Where can felons find jobs?

where can felons find jobs?

madagascar.

Hello. First off I was convicted of both state and federal counterfeit and fraud charges at the age of 19. I served two years in federal camp and at this time am almost complete with my supervised release. I figured when I was done with prison that I could re-enter society and start fresh. Unfortunatley approaching potential employers with the thought that my honesty would pay off turned out to be horrible. When telling the truth didn't work and having a minimum wage job wasn't going to cut it...I tried it. That's right I lied on my applications and just put school/personal time on the two year gap in my job resume. I didn't want to do this because I really did want to do things correctly; however, I chose what was best for my situation. From my experience, this is how it works. When I said I had never been convicted of a felony...it worked. Once, twice, and three times without fail. Here's why. First of all some employers state that they will run a background check on you and they may only use the credit reporting agencies which are able to provide some type of shallow report. Hence NEVER report your felony to your employer if you don't plan on claiming it for the rest of your life. Secondly, since I have federal and state records I've noticed something. IF your employer does run a background check they're only running THAT STATE background check. I was convicted in SC and GA but have passed state background checks in TX and LA (military spouse). I don't think my federal record has ever come up. Also, my probation officer here has mentioned another female who abused this fact: that is if you're married after your offense, the name will through off the background checks even w/ ssn. Unless you're applying for a federal agency job or a high tech contractor, they are not going to pay the amount of money needed to run EXTENSIVE background checks. If you move out of your conviction state you should be in the clear according to my experiences. (This is true in my case even using my maiden name). Even my federal probation officer couldn't understand how I obtained a management job at a retail store. I put no convictions and was hired. After being hired I was in CHARGE of recruiting and the computer stated for each applicant their results for background. I checked mine and it said NEG THEFT INQUIRY/NO CRIMINAL HISTORY.
Bottom line...you HAVE to have a job when you get out of jail...you should get a job..if you don't you could go BACK. What do you do? Some of us (felons) want to change and some don't..but if you do...you aren't left with many options. I took matters into my own hands which provided me with a job and excellent income. I felt a little guilty for telling a fib...but I think I would have felt far worse going BACK to federal prison. Life isn't over...

this is a serious question that I have been in the process of coming up with some good answers for quite some time , we really must change the laws on how long you are to be considered a felon after your conviction

I had a bench warrant for my arrest last june and havent been able to work ever since. Life is hard on everyone out there just like me. Try finding a job?? Thats great, but are you going anywhere in the business? Probably not. Its like the whole world telling you to kill yourself without them pulling the trigger for you. and for the person who said thank god??? ya ok. he loves us sooo much he helped us become criminals. sorry there is no god. I stopped believing after I was punished for the thousands of things I have done or been blamed for. as for a job. constuction or temp agency these = Getting no where in life. Where I am in life... lets just say my life sucks and I feel hopeless in every way

Find Jesus and He'll find you a job! I know this sounds like a cliche', but I promise you, there is life abundantly in serving a true and living God! I am in the process of trying to find some help for a brother in Christ at my church and I see that you all have struggled very hard to try to get it right, but a lot of you have already said it..you have to Keep trying! First, if you haven't already, I urge you to get Jesus! He has made my life so much easier and so much better. My mind is right, my heart is right and my life is right, so guess what..all I have left to receive from Jesus is..you got it RIGHT!!! You can do it. You are strong men with great potential! Just look at how good you were in the world!!! You did amazing things for Satan...and look what he did...Stabbed you right in the back!!! But with Jesus, He will protect you! He won't leave you nor forsake you, but He will always be there for you, if you just believe in Him and trust in Him today. I promise, your life will never be the same if you except His love today, Believe that He is the Son of God, that He died on the cross for YOU and that He rose again on the 3rd day! Just say, Jesus I believe in You, You are the Son of God, You died for me to save me from my sins and You rose again and are seated at the right hand of God waiting to receive me into Your Kingdom...if you said that, YOU are A SON of the most High God and He will do what you ask in Jesus' Name if you believe it! I Love You All and I pray your strength in the Lord!

