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What are the employment opportunities for felons?
A friend of mine was found 'guilty' of a felony 'white collar' crime about 5 years ago, but has been out for about and has said that he will never fill out another job application because when you check that "felony conviction" box on the application, you are discriminated against even if you are qualified. He expressed that in every interview they are more concerned about his conviction than his creditials. Is being an entrepenuer the only option for convicted felons? Who has the best work opportunities for them?
I, too, am having a hard time finding a job because of a conviction from 1997. Even positions that ask if you've been convicted of a crime in the past 7 years (which I can legally answer NO to) will go back further in a background check, thus diqualifying me from employment. I was actually hired by one company but when they did a background check and found the conviction they called me and told me that they could not employ someone of my caliber with their company. I asked the woman if she thought that someone who had 2 jobs in the past 12 years (10 at one position), always showed for work, changed schedules with ease, was loved by her customers, was hardworking and loyal wasn't right for her company - then she was right, she didn't need me. What society does not understand is, if convicted felons aren't able to find jobs, then there are very few options for them - with crime being up there. Hopefully, I won't have to resort to this and employers are missing out on a good employee without even knowing it. I was told that if I completed all my court obligations then my debt to society was paid. It may be paid, but it is thrown back into my face with every job interview.
I, too, am having a difficult time finding work. Back in 2006, when my son passed away, I didn't handle it well. I opened up a credit card in my Mom's name and was buying things that I did not need. This was my 1st time that I had ever done anything illegal. I really want to pay the courts what I owe, but have not been able to find work for several years now. Sometimes, I do find work through Craigslist that I can do from home, but these jobs don't last long. They are not reliable forms of employment. I can fully relate to how your employer treated you. I was working for a cleaning company. Their application asked if I was convicted. At the time, I had just been processed by the police. I was not convicted yet. I checked "No" in the box that asked if I was convicted. I worked with them for a month. I was cleaning in a drug rehab. I normally do receptionist type work but I figured I would have a better chance of keeping a cleaning job than a job that I would normally do. The one morning my employer gave me a call and stated that they would have to let me go until I get my record straightened out. I AM NOT EVEN PERMITTED TO CLEAN TOILETS!!! HOW PATHETIC!!! I can't understand why employers won't give felons a chance. We are on probation anyway. If anything goes wrong, they could call our probation officer. Since we are so closely watched by our probation officers, it is very unlikely that we would do anything wrong. Our great work ethics are being blinded by our criminal records. Meanwhile, the courts still want me to pay my debt every month. That is going to be virtually impossible. I asked my attorney if I could get my record expunged. He told me that I would not qualify to have my record expunged. I have been reading up on a Governor's Pardon. I would have to wait a full 5 years to apply for this. I believe that the courts are punishing themselves by keeping my record visible to employers. If the courts want to get paid, they need to conceal my record so I can work. Otherwise, they will not get paid. The credit card company that I owe money too, probably thought that once I was arrested and convicted that I would be paying them. They are so wrong. I cannot afford to take care of myself or pay them. I had to move back home with my Mom and my son. I feel like I reverted back to my childhood. I am fully dependent on my Mom for everything.
My husband has worked construction type jobs all his life and he's good at what he does. I know for sure that he is very gifted in being handy as well. Unfortunately in the recession he's been layed off and has been for over 1yr. 30yrs ago he was convicted with a felony and served 5yrs in jail. Now that he has been actively seeking employment and has been honest about his record he cant even get a cleaning job. Can you believe it, it's been over 30 yrs ago Its not like he killed or robbed someone. This is what we know for sure is we wont lay down and die! because others think your less than or not worthy of. The God i serve lets us know different. We are taking this opportunity to start our own business. The enemy meant this pass felony for his defeat but God is working it out for his good. His gifts were placed in him to prosper him and to Glory God. The system is dead wrong. Get a honest hustle going and build from there and put God right in the middle of it and it shall prosper. We have RIGHT NOW FAITH.
Well I get the same thing. I feel that its wrong but i will not give up because of it. If i have to start my own thing so be it. I say that because i had this felony when i was hired at hawker beech so I thank god for people who decide to do the right thing. The people that discriminate against others have to answer for being such people. I'm not god so what can I do. I always remember god will make a way out of none.
My boyfriend was convicted of two felonies years ago and while he was able to find a job here in OR (charges were in FL) he is way overqualified. He is now 33 and has been a manager since he was 18. Becuase of these felonies, the only job he could get was through Jiffy Lube. He is capable of SOOOO much more and we all know it. I tell him to simply explain his situation when speaking with a potential new employer but no matter what he says or how he says it, he is always denied. Also NO ONE will rent an apartment to a felon. Does anyone have advice on what to do for either issue? I have a misdeamenor DUI (just pulled over, no charges attached) and even I am finding it difficult to get work in the field I am trained in. I too am capable of a lot and until the DUI back in 06, I had never been denied a job.
thanks
My name is Doris Watkins. Twenty years ago I committed a crime. I did two years in a federal prison. Since my release I have re-educated myself. I have an Associates of Applied Bussiness in Legal Assisting, a Bachelor of Criminal Justice and also a Master's of Criminal Justice with emphasis on Corrections and I am still having trouble finding employment. I am also a Licensed and Ordained Minister with some CPE training. I always thought that the United States was a forgiving Country and I also thought the rehabilitation and corrections system was there to help people return to society to be productive citizens and give back to the community but I am not seeing any of that. But I will not give up. I can not get my record exspundged because it is federal.
how do you get the money to get your felony removed if you cant even get a job to get the money
I've worked in as a Real Estate Agent and Broker for four years. I was released this year and have been actively seeking employment since my release. Are there any companies out there that would consider hiring me. I live in the Georgia area. I was hired by one company and when I went in for the final interview was asked if I was a felon. When I was honest and answered yes I was told that they could not hire me. Looking for a second chance. I've made some mistakes but paid my dues.
