IVETTE FELICIANO:

Jifunza eventually told his mother, who happened to be a police officer. He pleaded no contest to armed robbery and though he was a minor when he committed the crime, he was sentenced as an adult to almost four years in prison, plus two years' probation.

Now 41, Jifunza has turned his life around. He's married with three children and works as a paralegal. He's also a pastor at his local church and is working on his master's degree in mental health.

But he still faces difficulties because of his 1996 conviction. A recent job offer he received was put on hold because of it. He can't legally serve on a jury or hold public office. And there is one other right denied to him: voting.