAT CAP WOULD PUT 80% MORE MONEY BACK ON THE TABLE.

THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF MOST OF IT QUITE HONESTLY.

THAT'S SOME OF THE PROPOSALS THAT I THINK ARE INTERESTING AND SHE HAS PUT THEM OUT THERE AND THAT'S WHY A LOT OF BOOMER WOMEN ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY.

>> LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER@BONNIEERBE.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: INCARCERATED WOMEN.

HOW FORMER WOMEN PRISONERS REMAIN TAINTED BY THEIR CRIMINAL RECORDS.

>> I STARTED GETTING IN TROUBLE AT THE AGE OF 12 AND UM BY THE AGE OF 15 I WAS HANGING WITH THE WRONG CROWD AND I WAS ARRESTED FOR GRAND THEFT AUTO OF TWO MOTOR VEHICLES.

UM AT THAT TIME I WAS SENTENCED TO A JUVENILE RESIDENTIAL CENTER FOR PREGNANT TEENS AND THAT WAS REALLY WHERE I WOULD SAY MY LIFE STARTED TO TAKE A CHANGE.

>> DINA SARVER SERVED 6 MONTHS AT A DETENTION CENTER FOR GRAND THEFT AUTO.

ONCE RELEASED, SARVER EARNED HER GED, AND WENT ON TO WORK TOWARD A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT.

BUT THAT EFFORT GOT SHORT CIRCUITED BECAUSE OF HER PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS.

>> MY LAST CLASS WAS CONSIDERED MY CAPSTONE AND THAT GAVE ME THE REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE SO I CAN GO OUT AND GET AN INTERNSHIP WITH AN ORGANIZATION AND I CAN WORK UNDER THEIR BELT.

SO THEY SAID BECAUSE OF MY JUVENILE RECORD, I POSE AS A RISK AND THEREFOR I COULDN'T FULFILL THAT REQUIREMENT.

>> RIYA SHAH OF THE JUVENILE LAW CENTER IS ONE OF MANY ATTORNEYS WHO ADVOCATE FOR YOUNG WOMEN IN SARVER'S POSITION.

>> DINA EMERGED FROM THE SYSTEM REALLY SEEKING TO TAKE HOLD OF HER FUTURE AND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT EVERY STEP ALONG THE WAY, WHEN SHE TRIED TO DO THAT, SHE WAS STALLED BY HER RECORD.

>> BLACK WOMEN ARE MORE THAN TWICE AS LIKELY TO BE IN PRISON THAN WHITE WOMEN.

WHAT CONCERNS ADVOCATES LIKE VIVIAN NIXON IS NOT JUST THE TIME THESE WOMEN SPEND IN JAIL, BUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: >> THE FIRST PUNISHMENT THAT ONE GETS WHEN THEY COMMIT A CRIMINAL OFFENSE IS EITHER A SENTENCE, A FINE, OR PROBATION, OR PRISON.

THE SECOND SENTENCE IS KIND OF AN INVISIBLE SENTENCE.

IT'S LIFELONG STIGMA.

AND GETTING PAST THAT STIGMA IS VERY DIFFICULT.

>> ALMOST TWO OUT OF EVERY THREE COLLEGE APPLICANTS WHO CHECK "YES" TO A FELONY CONVICTION ARE REJECTED.

AND JOB APPLICANTS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS ARE 50 PERCENT LESS LIKELY TO RECEIVE JOB OFFERS.

DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES SHOW LESS THAN HALF OF INSTITUTIONS COLLECTING THIS INFORMATION HAVE WRITTEN POLICIES IN PLACE, AND ONLY 40 PERCENT TRAIN STAFF ON HOW TO PROPERLY INTERPRET THE RESULTS.

>> THE REAL PROBLEM LIES IN THE WAY THEY ADDRESS A POSITIVE OR AFFIRMATIVE ANSWER TO THEIR QUESTION.

SO, IF A STUDENT SAYS, 'YES, I HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD' THE SCHOOLS ARE RESPONDING TO THAT IN MULTIPLE WAYS THAT ARE INCONSISTENT AND DON'T INVOLVE THE JUDGEMENT OR ASSESSMENT OF ANY EXPERT TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THIS PERSON REALLY POSES A THREAT TO THEIR CAMPUS.

>> NIXON WHO SERVED TIME HERSELF AND WAS RELEASED IN 2001, FOUND RELIEF IN COLLEGE & COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP.

