No one knows companies that hire convicted felons??

Marci · #1 07-15-2003, 09:29 PM

I asked, but no one seems to know. It's mandatory to get a job for probation - and I'd like to know where Kevin will start looking. I'm already gathering applications (I have 16 so far!) so that he will have a head start.

Please, if anyone knows of those companies that hire felons for the tax creit they receive or just because they're a good company and believe in second chances.

Thanks!

Marci

Luv2Luv · #2 07-15-2003, 11:05 PM

hi marci. the only place i can suggest to you is "fortune society" they're not a job agency, but they do assist with former inmates, advocating for them within the prison, and assiting them with employment information. they are however, located in nyc. give them a call and maybe they can assist you, or direct you to something similar to them in your home state. good luck.

Jacks_Tracy · #3 07-15-2003, 11:45 PM

UPS! When I was working as a PO in Indianapolis I often referred my guys there and they usually hired them. It may be part-time, but they pay pretty good (it's warehouse work) and have a great tuition repayment plan. It seemed like they were always hiring because it was hard, physical work and a lot of people didn't stay very long. So give that a shot.

infomus · #4 07-16-2003, 03:59 AM

I don't know if canada forces people to work for probation and parole! But I do know that if your "sweets" was charge with any sort of sex offence! It'd be a miracle to actualy have one since most employers don't hire sex offenders! Usualy not mostly cause of vegence or the crime, but the bad publicity it'd give the company or orginisation! It's all about reputation in the business world! Even volunteering is really hard for Sex Offenders to get even though no children would be involved alot! People have ether revenge and hates them so much cause of that and probably know they can get away with it anyway! Or like I said, bad publicity! Just had to say that

Steph

Cameo · #5 07-16-2003, 05:44 AM

Marci,

Check the DOC's homepage in your state and see if they have an area for employment for ex-offenders. I know in our state they have an active data base that is coordinated with the Labor Department of all those businesses/organizations who are willing to hire ex-offenders!

That's awesome that you are getting a head-start!

Pam

ToughTimes · #6 07-16-2003, 11:13 AM

Trey got hired at several locations after he was released from prison. He didn't stay long at any of them, because he didn't WANT to work (his choice, his fault), but he has worked through temp agencies, and they KNOW that he was in prison and will find places that the employeers will accept ex-cons. He has worked for a lumber company, construction, a catering company (cooking and doing dishes), resturants, and now he is working for his landlord fixing up properties and maintenance. It all depends on the ex-offender shows himself at the interview - if he goes in trying to defend himself, saying that he shouldn't have been in prison or whatever .... they might see him as a slacker, not accepting of responsibility. But if he goes to the interview or whatever and accepts that he made a mistake and wants nothing more than to prove himself out here in the free world by working hard at a job, they will be mroe accepting and willing to help him out. Good luck!

There is something out there!! Pretty much any fast food place will hire cuz they need help, but it is not the best place for someone to work.

CET · #7 07-17-2003, 12:02 AM

I think I would probably call a parole office in his area, and just say you're concerned, and are wanting to get a jump start, and do they have a list of companies.

teikyo30 · #8 07-18-2003, 02:57 AM

UPS may seem like a good idea, but I have apllied a few times, and I only have one felony convition for larceny in the 3rd degree from 1995 and they still won't hire me.

The bottom line is this: once you have a criminal record, and I'm sure most ex-cons are like me having a record as long as their leg, you've screwed yourself. Ex-cons make up the largest disenfranchised group in the US. Unfortunatley, no laws have been passed (at least where I live, CT) to protect our rights after a period of time, say 5 years, has gone by. The sentence we get is for life. I would rather have served double my time than to get out and find out all this crap. I have lost jobs becuase of the past, and I have been denied apartments because of it, too.

Most people think it's not their problem, but if we can't work, and we can live anywhere, the natural course of thinking is to go back to crime.

Personally, I would recomment going to college. Once you hit the junior level in class, you can take out a student loan for up to $10,500. Take that money and put it in stock or an account like a Charles Schwabb One account. By the time you graduate, you will have enough to start a business, which is the best option for ex-cons.

p.s. If you do open your own business, try not to discriminate based on a record. Remember how it was for you.

teikyo30 · #9 07-18-2003, 03:06 AM

P.O.s in CT are not much help. Mine is awesome in that she doesn't mess with me and genuinely seems to care, but doesn't have any clue as far as employment goes.

