Where can felons find jobs?

where can felons find jobs?

I had the same problem and started making money with the information at http://www.richkits.com and a few bucks here and there at http://www.piggybuck.com. But if you really want to work hard for low pay, then I suggest you check job assistance programs in your area. In California they have City Team and Sacred Heart. These may be in your area too. Good Luck

I have been out of prison for a year and a half and it has been a lot harder than I expected. Every employer I have had since I was 14 has nothing but good things to say about me. But in todays economy that doesnt really matter. I always was employed prior to going to prison but was taught by my priorly imprisoned dad that as a black man in America you always have to have a hustle on the side. Well, long story short, I got laid off and my side hustle grew. After doing 4 years in prison and a year and a half on parole I am determined to not go back to hustling(illegally that is). So here I am now trying to do the right thing and have yet to find a long term oppurtunity. Dont get me wrong, I make money as opposed to letting it make me. But I need stability for me, my fiance, and my baby girl. I have a CDL-A, a horticulture certification, tons of on the job experience and I need a career. So if anyone has some resources in Michigan or anywhere let me know. I have no problem leaving this state. Email me at Fun mail me Thanks and God bless

I've been going through this BS for 13 years.
I was 19 years old living in Ft Lauderdale Fla.
Went to a few parties Started meeting people.
got involved in in drugs.got popped.got a year in bro ward correctional charged with POSS/PUR/SELL/DELIVER COCAINE.
Charge 3 counts POSSESSION OF COCAINE. 2 counts POSS/DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.Charge COCAINE-PURchase/POSS W/INT PURchase.
I cant vote I cant use my brain to make money only my backbone im because of my size when I apply for work they always put me on the hardest most undesirable job .they treat me like CRAP like I am not even an American!!
I've seen illegal immigrants receive better treatment than me and higher pay.I can rebuild computers upgrade install any OS but no one will give me a chance to prove it because of something I did 13 years ago .So I say you have to start your own business thats it and if you cant afford to do that,then your SCREWED.I am in the screwed department.
If you know of a place in Austin Texas that pays decent,has some benefits and doesn't care about a mistake I made when I was 19 please post it .

I DID MY TIME DANG IT I PAYED MY DEBT LET ME LIVE THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE I AM NOT A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN
I WANT TO VOTE AND HAVE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
STAND UP AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

Opportunity abounds in Austin, Texas. It is a fast growing and progessive city that is tech savvy and skills in computers can be used. In Texas you can vote,even if you have a felony. You can't possess firearms legally unless you get a court order restoring that right.

Starting a business is as simple as posting an ad somewhere like on CraigsList. You don't have to have a lot of funds at all. Make your ad simply say I can upgrade or build you a computer for a small fee. Then when you are contacted give the responder a good estimate of what the cost will be. You might have to have a general idea of what a case/power supply, board, memory, etc. might be.

Once you do someone a good job they will refer others to you. Then you just keep repeating this process until you realize that being self employed can be done easier and cheaper than you think. Once you get going just keep good records of what you've done, the amount spent in parts, and finally how much you've cleared.

The best advice I can give you is to stay busy and always be looking for opportunities to help other people with jobs they need done. Most people do not have the skill or ability to tear down a PC and install a board or do anything beyond moving the mouse. You are way ahead of most people.

Keep trying. You'll make it.

Thank you for the advice james53. It took my boyfriend all of 6 days to find 2 jobs on Craigslist that pay pretty well and didn't ask for a criminal check at all. He's been at one for less than a month and has already been offered a raise. In addition, he is working as a bouncer and doing home repair on the weekends. And I've been getting flowers, cards, and money for half the bills. Thank you for some very good advice.

Thank you james53 for the wonderful advice. I read one of your earlier posts and advised my boyfriend to check out Craigslist. He found 2 jobs in less than 6 days. One started out as temporary, but they decided to keep him and gave him a raise. The other one is permanent. Both pay pretty well and did not do a criminal history check. He has also been working as a bouncer and doing home repair on the weekends. He's happier, and nicer, and buying me flowers, cards, and giving me money for half the bills now. This has been a difficult time for us, but your advice has helped tremendously. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Also, I used to work nights at FedEx because they have excellent benefits. One of the gentlemen I worked with told me that he had a felony on his record and they still hired him. His felony was more than ten years old, so to those who are looking for benefits, that may be and option.

I've heard that they are trying to pass a law that makes discrimination against us illegal . We have made mistakes ..YES WE KNOW!!! we still have to live !!! pay our rent , feed our kids etc etc.
Im sure there will be huge amounts of people who say that we shouldnt ever be given a chance ..hopefully some human beings will look at what is going on in society and help instead of hinder!!!

KEEP GOING...GOD BLESS

There are some employers that only ask if you have been convicted of a felony in the past 10 years. If it has been more time you can check NO on the box.