SHE WAS HELPED BY CCF HELPS WOMEN WITH CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND LONG TERM STABILITY.

>> VERY LIMITED OPPORTUNITY FOR EDUCATION IN PRISON IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.

WE ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT ON SECOND CHANCE PELL TO EXPAND ACCESS TO PEOPLE IN PRISON TO BE ABLE TO TAKE COLLEGE COURSES.

SHE HOPES TO PREVENT OTHER FORMERLY INCARCERATED WOMEN FROM BEING BLACK LISTED BY MEDICAL SCHOOLS.

>> MANY PEOPLE THINK THE RECORDS ARE NECESSARY; THAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW EVERYTHING PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS, EVERYTHING ABOUT POSSIBLE CANDIDATES FOR JOBS OR ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE IT INCREASES PUBLIC SAFETY.

THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT THIS IS GOING TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY IN ANY WAY.

>> THE IDEA OF BLACKLISTING PEOPLE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THEY DID IN THE PAST IS NOT GOOD FOR OUR SOCIETY, IS NOT GOOD FOR INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES OR COMMUNITIES.

>> WHAT IS THE ANSWER CONGRESS WOMAN NORTON.

>> I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR AND STRAIGHTFORWARD.

WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT BOOMER WOMEN BEING INVISIBLE.

THESE WOMEN DON'T EXIST, WOMEN WHO GOT RECORDS AS JUVENILES TO CARRY FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO?

EXPUNGE THOSE RECORDS AT 21.

LOOK, IF WE ARE WILLING NOW IN THE ERA OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE WE HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, FOR ADULTS, WHY NOT BEGIN WITH CHILDREN AND CERTAINLY WITH WOMEN WHO COMMIT CRIMES FAR LESS SERIOUS THAN MEN IF OUR SOCIETY IN.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S RIGHT ELEANOR.

WE NEED SOME SORT OF REFORM BUT I CAN ALSO LOOK AT IT FROM THE EMPLOYER'S POINT OF VIEW.

I SIT ON THE BOARD OF A VERY LARGE COMPANY WITH OVER 100,000 EMPLOYEES.

IF YOU HIRE SOMEBODY WHO LATER COMMITS A CRIME AND IT TURNS OUT THEY HAD A CRIMINAL RECORD, THE COMPANY CAN BE SUED.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT IN WAYS TO ALSO ENSURE, CREATE A BOND SYSTEM SO THAT SOMEBODY IS COVERED BY A SURETY BOND THAT IF THEY GO ON TO COMMIT A CRIME WHILE ON THE JOB THAT THE EMPLOYER ISN'T HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM.

YES, PEOPLE SHOULD NOT GET A LIFE SENTENCE FOR COMMITTING A RELATIVELY MINOR DRIEM WHEN THEY'RE UNDER 21.

BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO ALLOW THAT EMPLOYERS CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IF THEY LATER... >> IF BY LAW IT WAS EXPUNGED, YOU COULD NOT SUE THE EMPLOYER THEN AND THAT'S WHAT I'M CALLING FOR AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, REMEMBER THIS IS A KID WHO STOLE A CAR AT 12 YEARS OLD.

REALLY... >> I GET THAT.

>> I'LL GIVE YOU A PERSONAL EXAMPLE.

MY BROTHER WAS A POLICEMAN IN A SMALL TOWN.

HE WAS HAD A RECORD OF GIVING JUVENILES A SECOND CHANCE.

HE WOULD ELIMINATE THEIR FIRST TIME IN.

BUT IF YOU CAME BACK AND YOU COMMITTED IT AGAIN, OH YOU HAVE THE BOOK THROWN AT YOU AND THERE WERE KIDS TODAY THAT WHEN HE DIED THAT CAME UP TO ME AND SAID M LIFE WAS SAVED BECAUSE HE GAVE ME A SECOND CHANCE.

SO I BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES BUT AS LONG AS THE PROTECTIONS ARE THERE FOR THE EMPLOYER.

>> I THINK THE FRUSTRATING THING ABOUT THE JUVENILE RECORD TO ME AS A YOUNGER PERSON, AND KNOWING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DO DUMB THINGS, YOUR FRONTAL CORE TEXT OF YOUR BRAIN ISN'T FORMED UNTIL YOU ARE 24.

