I have recently been released from prison after serving 3 years for a drug conviction. I am on parole for 6 more years. I was wondering if there is anyone out there who knows of any agencies or anything in or around the Hornell, NY area that assists convicted felons in finding work. I have been applying everywhere I can since I was released and no one has even set up a date for an interview with me. It seems like I cant even get a job at Burger King or McDonalds even though they both have NOW HIRING signs up. If anyone knows of anything I can do, please let me know. And if you are one of those people who thinks that us convicted felons don't deserve a shot because we blew our shot when we committed our crimes, remember this, you too are one mistake away from being in our boat too. If you have ever gotten behind the wheel of your car after a long night at the bar, even when you were a teenager, you were lucky you weren't caught or if you ever got in a fight as a teenager and the other person's parents didnt press charges, you too wouldn't deserve a shot either since you just blew yours because of an error in your judgement. So before you judge us, take a long look at all the things you have done and you just may find that you could very easily be in the same boat as us.
Felon Friendly Note: Many of these employers accept individuals who may have criminal histories, but with a few noted limitations, additionally, they MAY NOT be hiring for immediate positions. Individuals must call/or contact them for more information.
Great Western Erectors, 6320 Beach St., Denver, CO 80221 (303) 783-8510, contact Rick. Hires felons with background
Job Centers/Employers
Arapahoe Douglas Works, 5500 S Quebec Suite 175, Greenwood Village (303) 636-1160, Fax: (303) 636-1250
Catholic Charities, Employee Resource Center, 4045 Pecos St., Denver, CO 80211 (303) 742-0828
Curtis Park Community Center, 929 29th St., Denver, CO 80205 (303) 295-2399 ext. 214 Yale Francis
Goodwill Industries 6850 and Federal Blvd. (303) 650-7700 Contact Fern, (material handlers)
Workforce Centers-www.connectingcolorado.com
Saint Francis Center 2323 Curtis St., Denver, CO 80205 (303) 297-1576
Salvation Army, 4751 and Broadway, Denver, CO (303) 293-3440, Contact Heather
Work and Family Center, 877 Federal Blvd., Denver, CO (719) 579-9580 (D.O.C. only)
Road Called Strate, 1532 Galena St., #395, Aurora, CO 80010 (303) 360-9176
Unions/Associations
Staffing Agencies (case by case will consider type of felonies and time since conviction)
Training
I myself am a covicted felon.I also made my bed and got to live with it.hell I even took a course for auto repair technician and graduated with a 89% avg. and still cant find work because of my past record!!they tell me I need a drivers licence to get a job in the field I took a course for and graduated from butt yet that takes money and without a job you cant make money.UNLESS YOU BREAK THE LAW!!nobody out there is going to give us a break.as far as I am concerned thats the same thing as discrimination because I already payed my dept to society and I still have to pay for it the rest of my life to.no stores like the dollar store or walmart ect. will give us jobs butt yet we can walk in those same stores and spend our money like anybody else.do you see them turning our money away?no you dont!!I have been looking for a job for over a year and still havent found one.I also have back child support to pay.DO YOU THINK THEY CARE?hell no because that just sends me back to jail and gets me off the street.thats only because that gives them a reason to talk more shit about you.I personaly dont understand how that is not the same as them trying you twice for the same crime.I have tried every webb site I can think of and still can not find work.half of these webb sites want you to sighn up for schooling.how the hell we supposed to be able to afford schooling without a job?please do tell me that one!!and so far all these sites that you can actualy get some applications put in on havent found me a damn thing.they want you to spend money for there resume service.get a clue!!because if I had the money to spend for that shit I wouldnt be looking for a job now would I!!
IN A LOT OF STATES WHEN you ARE FIRST RELEASED you HAVE SOME VALUE, THE FIRST EMPLOYER you WORK FOR CAN COLLECT A TAX BREAK FOR HIRING YOU. WINN DIXIE IS ONE OF MANY. BUT ONCE SOMEONE HAS COLLECTED THAT TAX BREAK, FORGET IT NO ONE ELSE WANTS TO MESS WITH YOU. your BEST BET IS TO DO AN AWESOME JOB FOR THE ONE WHO DOES HIRE YOU AND HOPE THEY KEEP YOU ON.I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO TRACK DOWN A FRIEND THAT HAD HER OWN BUSINESS AND I WORKED MY TAIL OFF FOR HER FOR 6-7 years. BUT WITH THE ECONOMY LIKE IT IS SHE HAD TO PHASE OUT SOME PARTS OF HER BUSINESS AND NOW I AM JUST PART TIME AND MAKING ABOUT 25% OF WHAT I USE TO MAKE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND ADDITIONAL WORK, BECAUSE MY HOURS ARE VERY FLEXIBLE. I HAVE APPLIED AT 5 TEMP AGENCIES AND HAVE NEVER REC'D ONE CALL BACK. I HAVE PUT SO MANY APS IN I'VE LOST COUNT. THEY ALL DO BACKGROUND CHECKS AND EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN PERFECT SINCE MY RELEASE, VIRGINIA IS A STATE THAT NEVER REMOVES your FELONY FROM THEIR RECORDS AND THE ONLY WAY you CAN REMOVE IT IS TO PROVE you WERE INNOCENT AND GET THE GOVENOR TO PARDOM U.I AM TOLD NO ONE WILL HIRE you WITH CONSPIRACY CHARGE, THAT POSSESSION/DISTRIBUTION IS NO BIG DEAL BUT THEY WILL NOT OVERLOOK THE OTHER. THE ONLY SOLUTION I SEE IS STARTING MY OWN BUSINESS, COMMUNITY SERVICE OR CHURCH IS A GOOD IDEA,THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES THAT HIRE EX FELONS BUT THEY ARE ALL JUST ABOUT TAKEN RIGHT NOW. JUST KEEP DOING THE RIGHT THING,DO AS MANY GOOD DEEDS AS YOU CAN,KEEP your HEAD UP, AND HANG IN THERE SOONER OR LATER AFTER PAYING BACK SOCIETY AND your KARMA, LUCK WILL CHANGE. KEEP your FAITH STRONG.
I know its my own fault that I got caught and convicted as a felon. I will not deny that...however fines and probation and jail all of those things are supposed to be punishment..How can society deny us a livelyhood!!?? Many people out there do wrong things, they just don't get caught. Here I am unable to afford a decent laywer and I get screwed by the system and a shitty laywer who is just going thru the motions bc she is going to get paid either way. you know some chick that had her daddy pay for her lawyer got caught with heroin!! not just possession but delivery, and she got a way lighter sentence than I did. how in the hell did that happen?? I don't know what else to say, yes I made my bed and I am sleeping in it...doesn't mean I will survive...shit this society pushes us back to the streets bc no one will give us work.
I am in the same boat as many of you. I am a felon as well and was released in Nov 09 and I bet I've put in as many as 50 apps and no luck any where. I is compleat bull that just because I am a felon my app gets pushed to the side reguardless of my experiance. This seems like a lose lose situation. I've done all the temp services as well and I get on craigslist first thing every morning and am just at a loss of what to do. If anyone has any advice my ears are open to any. jessie_alvey@yahoo.com
I have never been convicted, but know many who have. It saddens me that people won't hire you guys. Everyone deserves a second chance. The best thing to do is to try and do your own business. Start off with something you can do at home. Or buy a website (borrow money) and make money off that. Maybe one day the laws will change for you guys. I wish you all the best.
just posted an answer for someone else, but it may help you too.
http://www.funadvice.com/q/tryingtohelpmybrothergeta_job