Texas is supposed to have some form of employment law that says that an employer can only ask if you've been convicted of something in the past 7 years. But I can tell you with certainty that most employers and most especially employment agencies ask if you have EVER been convicted of a crime. If you check no and they do a background check they will not hire you after they find out otherwise. So we can feel like we are damned if we do and damned if we don't. I personally would rather tell the truth up front if it comes up. The truth WILL win in the end.

Employers may themselves be breaking the law by asking IF EVER, but until someone stands up to them and sues them for breaking the law it will continue.

I can understand that people that have comitted violent crimes might need to be put into a different class. I'm not saying that they are less of humans than the rest of us, but as we all could attest, we would not want a pedofile getting through any cracks
to become a child care worker of any kind.

We all need to undertand than our society just does not want to accept the fact that many people make mistakes, large and small. Some get caught and others don't. If the truth were known some of the loudest critics trying to keep felons from working have themselves make huge mistake but just never got caught. This is the truth of the matter. Does anyone else agree?

Life is hard...but God is good.

Sorry but we disagree with your state that truth will win in the end. We have talked to hundreds of non-violent felons from California to Florida and elsewhere in the world. They all have the same answer: if you list on your employment app that you have been convicted of a crime or felony, then they never get the interview. Ever. We are trying to change the laws to make it illegal to discriminate against non-violent felons. We are out there doing more than just talking about it. Something has to be done quickly as the USA leads the world in locking up people for non-violent crimes. It is imperative that we stand together and make a difference. We can show the nation that felons are not the boogie man that everyone fears. Or the reaper that has come to take you away. Most felons have done nothing more than be at the wrong place at the wrong time. One girl sold a computer on Ebay and got convicted because she received a bad check from the buyer. Read more about it on our web site. Please visit our web site and join us:
http://www.kineticimagefilmgroup.com

Does anyone know of an employment agency in Texas (or elsewhere) that works with offenders in helping them find jobs? I know there are some state agencies that probably do this but how much help is the state really going to help someone find a decent job?

With the collaboration of a writer we hope to publish a book very soon that will be a guidebook for helping persons with a record find suitable and sustainable employment. It will have a section listing the steps required to start a business of their own. As you may have seen from my previous posts, I am really in favor of people who are disadvantaged in becoming self employed.

Working for yourself does have it's challenges but they are much easier to overcome and palle in comparison to the hurdles of trying to find an employer who will trust you and give you a chance at a good career.

We will also be starting a blog soon that will offer suggestions and tips for getting a real job. We hope to create a database of employers who will hire felons and other resources to help those in need.

Let us have your feedback if you think such tools would be helpful.

Never, never, never give up - Winston Churchill

GUESS WHAT EVERYONE...
I WAS FIRED TODAY FOR MY BCI AFTER WORKING AT THIS SCUM BAG CLEANING COMPANY ..MY BOSS FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT 2 WEEKS AGO THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE STARTED TELLING ME MY PERFORMANCE SUCKED THEN TODAY HE CALLED ME IN AND FIRED ME AND STATED THE REASON WAS MY BCI!!
I TOLD HIM I HAD ONE WHEN HE HIRED ME!!!
ME SAYS I DIDNT !!!
I THINK ITS CAUSE IM PREGNANT..
I AM SO DISGUSTED TRYING TO PROVE EVERYDAY THATG I AM A HUMAN BEING!!!
I DID WRONG OK!!! I STILL NEED TO PAY MY BILLS AND AFTER ALL THESE MONTHS OF WASHING FLOORS ON MY HANDS AND KNEES CUSTOMERS LOOKING AT ME LIKE IM DIRT FOR WHAT?!!!
IM DONE..
TAKE CARE ALL

Hang in there Danielle, consult an atty, you might have a case if they fired you because you are pregnant. Email us at Fun mail me and we will try to help if possible.

Glad this is here, I am getting ready to be criminally found 'guilty' and I was wondering if anyone here has tried to got to a felon supported school, for 'whatever, engineering,motorcycle mechanics and has seen it work all the way through? I just followed other information point and went through the process of information and that is where it lead me.

thanks baypharm...
how can I email u???
I have an appointment with an attorney next week...

question...arent you suppose to get 3 warnings before your fired???

I am a small business owner that has hired two ex-felons (one is a sex offender). I know of several other small business owners who have hired ex-felons.

To acquire a job, my suggestions are 1) dress appropriately. Whether you are a felon or not, dress like you want the job. I've had people come in with cut off shorts, tank tops, dirty jeans and expect me to hire them. 2) No matter how down you are, at least act happy. Small business owners have so much going on, the last thing we want is someone who is depressed and brings 'drama' to the environment. Leave your personal problems outside the door. 3) If you've worked before the felony incident, bring in letters of recommendation or at least names and contacts. Give the business owner someone who can vouch for you in terms of quality of work, work habits and general character. We don't know you and if you want us to take the chance on you, we at least need to know that your prior work history was good and that previous employers would hire you again (if it weren't for the felony). Let us talk to you Parole Officer.