THIS IS WHY YOU DO DUMB THINGS.

SORT OF LIKE YOU ARE A YOUNG PERSON.

YOU ARE LEARNING AND GOING THROUGH LIFE AND, YOU KNOW, AT 12 SHE DID THAT.

SHE PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT AT 22 BECAUSE SHE WOULD KNOW THERE WERE CONSEQUENCES.

DON'T GO WITH YOUR EMOTIONS THAT ARE FLOWING UP.

I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING IN PLACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE A SECOND CHANCE NOT OBVIOUSLY HAVE IT A RISK FOR THE EMPLOYER AND ALSO JUST CONTEXT.

YOU SEE A FELONY ON A RECORD EVEN IF IT IS A JUVENILE RECORD.

PEOPLE MAKE ASSUMPTIONS THAT IT'S VIOLENT BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE THINK VIOLENT CRIMES MEANS FELONY.

I DID VOTER REGISTRATION AND I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT IN VIRGINIA AT ONE POINT YOU COULD REGISTER TO VOTE IF YOU WERE A FELON.

BUT WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THEIR JOBS BECAUSE THEY WERE FRUSTRATED AND LOOKING FOR WORK AT THE SAME TIME.

THEY SAID THEY WOULD GET ADVISED TO PUT DOWN NON-VIOLENT FELON SO EMPLOYERS WOULD BE OKAY.

AS LONG AS I KNOW HE IS NOT AN AXE MURDERER, I'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION AND TRY TO SEE WHAT LED TO THAT.

>> THERE ARE GREAT PRIVATE PROGRAMS IN THE D.C. AREA CALLED GUEST HOUSE WHICH TAKES THE WOMEN AS THEY COME OUT AND HELPS GIVE THEM SKILLS.

ONE OF THE GROUPS I HELPED FOUND POWER INTERNATIONAL TRAINS WOMEN WHERE THEY GO IN AND WORK WITH THE WOMEN COMING OUT OF INCARCERATION AS WELL TO TEACH THEM BUSINESS SKILLS AND IN MANY CASES HELP THEM LAUNCH THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.

>> IS THERE ANY REASON FOR EMPLOYERS TO BE LESS SKEPTICAL OF WOMEN COMING OUT OF PRISON FOR NON-VIOLENT OFFENSES THAN MEN?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE IS PROBABLY...

I DON'T KNOW THE STATISTIC ON THIS BUT I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET THAT WOMEN HAVE A LOWER RECIDIVISM RATE THAN MEN DO.

LOOK, I THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR MEN, TOO.

OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A MESS.

OUR PRISONS ARE A DISGRACE.

PEOPLE DO NOT GET REFORMED IN PRISON.

THEY ARE BEING PUNISHED BUT WE DON'T... >> PRIVATIZATION HAS BEEN... >> DONALD TRUMP WOULD SAY A DISASTER.

>> IT HAS BEEN A DISASTER.

>> THAT'S THE IMPORTANT POINT ABOUT REFORM.

IN THE ADULT SYSTEM WE WIPED OUT REFORM AND PAROLE BUT IN THE JUVENILE SYSTEM, REHABILITATION IS STILL AN IMPORTANT MISSION OF THE JUVENILE SYSTEM.

SO IF THE POINT IS TO REFORM THE CHILD, THAT'S WHEN CHILDREN GET REFORMED AFTER ALL, THEN OF COURSE WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE INTO ADULTHOOD, THAT'S WHY THIS EXPUNGEMENT AT 21 MAKES GOOD SENSE.

>> SHOULD IT BE PART OF A PACKAGE THAT I KNOW CONGRESS HAS CONSIDERED ON AND OFF TO GET RID OF THE SENTENCING GUIDELINES.

>> IT COULDN'T BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CRIMES THAT ARE STATE CRIMES AND LOCAL CRIMES.

SO EACH STATE HAS TO DO IT ITSELF.

>> I THINK THE NICE THING ABOUT RECIDIVISM TALKING ABOUT THAT SPECIFICALLY IS A LOT OF FOLKS WHEN THEY ACTUALLY LITS IT'S NOT JUST REHABILITATION INSIDE BUT COMING OUT F. THEY DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS OR THE SKILLS THEY'RE GOING DEFAULT TO WHAT PUT THEM IN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THEY HAVE AN ORGANIZATION IN ARLINGTON LIKE THAT.

>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

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