I don’t have the answer. Wish I did. I pray every day that things will improve. I was convicted of felony assault in 2005. Why?...
Someone called 911 to report a disturbance during a verbal argument. Then they told the 911 operator to ‘never mind.’ NEVER MIND, mind you! I KNEW this wouldn’t work as the 911 operators know the address even if the caller doesn’t tell them who or where. This seemed so stupid to me that I did a stupid thing myself. I attempted to leave in my car before anyone could arrive. Well, they got there and before I knew what was happening an officer (rodeo clown/stunt man?) jumped on my car. They assumed that I was the cause of the disturbance because I was obviously in the process leaving the address. Of course, I was arrested and charged with felony fleeing and assault. The report read more like I purposefully ran over the bozo. Amazing how incredibly fast you can bungle up the remainder of your life in this so called society. This all occurred in a matter of a few minutes. Cops couldn’t have arrived any quicker if they had a Star Trek transporter.
I used a ‘public defender’ and he recommended I plead guilty and apologize before the judge. I did. I was given no time but I have a 5 year probation with an expungement at the end . The probation officer tells me that even with an expungement a prior record can show up. As a former programmer working for a major demographic information keeping corporation, I understand how this happens: In this day and age of computerized record keeping, even though expunge, according to the dictionary, means ‘to strike or blot out; erase; obliterate’ this isn’t entirely what happens. Even though your record may be officially erased by law enforcement and governmental record keepers, your record can live on in lists owned by the private sector. In other words, chronologically, (1) you are convicted=official record, (2) abc criminal records company, xyz personal information company, and any other record keeping entity who wants to, copies your official record information, (3) government expunges it’s copy of the official record, (4) abc co., xyz co., etc., don’t delete old information but just update their files with any additional data, (5) you’re screwed for life. Might as well go ahead and order your tombstone inscribed ‘Here lies no good, neer-do-well, S.O.B.’ (if you can afford it).
I don’t know what to do. Back when I had a life, I was a computer programmer. I have a BBA degree and almost twenty years of experience as a good, solid programmer. I am in the central Arkansas area and would be willing to go anywhere in this ‘great’ country of ours to find meaningful employment.
I have never lied on an application. I don’t think it would work and it certainly wouldn’t be the right thing to do. I have never tried to add an extra sheet to an application to explain my ‘crime.’ I don’t know what to say to make an employer understand that I don’t have a criminal mind and I wouldn’t be a risk to them or their business/company.
I’ll just keep looking for answers.

Hi,, I am afraid that Just like The Adam Walsh Act is Making the Sex offender Registry National,, there well be something similar in future for felons Period!!... I think most places avoid felons for Liability Reasons.. Everybody is SUE happy nowadays,,,if Something DID happen,, people want to sue because that Company Hired a KNOWN felon.. just like with Meaghans law,, when a KNOWN Sex offender kiddnapped and Killed that lil girl. I always wondered,, what would have happend if the guy who kiddnapped and killed the girl, wasnt a Convicted Sex offender.. would they have made all MEN register???

Just think about it,, that kid that shot of V tech wasnt a Convicted Felon,, Eric and Dylan at Columbine wasnt Convicted Felons. That Riems dude that sexually abused 100 plus Patients wasnt a Convicted Sex offender.

Thinking back,,, None of the Work place and School Shootings were committed by CONVICTED FELONS!!!

PLUS,, Convicted Felons and Sex offenders wasnt such the first time they commited their crimes..

The Devil works on the minds of all of kinds,, not just the CONVICTED..

I think in the society of sue happy people,,,Not hiring felons may be in some cases,, a liability issue. Like you hire a felon, and somethin happens,, someone will want to sue you cause you hired a KNOWN felon. Something like with the MEaghans law ,,,the parents of the girl petitioned because a KNOWN convicted Sex offender had moved in the neighborhood and they wasnt notified. which is Bs Cause Criminal records are PUBLIC RECORDS,, so thatd mean that low teir non notification sex offenders wouldnt mean squat to protecting public safety.

But, what if the guy that kidnnapped the girl wasnt a Convicted Sex offender?? would they have made all MEN Register??