One of the reasons employers don't hire felons is we're afraid of what our customers will say if they find out. My employee with the sex offender conviction cannot be near any children under 18. My other employees are aware of this and when customers come in with children, we have a system to get him out of the building through the back door. Many employers may not be willing to do this.

I also have to accept unexpected walk ins from Parole Officers. This has created some awkward moments, but we worked through it. We've had to install software on computers so the PO can monitor key strokes. Again, a cost to me and an inconvenience, but this employee brings an enormous amount of talent and maturity.

I think the biggest hurdle you face is fear. As a business owner, we have to protect our assets, our employees and our customers' best interests. We fear that hiring a felon will give us a bad reputation, may harm our employees or create issues with our customers. There is a lot of risk on an owner to hire a felon. But I have found that it is a win-win situation. I have two great people who care about my company and have made a commitment to growing and making it a success.

I am not a liberal - but a very conservative Republican However, I do believe people deserve a second chance after making a mistake in their life. I think there are many business owners out there like me. You just need to be persistent and find them.

I don't know if any of this will help anyone. Best of luck to all of you.

Dawn

PS I didnt' even know there was tax credit for hiring felons. I'll be looking into that as well!

Thanks Dawn80227 for giving us the perspective of the employer who has hired ex-offenders. It really helps to hear from you. Not just because I have a record myself, but I have also hired others who need a fresh start and a good job.

The ones that have come in with a good atitudes and dressed appropriately were the ones that got my attention. I first tell them that their conviction will not barr them from employment so that it puts them at ease. Then I ask them to tell me about their conviction, probation, conditions of parole, etc.

Once I have good picture of who that person really is, I go down the list and check every reference (job and personal ref). After just a few phone calls you have a very good understanding of the person's character. I go through the same process for any employee and you can tell pretty quickly who will work out and who won't be a good fit for your company.

All feedback on this is very helpful. Keep your chins up and keeping being positive and good things will start to happen!

I was convicted back in 1987 and have had many jobs over the years. I think before 9-11, there was a lax in background checks but after the attacks and now with the whole emigration law problems, many companies are looking to protect there interest. Theres nothing wrong with that but I feel one should look into other ways to create wealth. One thing that worked for me was to start my own business a couple of years ago. I have been in business for about 4 years. I've gotten loans for up to $35,000 to help me maintain my biz and keep it running. One thing all should work on is their credit. Don't let it go to waste or go bad! Credit is very important in todays society and it starts when you have decent credit. It has helped me get a loan through the SBA(small business association) more than twice.
When you try to get a loan, felony is not an issue. It's current job status and credit history. Once I was upfor two years, I was able to get the big loan for my biz.
I worked as a driver for a courier company which then was hired as a print operator for a small printing company making close to 50,000 a year with OT. They went out of business, but while I was working, I studied about real estate and small business all day everyday until I was ready to go at it. After self teaching myself (and still learning by the way), I was confident to start without any college degree. Nothing wrong with working for someone but to get ahead you need to start your own biz. Create your own destiny. Don't ever under estimate yourself! Do your homework, read books, go to Barnes and Noble and read! PERIOD!!!

Get inspired about something you like to do and research. Theres so much info on the web, we can't blame anyone but ourselves for not getting ahead these days. One of the post said, don't go to college because all you will have is debt. Yes, but what if you get the education you need to start a business or a trade to start your own biz? Education is always good! Debt is not a good reason not to get it. I am tired of working for someone. Maybe it's my mindset but at my age you get tired and take action. I got locked up when I was 18yrs old and now I am 37. I wish I had the mindset of starting my own biz when I first came home years ago. For all you young cats, start looking into business, real estate, home based businesses, or something you have a passion for. Remember, start working on your credit!

The reason for all of this biz stuff and research was because when I looked for a job years ago I found companies still found my crime in the database after 16yrs out of the slammer. Stay away from the BIG co's because they will go way back like a old persons hairline! Hope this helps...

I need help in fort lauderdale I need work

to: lauderdalebadass

What kind of work do you do or can you do? I know someone in that area that might hire you. Let me me know back and I'll try and assist you.

to: Dawn and James

I commend you both on your open and honnest approach to the evergrowing problem facing felons right now in this country.
It is great to hear from you. Thankyou from the bottom of my heart for seeing people for who they are not what they've done.
I speak for the felons who from their hearts want a good productive life, and a fair shake at it!
GOD BLESS YOU
THANKYOU!!