Marcus D. Idlett Testimony to House Commerce and Labor Committee
I would like to thank you Chairman Young and the members of the House Commerce
and Labor Committee for the opportunity to speak and comment today on the substitute for
House Bill 56.
My name is Marcus Idlett and I am in my 4th Year as a part-time student at Columbus
State Community College where I began while a participant of the nationally recognized
Rebuilding Lives initiative. I am a 2 year volunteer physical facilities manager at the Linden
Cleve Theater Project along with supporter of The Heart of Christ Community Church. I am a 7
year avid volunteer participant of various Arts Gospel Ministry Productions presented
throughout The Greater Columbus Area. I’m a volunteer servant engaged with the distribution of
food and clothing to those in need. I am also a 7 year member of The Acts of Faith Community
Crusade Church, where I am very pleased to say, after 18 years of separation from my children,
there I’ve been reunited, forming a loving and lasting bond with my precious children and
grandchildren.
18 years ago a felony conviction prevented me from eligibility of hiring permanently, at
OSU Aeronautical Astronautical Laboratory as a Research Mechanic, performing the duties that
I performed the previous 2 years there under a contract company. Shortly after leaving that
position I suffered trauma to my spine that has left me incapable of operating in the areas of
work that I enjoyed for 20 years. At the present time I seek to secure reeducation preparing me
for a less labor intensive job, one that I could physically perform and one that I have a passion
for.
After completing prerequisite classes required by Columbus State Community College,
submission of application to the program of Mental Health/Addiction Studies/Developmental
Disabilities, and submitting a Criminal History Background, I attended a meeting with and at the
insistence of program Instructor accompanied by program Director on June 18, 2015. At the start
of the meeting I was asked to talk about the incident of which resulted in my felony conviction. I
stated that “My father (God) has thrown that into the sea of forgetfulness.” I then began to
explain that the direction of my life changed at my critical and extensive life reevaluation. I was
stopped and told that I must discuss the criminal incident with them because employers are going
to ask me to when entering the course practicum. I explained that was no longer something of
benefit to look back on and began to explain how the development of healthy relationships and
refraining from engaging in unhealthy relationships has helped my reform.
I was asked again to talk about the incident not giving the intricate details that was
supposed by inquirer to be something that would stir up hurtful emotional feelings in me. I
explained that was a person that I am no longer. It was suggested that I might be displaying a
dissociative disorder and asked if I had such a disorder. I asserted I am not qualified to make
diagnosis of and had not by any other been diagnosed as having the disorder. When asked again
to talk about the incident I explained I’ve tried to but it was not being accepted and I said there
was nothing more that I could do. The telling me that not talking about it was going to keep me
from being accepted into the MHAD program, prompted me to say “I was adamant about not
dwelling on that incident, and it looks like I will find something other to do with my life. I was
Marcus D. Idlett Testimony to House Commerce and Labor Committee
excused and submitted an inquiry to the Dean of the department asking the purpose of such an
inquisition not focusing a single question on producing evidence of reform or justification.
At this time I would like to thank The House Commerce and Labor Committee for their
consideration of the removal of barriers that present the reformed formerly incarcerated citizens,
and those reformed citizens with criminal backgrounds from gainful employment. Obstacles that
prevent achieving gainful employment remain as challenging as ever leaving all earnest efforts
for many reformed citizens to no avail. I am working very hard to make myself a valued
contributor to our society’s improvements. However I have a systemic barrier preventing me
from employment and enjoying the life of a citizen.
I plea, Chairman Young and members of The House Commerce and Labor Committee
for the support of a more comprehensive legislative reform that parallels the success of the
reformed citizens reform success, a reform that gets to the core issues and addresses them fully.