felons, and job applications

[hollywo3]

I am a college student and I'm currently writing a research paper on the job applications, and the felony question on those applications. My argument is that those should be remove that question from the apps, because it is discriminatory. If you served your time already in prison, you shouldn't have to get out and still be punished.
ANd if the conditions of your parole is to get a job, and keep that job, how is any of you supposed to do that, if no one will hire them because they are a convicted felon?
Can anybody give me their opinions on this?
You guys keep your heads up, and stay strong!
Without no struggle, you get no progress...issed:

[bella]

check out this guy Dr. Stephen Richards, an Associate Professor of Criminology at Northern Kentucky University. He is an ex-con who has done years of research on this and is trying to get this taken off job apps. Do a general search for him and you'll get a ton of info.

[hollywo3]

thank you so much, bella
! I will definately look for him online!
Keep your heads up! Wherever there is struggle, progress will follow...

[hamptonhurrican]

I just happened to come across your message about felons and jobs and I agree with you. My son was released from prison on parole and one of the stipulation was that he had a job. He is back in prison now because he could not find a job. If he told them on his application that he was a felon he did not get the job and if he didn't tell them and they found out then he got fired. How are you suppose to find a job.It's like you said if they have served there time it shouldn't be held against them

[TheBakerMan]

Being a convicted felon, ex felon, convict, or whatever they want to call you, does put you in a bit of a bind in the job market. There are lots of jobs out there that pay minimum wage for felons, but minimum wage won't get you anywhere. It doesn't really seem fair because it isn't. There are a couple of options. There are bonds for felons, they guarantee that an ex felon won't commit any crimes while in your employ. The second is a tax credit for employers who hire ex cons, both of these used together can help to land the ex offender a fairly decent job. Both of these things are free to the ex offender, and are a great benefit. Feel free to message me if you want links to sites where they can be downloaded, or get more information. I am too new to this forum to post links at this time, but I will once I have been around awhile.

[FAITHWALKER]

Bakerman--thanks for the 'heads up' on employment (my son not had court yet)
It's a very insightful forum here to know that at some point and time my son will be able to use this info--and other felons as well--thanx a lot (your experiance is helping here anyway--I put some of your advice to 'work' and even tho I DO NOT like the answers they do work--Can you tell me about dental care in jail?I know my son has an abcessed tooth,has for a month plus--how does he get treatment or does he??

[HollowPoint]

Originally Posted by FAITHWALKER

Can you tell me about dental care in jail?I know my son has an abcessed tooth,has for a month plus--how does he get treatment or does he??

They pull the tooth. Case closed.

[almosthome2007]

I have to say that it is an embarrassment to put on the application that I am a convicted felon. Most of the time I write "will discuss in interview" and once I get to the interview and they ask what my crime was the answer 9 out of 10 times is "we cannnot hire you". I applied at Subway and the manager asked me what my crime was and i told him robbery and he said to me "we don't hire thieves here" I was so ashamed and embarrassed that I just turned around and left..... I follow all the steps on what to say to the prospective employer and it really embarrasses me to tell them that I was a former drug addict and alcoholic and that I made a mistake but I have learned from it.

[HollowPoint]

Think about it from their perspective. Your a convicted thief or robber. Your applying for a job that deals in money handling? I wouldn't hire you either. Try construction or a rough neck oil rig driller. They don't care about your convictions.

Originally Posted by almosthome2007

I have to say that it is an embarrassment to put on the application that I am a convicted felon. Most of the time I write "will discuss in interview" and once I get to the interview and they ask what my crime was the answer 9 out of 10 times is "we cannnot hire you". I applied at Subway and the manager asked me what my crime was and i told him robbery and he said to me "we don't hire thieves here" I was so ashamed and embarrassed that I just turned around and left..... I follow all the steps on what to say to the prospective employer and it really embarrasses me to tell them that I was a former drug addict and alcoholic and that I made a mistake but I have learned from it.

[elusun]

Hi,
A friend of my sons has been trying to find decent employment and has no luck. He has had the temp jobs with lay off, he has worked about 3mos out of 7. He has went to tons of job site's and no luck. He lives in Louisville,Ky If you have any info or links that may help I would appreciate it.
Thanks
Carolyn

Originally Posted by TheBakerMan

Being a convicted felon, ex felon, convict, or whatever they want to call you, does put you in a bit of a bind in the job market. There are lots of jobs out there that pay minimum wage for felons, but minimum wage won't get you anywhere. It doesn't really seem fair because it isn't. There are a couple of options. There are bonds for felons, they guarantee that an ex felon won't commit any crimes while in your employ. The second is a tax credit for employers who hire ex cons, both of these used together can help to land the ex offender a fairly decent job. Both of these things are free to the ex offender, and are a great benefit. Feel free to message me if you want links to sites where they can be downloaded, or get more information. I am too new to this forum to post links at this time, but I will once I have been around awhile.

[scoopster]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/09/arts/09CRIM.html

[elusun]

547267]Hi,
A friend of my sons has been trying to find decent employment and has no luck. He has had the temp jobs with lay off, he has worked about 3mos out of 7. He has went to tons of job site's and no luck. He lives in Louisville,Ky If you have any info or links that may help I would appreciate it.
Thanks
Carolyn

Hey Bakerman,
Yes I would like to get the links that u may have. Sorry to hear that the ppl that are incarcenated get a bad break at least the one's that are really trying. Thank u very much for ur help.
Carolyn

[scoopster]

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content...3_1EDELP8.html?

[Mark2008]

Honestly, i never included information about my offense on job applications. if someone wants to find out, at least they will have to spend some time and energy researching. I normally apply with a resume instead of a traditional application, because that allows me to be in control of what information is presented.

One thing that gets overlooked often in all this is the simple fact that too many people coming out of prison lack real job skills. I was fortunate in that my experience with the legal system came years after i had earned a university degree and had several years of experience in one field. Even so, it took nearly 3 years and a move halfway across the country to land anything beyond a temp position.

But for people who get locked up at a real young age with no education or training, they don't bring much to the table. So, especially in a buyer's market, it's real easy to overlook them.

My suggestions would be;

1) Get away from the environment where your crime occured. If you are serious about starting a new life and leaving the past behind, a change of scenery can be a good start.

2) Get some training and education in some field. Can be formal schooling, vocational education or whatever. But if all you are doing is working minimum wage at McDonald's, that isn't likely to get you anywhere unless you add something to it.

[cornered]

A friend of mine told me not to include details, just answer "yes, but it was not a crime of moral turpitude". He said that's generally the biggest concern employers have.