Another option is to lie on apps. I go by the philosophy (now) that I'd rather be employed and looking for work where I can be honest and face being fired by my current employer for lying if they ever check than to be unemployed.

I have also been modelling for colleges for the last 2 years, and they pay $15/hr average, non-taxed, and if you call enough schools, you can book a full work-week.

Jacks_Tracy · #10 07-20-2003, 10:58 AM

I gotta tell ya, I always advise my clients against lying on the app. If they run a criminal history, you're automatically out, where you may stand a chance if you're honest. A very good friend of mine was having the same trouble and lied on his app. Got a great job with a trucking company in NJ. Lo and behold, FOUR YEARS later, an old cellmate of his absconded from a half-way house and the State Troopers were contacting all of his former "associates" and went right to my friend's place of employment. Because he had lied on his application, his employer had no choice but to fire him. They told him if he had been honest on the app, they would have worked with him. Now he's out of a job - and a reference.

One thing I do advise is that on the section about explaining criminal history, you write "will explain at interview". It is easier to explain a mistake face to face. And, if someone won't hire you based soley on past mistakes, is that the kind of place you'd want to work anyway?

Another place to start is with the state unemployment office. Here in Mich. we have "MI Works" and they have case managers who work individually with you to develop your resume, etc. Our county has one worker in particular who works with released offenders and knows who will, and who won't, give folks a second chance.

Tracy

Manzanita · #11 07-22-2003, 02:05 PM

TOUGH TIMES...

what temp agencies did you go to?

TEIKO30

when you are applying for an apartment they have no right BY LAW to check criminal backrounda, I am in NY
so how would they know? they do not ask! I used to be a real estate agent and all we checked was credit history.

And I must also say that you have to think positive to make thngs work out positive, dont you think?

wannamae · #12 07-22-2003, 11:46 PM

Found a link.

I hope this link works and you can use it to find employers. Click on the Company, and there main page. Most should have a page on Positions Available and such.
Doesnt hurt to look. Good luck.

http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeek...112236139-rh-1

msmack · #13 07-24-2003, 11:08 AM

I was filing out an application for a temp ageny and it asked if I had ever been convicted of a misdemeanor of moral turpitude. What on earth is that?

painNpeace · #14 07-27-2003, 11:29 AM

here in Chicago it's state law for most businesses to run criminal background checks with the State Police department and for Landlords to do the same....

Personally from my experience I think it's best to be honest on your applications for the long run. Honest answers help me sort through the employers that would be wasting my time in a job search, that's how I see it. Other thing is that I don't expect it to be easy...we have a hard hard hard battle but we still gotta do the thing....

On the other hand, it's not even human to expect a man to be released and sit homeless on a curb and starve to death. You have to do what you have to do to get by to survive. I don't knock anybody hussle, unless I can give them a job or a better oppurtunity....

And regardless of what people say can't be done, people are doing it. Even known child molestors have good ass jobs without lieing...this is a fact....On the other hand it's hard for some people to make it with misdemeanors and apartment convictions.....Some employers don't hire because of bad credit depending on the job..and just so yall know....Alot of Credit Checks involve background checks now....hmmm..it's getting deep....

Entrepreneurship is the ticket....I don't care if you selling incents or ballons...I think alot of exoffenders have to think more about being self employed...cause all the effort and rejection with go through to find a work could be use to start our own businesses....and thats exactly what I'm in the process of doing....

Pain

Marci · #15 07-29-2003, 07:50 PM

Everyone!

Thanks so much for all of the great suggestions! Kevin does have a college degree, has worked as a youth counselor for years, but since all of these require criminal checks and you can't work them with a felony, he will need to choose something else - it's breaking his heart. He is planning on going back to college, he has only one yr left in seminary, seems that the "church world" is a bit more forgiving of a foolish mistake than the world is.

But right when he gets home, he will need to look for at least a part-time job (we're talking about moving back home to Ca within a year and need to put money away for the move), in addition to going to school. For his probation, he has to either be enrolled in college full time or working full time/college part time + working part time. Within 30 days. Gosh, it's hard for anyone to find a job in 30 days, let alone a felon!

Thanks again for all the help! God's Blessings!