The Kid that Shot up V tech wasnt a Convicted felon
Eric and Dylan werent Convicted Felons
Mr Reims,, the nurse that assaulted a hundred plus patients wasnt a Convicted sex offender.

I just think this fear and insanity with labels should stop. !!!

you never know who your hiring ,, felony or no felony,, and I think people should be judged on idividual merit.

but yes, its said, just because you made a mistake once,, your labeled for life!!!

I don't know. My boyfriend has tried and tried and tried to find a job. I'm working three and going to school and it makes him feel bad that he can't take care of me. He does odd jobs, but its so sporadic that when he gets money it doesn't go far. He is trying to start his own company and with any luck that should take off after a while. But, I've been self-employed before so I know a while could be years. We want to get married, but he insists on being the breadwinner before we go down the aisle. It's a difficult situation, but self-employment seems to be the only solution.

I just moved from Cleveland, OH to Daytona Beach, FL. I'm having a very difficult time finding a job. At least in Cleveland, you can always go to Minute man if you don't mind getting there by 5:00am.There's also a temp agency called Alliance that will send you out to factory jobs. I agree with several entries that state the best thing to do is try to start your own business. Honesty about convictions doesn't seem to be working for me either. You would think that honesty shows integrity but apparently it doesn't. I'm going to start lying myself. I do trust the Lord and I know he will bless me in His time. Meanwhile, I must try to keep a roof over my head. I think if enough of us come together and start writing congressmen and women Write the president as well. Write everyone we can think of. Just keep bombarding them with letters and e-mails. Prayerfully, they'll get tired and start trying to do something for us. If they spent half the money on employing us that they do on incarcerating us, the country would be a lot less violent. Good luck to all.

I found my job on careerbuilder.com. Its not much pay but it pays the bills. I know how hard it is to get a job being an ex-felon. You have to keep plugging at them and fill out a reaume and put down everything you have done,but leave out prison. I sent my resume to everbody and had a company hire me. I have 2 years to go on parole and this job helps with bills and keeping the p.o. off me. Once you get a job you have to prove to them they made the right choice. Its hard for us and we have to prove ourselves all the time. Good Luck and give that site a chance and see what happens.

have any of you guys considered the military? Afer you get out the military, you can find a job anywhere. or you can make a career in it and retire with awesome pay and benefits after 20 years. They dont discriminate.

Everyone who wants to make a difference by changing law to allow Felons right to work please contact us now:

http://www.kineticimagefilmgroup.com

I personally think that everyone who had been convicted of a felony and is really trying to do their level best to seek and gain employment in a field of their experience should be allow to collect disability from the government! I serious! I feel like the government is the one who makes us have to wear this lable for the rest of our lives, and won't allow us to try to redeem ourselves after making a mistake why not support us? We have the right to make a living and try to regain what is left of our lives! What else are we supposed to do?

WOW! I am not alone am I? Even though I am getting my record expunged ...I am at the mercy of the JUDGE...the judge who speaks to the private attorneys but ignores MY public defender..my public defender is great but the judge takes out the private judges for lunch...I've been in court for 12 months ..peeing in cups to prove im clean EVERY WEEK for 13 months and he plans to keep me for another 6...yep im a felony scumbag...and the judge loooves to make that clear to me...gotta keep going ..SOMEHOW??? oh yea and I work and mind my business!!! still cleaning houses...for pathetic pay...take care

man im a 2x looser and it hurts because I feel like I am no help to anyone I cant get a job that pays like what im use to so now im faced with going back to the streets for money its harder than ever now and I dont know what to do I turned to rapping like that would help but its not doin nothing since I have no money to do anything all I can say is keep trying keep going on its not the end of the world good luck as for me I just hope something comes my way soon

I called United Way by dialing 211, not 411, 211!... The CSR gave me a list of companies in my area that do job placements for felons. This has worked for me, hope the same for you.

Self employment is the way to go. I speak from experience.

I had a non-violent felony conviction 25 years ago and I to this day cannot get a decent job from a regular company. I was able to start a own home-based company about 12 years ago. Then I lost my largest client. So I had to try and find a real job.

