IL: When Someone Gives a Person a Second Chance, They Shouldn’t Stand Alone
The Mayor of the Village of Bellmont, Illinois, is facing significant criticism after hiring a registrant to perform maintenance and manual labor work for the village.
Mayor Linda Johnson made the decision to hire Matthew Berberich for maintenance work around the village. Regardless of anyone’s opinion about Mr. Berberich’s past, Illinois law does not prohibit him from obtaining lawful employment. In fact, our society benefits when people are working, paying taxes, and contributing to their communities rather than being pushed to the margins. Research consistently shows that stable employment is one of the strongest predictors of successful reentry. If we truly want safer communities, we should support policies and decisions that encourage rehabilitation and reintegration—not punish people forever by denying them every opportunity to earn an honest living.
FAC encourages members to send a respectful and supportive email to Mayor Johnson thanking her for recognizing that employment is a critical part of successful reentry and public safety. Keep your message positive, professional, and respectful. Let her know that offering lawful employment opportunities to qualified individuals who have paid their debt to society is not only compassionate — it’s smart public policy.
[email protected]
Town Hall: 618-298-2520
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Doesn’t look like that lasted long, unfortunately.
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2026/06/bellmont-employee-terminated-after-public-outrage/
It a sad day but got to lay low get a job where your not in the light
Thank you Mayor Johnson for committing to the belief in second chances!
A certain shipping company hired me after my arrest and rehired me after I served jail time as part of my sentence. However, the company fired me after I applied for a higher level job. More recently, I’ve made it to the final hiring stage several times after losing contract work killed by AI.
Similar to a previous commenter, I chose early retirement over banging my head against the new cap on my employability.
I applaud Mayor Linda Johnson, and I was more than happy to send her an email supporting her compassion and courage — leadership qualities that have gone into hiding these days.
We live in a world where people love to judge even those with false convictions. I think it’s time those people are judged in the way that they judge others. This is why I don’t pity them when bad things happen.
I agree with you. There are some of us who didn’t commit the crime we are accused of and yet I feel like I have a bullseye on me. Just the point of a finger and guilty, no proving innocence. no physical evidence and a judge who should have recused himself because of a personal prejudice.
All of this because of jealousy or anger, and not to forget that someone wanted what we have and point the finger and have a felony conviction as well as the life sentence of registration.
I sent this:
Thank You for Supporting Employment and Reentry
Dear Mayor Johnson,
As a formerly incarcerated person who is required to register, I am writing to thank you for recognizing that lawful employment is an essential part of successful reentry and safer communities.People who have paid their debt to society should have a meaningful opportunity to work, support themselves, pay taxes, and contribute positively to their communities.
Stable employment gives people dignity, structure, and a practical path forward. It also benefits the community by reducing isolation and encouraging responsibility.
I appreciate your willingness to make decisions based on fairness, rehabilitation, and the long-term well-being of the Village of Bellmont. Providing qualified individuals an opportunity to earn an honest living is not only compassionate—it is sensible public policy that supports public safety and strengthens the community.
Thank you for your leadership and for standing behind the principle that people should not be permanently excluded from productive, lawful employment because of their past.
Sincerely,
Great letter!
Thanks for standing up and speaking up.
JJJJ
Sometimes it is epic finding allies that we never knew we had. When I live in my first house, and on the registry, many neighbors shunned me and even threatened me. One day a lady knocked on my door and introduced herself and she said her son was in prison because of a sex offense, and when everyone was gossiping about me, she decided to come introduced herself and we became friends and support for each other.
Sadly, it got so bad though (It was an HOA so that made it even worse) that I decided to sell the house after 4 years of living there.
On the flip side, I retired in my 40s because I kept losing jobs.
Not because I was not a good worker.
Not because I was lazy.
Not because I was not reliable.
Not because I did anything wrong (To them)
But because it just takes one employee, one customer or a new boss, to decide “You got to go”.
Now I am disabled to the point that I couldn’t work if I wanted to.