EXCHANGE: Clemency gives Springfield woman new opportunities

The fact that she's owned a small business, earned her master's degree, volunteered in her church and community, received various certifications, held steady employment and stayed out of trouble doesn't matter.

Clemency allows a person to go to court to seek expungement of his or her criminal record.

Kincaid said she's never let her criminal record define her, but it has kept her from receiving promotions and getting jobs she feels she was qualified for.

During the interview with the review board, Kincaid remembers the panel repeating the same question.

Up until a few weeks ago, Kincaid said, she had given up hope her clemency request would be approved when former Gov. Pat Quinn did not act on it before he left office in January 2015.

Nobody from the governor's office or prison review board has contacted her, she said.

Kincaid, now a substance abuse counselor for the Family Guidance Center, said getting her record expunged paves the way for her pursuing her dream of opening up multiple sober living homes in Springfield.

To do so, she said, she would need to apply for a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service to be eligible to receive grants to support the homes.

Because of her criminal record, it's unlikely the money would be approved.

Kincaid became a substance abuse counselor because, not only did she sell drugs 25 years ago, she also was an addict, she said.

Two of her children, whom she took in after their mother (her sister) was killed in a car accident, are still in school.