If you are eligible, the best step is to get your criminal record expunged or sealed. There are several ways to determine your eligibility: first, consult with an attorney that practices criminal law and knows about record relief. Second, call the clerk's office and ask if they can provide you with some direction for learning about the topic on your own. Third, check out a site like clearmyrecord.com where you can take an online questionnaire to determine your eligibility. If you're eligible, and the requirements do vary by state, then for sure make application to have your record cleared.
One poster mentioned federal bonding programs and that is a good one to mention to employers, especially smaller ones that may not know about the program. The other government program is called WOTC, short for Work Opportunity Tax Credit. The federal level will provide incentives of 40% of the first $6,000 of earnings for ex-offenders. Many states have additional dollars available, too, under their own WOTC program.
Lastly, check out www.hard2hire.com. That site exists to help ex-offenders match up with employers willing to really consider you based on your ability. Full disclosure, that website is where I work.
Hope that helps! Good luck.
My Name Is Cora Anderson,
I Been Looking For Employmen, But No Luck, Because I Have A Back Ground Shounld Not Stop Me
From Getting A Job . My Back Ground Is Aggravated Battery,
Thats Not Good But I Was In A Abusive Relationship That Crewed Me Around , Please Can Someone Help Me.
I was just released from jail on December 31st, 2008 after having done a year and now I am a convicted felon and am looking for a job. I almost became hired for McDonalds last week but they do not have enough hours to offer if any./ What i have to offer is that there are federally bonded insurance programs for employers. The way this works is a prospective employer is willing to hire you or even if they are skeptical then you should inform them of this program. What it is, is insurance for the employer to take out on you for them as an incentive for them having hired them. SO in other words they will get payed for having hired you. Also there are programs for just getting released ex offenders who have done there time and have fullfilled their debt to society; who can enroll and they are there to help convicted felons not just find jobs but paths to their dream career path. These programs will help you overcomeyour boundries that society has placed on you due to you past decisions.
Felons aren't the only ones having a hard time. I was recently arrested for a misdemeanor and can not find any employment. The charge was dismissed, but still having a hard time. I don't know what I can do, I'm at the point I'm going to lose everything I have, I've had to deal with depression on top of all of this. How much more can I take!
I can relate to all of the people who have served time for a felony conviction & are unable to find employment! I am in the same boat! I have moved from Georgia back in March of 2008 to Oregon in hopes of finding employment; & unfortunatly,I have not had any employment opportunities since I have been fillimg out applications in Oregon. I am hoping that an employer will eventually hire me for my exp. in the construction field. & more so with all of the other skills I have outside of the construction field.
i was charged as an accomplice to a crime in 1999 and even though i was proven innocent i still paid my debt to society but ever since that i still cannot find a job and i am really desperately looking for work
It doesn't get any easier for us women who are convicted of felons. In fact I think it's even harder for us to find jobs. Even though you guys can get jobs in construction we can get even that type of jobs. The probation officers wants us to get jobs but where and who's going to hire you. I understand they want us to work but it very hard to find jobs that your employer wont judge you to badly. My officer told me to keep applying someone will hire you. Yeah who a fast food rest. How are you to live on that kind of income. You may make enough to pay something to the probation office or maybe some on the rent at the motel your renting or a little bit of food you can get of the week and then it's gone and you haven't improved on anything not even yourself worth. It's bad enough that you feel bad about what you done and now you have to lower yourself to explain what happened and sit there and look at your future employers face as you explain it. The answer I have gotten for my probation officer is that I shouldn't have done what I did. Well that's great when you have starving children you do what you can. It's just not fair we should be given another chance and not be judged for our crimes.
I am a 69 y/o exfconvicted felon. I'd been strugling to make end meet because I can't get a job because my record and my age, there r a lot of descrimination in florida for both. I'm retired and make $672.00 a month. and I can't survive on that kind of money.
I was working in a little restaurant but it shut down last month, I'm desperate to pay my rent, my bills, gas etc. How can I find a job for my age.?
Tell your friend to try to get his conviction expuged. Then he'll be able to honestly answer no in the felony question.
Also look at local resources. There are a lot of programs to get people back on their feet. Good luck, hope your friend knows a few business owners.
Yes there are also programs for which you can become federally bonded. This is a program of which employers can enroll in this insurance program and they will be payed for having hired a convicted felon. So its an incentive program for employers to take a chance that they will benefit from, as well as you becoming hired.
Try Minnesota Wire and Cable, J & L Cable in St. Paul. Oil change places may be an option, except if the offence was car theft. Stryden Staffing in Edina places people in a job moving rentals from one car lot to the other. Stryden has looked at ex-offenders on a case-by-case basis, except for car theft offenses. 1st Choice Employment of White Bear Lake is an open-minded temporary and temp-to-permanent staffing company: 1stchoiceemploy.com They are particularly interested in CNC machinists, welders, and other skilled industrial workers. Also try Vision Staffing Solutions 763-428-2926. They don't have a blanket policy against ex-offenders. If you need to impress these case-by-case employers, show them that you have changed, that you won't reoffend, that you will be a safe and beneficial worker for their business.
Even when felons do get jobs they are restricted to construction or roofing jobs. If you havent heard most employees in those fields are constantly drunk or abusing drugs.It makes it really hard for an ex-felon to make a life change for better instead of back tracking right back to prision.Every now and then you'll find that "one" that makes it, but thats more rare than it should be.