While my company was falling I tried to find a job for about a year with not much sucess. I did find one job selling on the road in West Texas. About the time I started that gas went up to $3.00 per gallon. It was commission sales and I didn't have the funds to pay all the expenses of traveling while I built up my commissions. So I came back home and kept looking.

Large and medium sized companies will not touch me with a ten foot pole because of the felony, even if I am fully qualified with many years of expereince.The mistake I made 25 years ago keeps me from getting normal jobs.

About 2 1/2 years ago a friend of mine offered me a job at his steel fabrication company being his buyer for raw materials. He knew I didn't have any experience in that field. He also knew about my record and hired me anyway. But his business slowed down last year and I was laid off in November 2007.

Since that time I've applied to no less than 70 companies. These are for jobs that I am fully qualified for. I haven't just applied for the sake of applying and keeping my unemployment going but to really try and find a job. Of the handful of companies that have even responded back to me, they all tell me that they cannot hire me because of the conviction once I fill out the application.

So...I have resigned myself to the fact that I will always have to be self employed. I know that now. It has taken me a long time to realize this. You can't be licensed in Texas for most professions if you have a felony. The real estate commission says they will review any application but I know they won't approve the license. I can't even get a barber's license in Texas!

So much for the bad news. The good news is that we still live in a free country that allows free enterprise!!! Here are some things that I've done in the past to get by. I started a HandyMan business on the side. I have built decks, fences, repaired plumbing fixtures, etc. You name it I've done it.

I've also bought items at garage sales or estate sales and then resold them on Ebay or Craig's list. Sometimes it doesn't make a lot of money but it all adds up. It also lets you know that we live in a free democracy where you have the right to be in business for yourself. It doesn't matter if you are mowing yards or making deliveries for a courier service as an independent contactor. YOU CAN MAKE IT on your own if you'll try.

Craig's list is a good place to find odd jobs. Look under labor gigs. There is always somebody who needs help for a few hours or a few days. I answered an ad one morning for a guy who needed his brake pads replaced. He paid me $50 to do this and it took me about 45 mins. I had to drive about 20 miles but it gave me some confidence that I was able and ready and willing to do whatever was necessary to make money.

You might not find something everyday but if you keep looking and contacting people it may help you realize what you can do to make a living by helping others do the things that they don't know how to do or don't have time to do.

In December I answered an ad for a young divorced mother of a baby that owned a house. She had a problem with her water heater leaking. She wanted to have it replaced. I went and found that it only had minor issue with the pop off valve. She had been quoted $850.00 for a new water heater. I repaired the heater for $50. She was so appreciative that she has called me back two more times to do other things around her house. This is how you build a business from the ground up. Meet other peoples needs and yours will also be met.

Be creative. Think outside the box. Don't worry that companies won't hire you. Insurance companies sometime determine who they can and can't hire. Stick with small mom and pop companies or work for individuals. And when you do be HONEST and FAIR. It will pay off.

So if you can find a good job at a good company, hold on to it. Be the best employee they have. Learn to love your job. Remember, you can't just walk across the street if you get mad and find another job like everybody else.

I say all these things from EXPERIENCE. I hope some of what I've said will help others be encouraged. There is enough discouragement to go around for all of us these days.

God Bless all who reads this!
Jim

Hi there. It's almost impossible for me to find a job, and I only have a misdemeanor conviction. (Involuntary Manslaughter) I lack the communication skills to make it in self-employment and the physical strength to do manual labor jobs.

I recommend felons start to sue if they are discriminated against because of their record. Discrimination based on criminal history is illegal in Pennsylvania, although everyone does it anyway because they're either arrogant or ignorant of employment law. You can file a civil suit pro-se in PA against an employer that does not hire you for a conviction that is not job related. I did this once, paying a lawyer $1400 to gain employment at a factory, and wishing I had learned how to file pro-se suits while I was in prison. In my case, the suit was never actually filed; merely threatening to file it cracked the door open. I suspect many employers would just hire you (provided you are qualified and the conviction is not job related), rather than fight a suit if you threaten to file one.

The PA law is 18 PA C.S.A. section 1925. I would think other states have something comparable.

Oops... 18 PA CSA Section *9125*. Mea culpa.