Ex-offender Employment

sherri13 · #1 05-02-2002, 12:16 PM

CALL 1-800-URR-USA-JOBS

ASK FOR INFO ON THE WOTC (WORK OPPORTUNITIES TAX CREDIT) THIS GIVES AN EMPLOYER A TAX WRITE-OFF OF ABOUT $2,400 IF THEY HIRE AN EX-OFFENDER. THE FEDERAL BONDING PROGRAM OFFERS AN EMPLOYER AN INSURANCE POLICY OF ABOUT $5,000 FOR HIRING AN EX-PRISONER--THESE ARE BOTH FEDERAL LEVEL PROGRAMS-

CREAMYALMONDZ · #2 06-05-2002, 01:56 PM

Thanks for that information Sherri. I'll do anything I can to get Steven a job when he gets out!

Isadora · #3 06-14-2002, 07:59 PM

This is great and will be a big help, thanks!!!!!

Steve&kids · #4 06-19-2002, 06:08 PM

When My wife is released, is it hard for an ex convict to get employment?Steve&kids

montysgirl · #5 06-19-2002, 11:37 PM

good question......is it going to be hard for Monty to find a job....even if he gets certified in a trade....or gets his degree??? Do the parole people help them find a job or what??

**David** · #6 06-19-2002, 11:49 PM

It has a lot to do with what line of work they are looking for. If it is "professional" then some avenues may be out the door because of licensing issues. I can tell you this.. No Bank Jobs, Security (in most cases), etc.. But, there are lots of City jobs that hire felons.. Not usually the Mayor's office but public works, and the like..
I was surprised at some of the jobs guys in the half-way house nailed down. One of them was working as a contractor at the Nations Bank building in Houston. He started doing fire alarm control systems but worked his way up in security..
It all depends.. Having a felony does NOT mean you can't get a good high paying job, it just makes it harder to get one by narrowing the options.

soraya · #7 06-20-2002, 03:56 AM

thanks for the info,Sherri

KConnor56 · #8 06-20-2002, 07:04 AM

I've never had a problem getting work. Like David said it depends on your trade. It depends on what kind of work experiance you have. I had a cellie who was supposed to learn printing, they gave him a certificate etc. the only problem was they were teaching him on outdated equipment, & the certificate would be good if he was paroling in 1980. At old Folsom they have a cumputer repair training which is pretty good, so it's a hit & miss kinda thing.
The parole office I was out of had a job referal service, & I know a couple guys who got jobs from it but I don't know if they worked out or not. I also found it best to be up front about doing time. I'm not that good a liar, & I didn't want to go around just waiting for someone to find out, plus prison tattoos are pretty obvious.

DJohnson · #9 06-20-2002, 10:28 AM

That makes me wonder if it's going to be hard for EJ to find a job when he comes home.
He has told me he has his license to sell real estate, but he would have to retake the classes to get it renewed when he comes home. He will be taking business & computer courses while he is inside.
Would that be a line of work he might have a hard time nailing down for a job?

Isadora · #10 06-20-2002, 03:50 PM

Before my husband's parole hearing last year I asked about a job for an ex-felon at the personnel office at the place where I work. I did not tell them it was for my husband, I just gave them a hypothetical situation. They said they were not adverse to hiring ex-prisoners, as long as he was honest when he interviewed about his time in prison, etc. They said they would not hold it against him and would treat him just like any other candidate for the job.

BillnDenise · #11 06-20-2002, 04:42 PM

Billy has 2 years left and he's worried about his job situation. I hope that he can find a job soon after his release. It would boost his self esteem greatly.

vnvdvc · #12 06-21-2002, 07:13 AM

So... what exactly can a potential employer ask in such an interview? How detailed can they get with their questions? When can someone say enough- too personal?

sherri13 · #13 06-21-2002, 08:28 AM

I THINK IN SOME SITAUTIONS IT IS PROBABLY TRUE THEY WOULD NOT HOLD IT AGAINST HIM IF HE HAD A RECORD-BUT I THINK MORE OFTEN, UNFORTUNATLEY, THEY DISCARD THE APPLICATIONS THEY HAVE "CONVICTED OF A FELONY" CHECKED AND GO TO THE NEXT ONE. I THINK IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE JOB AND THE JOB DUTIES, THE NATURE OF THE CRIME, AND OF COURSE, THE PERSON DOING THE HIRING.

DJohnson · #14 06-24-2002, 09:04 AM

I have heard that since 9/11 many companies are now using background criminal checks a whole lot more than they did before.
Employment as a whole even for those of us like me that don't have a record is hard to get when searching for something new. Many companies "say" equal opportunity employer, but when it comes down to it, that's a bunch of BS!
I can only hope for EJ that when he comes home & he wants to get back into Real Estate that he will be able to.

KConnor56 · #15 07-05-2002, 01:42 PM

DJohnson,

You should check with you state board of realtors. Many licsenced professional organizations won't certify, or license convicted felons. Also it may depend on the crime. They probably wouldn't license someone convicted of fraud, but may license someone convicted of shoplifting (petty theft). He may also have a problem getting a job where he has to be bonded. So it's hard to say, there are many variables.