Felony Guide

I have a felony charge in NC from when I was 15 years old. I was tried as an adult. I am now 37 years old. I did not want to commit the crime and tried to get out of it, however an adult ordered and threatened me to get my participation. I never would have been in that situation if my parents hadn't abandoned me with no place to live. I had court appointed representation that abandoned my case after frightening me into signing a plea bargain. I was the last case he had before he moved. I live a law abiding life. This felony keeps preventing me from succeeding in life. I am a single mother with 3 children. I have a degree in computer programming. I decided to head back to college to go into the medical field for job security and learned that my felony will prevent me from becoming licensed and that many hospitals will not let me do my clinicals or work there. Instead I am stuck living on food stamps and medicaid because I cannot support my family without a better career. It is degrading and embarrassing. I feel that my life has been ruined and there is just no hope. I would have been better off if they gave me the death sentence or life in prison, even though that is not a possible sentence for the crime. Being restricted from pursuing a career or supporting my kids is worse than being in prison. Prison was a piece of cake compared to how we suffer now. And though I would never, ever do this, I understand why repeat offenders repeat crimes, because after they have one crime, they will end up homeless or poverty stricken because they can no long have a career or succeed in life. So, here I am, still struggling to survive and provide for my kids. At least in prison I was fed, had clothing and utilities. I never had to worry how I was going to survive tomorrow. I was doomed when my parents abandoned me. I was doomed when that adult threatened my life to help him commit this crime. Maybe he should have just killed me.