Can a felon get a job in health care?

Felon wants a career in health care

Hi,

I was recently reading the previous post about the gentlemen who is trying to obtain his Certified Nurses Assistant license and the advice you gave. I think your blog is awesome and the links and information you give is inspiring and helpful because it allows felons to know that there is help out here just do not give up. The question I have is my husband is approaching being released and has a drug charge on his background. He has a his CNA license but they have expired. I was talking with him on yesterday and he is stating now that he wants to go to school to obtain his degree in X-Ray Tech. He is really excited and although I know that it is going to take a while to get but finding that type of work with a drug charge background to go into this field is it promising or should his career path be of a different choice. I do not want him to get his hopes up but I also do not want him to place all his eggs in one basket. We have recently moved to San Antonio, Texas, where the medical fields here are very promising but I do not know about felons.

I was hoping you may know if this career choice is something that he can continue to be in pursuant of or should he try and detour this decision to obtain something else and if so what. I know the criminal justice department is also very strict. I just do not want him to feel like a failure when something does not come through and hurt trying to provide for himself and family.

Thanks,

KW



Hello,

Thank you for your kind words. It's great that you want to help your husband. Ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs need all the help they can get. I know of felons working in the healthcare field. You say that he held a CNA license, so your first step is to see if his conviction affected it. You can contact the medical licensing board in your state to find this out. If he wants to become an X-ray technician, I suggest contacting the same board to see if his conviction would prohibit him becoming certified.

If it is not possible, I would then contact your local One-stop Career Center. There he will find job search assistance including training opportunities that are available and he is eligible for with his conviction. There are often government funds available to help individuals get training for new careers. One-stop Career centers have counselors that have experience assisting ex-offenders and felons looking for employment. As stated in a previous post, you can find your nears center here:

www.servicelocator.org

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Where can ex-offenders and convicted felons find jobs

I can’t use my healthcare license because of my conviction

Felon Chef needs a job

Felon looking for job search help

My name is Lamar. I was on your site today about jobs for felons. Being that I have not found a job even throw I just finished culinary school to become a chef but I also would like to start my own catering business some day as well being that this is what I like doing.

Hello Lamar,

Vocational schools usually have a placement department that find jobs for their graduates. I suggest you contact that department an put them to work. Next, you should go to your nearest One-stop Career Center. Each state has a network of centers that offer a variety of free services that can assist you in finding employment. In addition, these centers offer a wide array of services that can help a felon get jobs. Some services available are:

Counselors for One-on-one Assistance

Workshops (Resume Writing, Interviewing Skills, and related topics.)

Computers with internet access and word processing

Lists of thousands of job listings

Printers, fax machines, phones, and copiers for job search use

There are counselors there whose function is helping citizens gain employment. Many of them have experience that could help ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs.

You can find the nearest location of the One Stop Career Center in your local phone book or on the web at:

www.servicelocator.org

Many people are looking for jobs. Please do not give up. Meanwhile I suggest getting your local telephone book and make a list of all of the restaurants and bars/grilles in your area. Contact each one of them, in person if possible, and inquire about open jobs. Even if they don't have any openings, leave your contact information or personal business card and make yourself available for on-call work. Frequently restaurants are in trouble when employees for some reason or another can't make it to work. You could fill in on an as needed basis. I'm sure if you do a good job, you will be at the top of the list when an opening arises. Ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs can find them with hard work and the right attitude.

I hope this helps.

Where can a felon find a job?

Felon Is in Need of Job Search help

Felons with Withheld Adjudication can get Jobs

Will a withheld adjudication keep me from jobs?

Dear madams or sirs,

I was charged back in 1998 or 1999 with a felony charge with a withholding adjudication. I was having many problems in my life and marriage. My charge was battery on a law officer. I did my five years probation and had several different kinds of therapy. I had finally gone back to school to become a medical assistant. I had explained this charge to them and I was told if it was over ten years old there should not be a problem. Basically, They lied. Now I have a loan to pay back and no job. I am 56 years old, a widow and thought I was doing something great for myself. One place that I had applied for a job told me that I could possibly get it exempted. Is this so or did I just waste the last year of my life for nothing. I was on the dean’s list and I only missed one day. Please is there someone there that can help me out or/and give me some advice.

DA

Hello DA,

I'm not sure who "They" are but there are some things to know about Withheld Adjudication. Withheld adjudication broadly speaking, refers to a determination by a judge to put a person on probation without a judgement of guilt. There will be terms set by the court typically a fine and a period of probation. When the terms are met, the charges are generally dropped. There will be no conviction connected with that offense. If the person doesn't complete the conditions of probation, a ruling of guilty can] be entered and the person could be sentenced according to the penalties outlined for the offense.  Of course this is not legal advice.  For the exact determination of your particular situation, contact the prosecutor associated with your case.

So when completing an application that asks if you "Have you ever been convicted of a crime, you will be able to answer "no" and rightly so since you have not. Bear in mind that the charge will show on a background check as a charge and not a conviction. You should have no trouble with this. To absolutely certain of the status, you should check with the prosecutor or your probation officer associated with your case.

You should have no trouble getting certified if that is your only charge. Many ex-offenders and ex felons looking for jobs often need legal assistance. If you feel you need legal assistance, contact your local legal aid office. There you will be able to low-cost or even no cost legal assistance.

I hope this helps.

 'Eric Mayo helps Felons and Ex-offenders get Jobs

Felon with Withheld Adjudication seeks Trucking Jobs 

Felon with federal conviction needs employment

Felon wants to Expunge Federal Conviction

I was sent the following link http://howfelonscangetjobs.blogspot.com/, so this is how I got your email address. I have a federal felony for marijuana from 2001. I am finding it really hard to get a job. I have had a few since I was convicted and served my time ten years ago. With the economy being what it is I was laid off from a steel company 12/08. I have had once job since and that didn't work out. So here I am once again looking for a job. My unemployment is almost expired and I'm finding it very difficult to find companies who don't do background checks. I don't think I can have this taken off my record due to it being federal. If you have any suggestions or help to offer please do so. I love office work and it's what I'm good at. I recently went to dental assisting school and graduated only to find out it isn't for me, so now the $10,000.00 I borrowed for school will be coming due soon.

I'm really frustrated...I understand I made a mistake back in 1998 and did my time and probation and I still have a black cloud over my head.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

Thank you


~Kat~



Hello Kat,

You are correct you have little or no chance of having this conviction removes. Expungement is not an option for federal convictions. As I mentioned in a previous post, often I suggest to ex-offenders and felons looking for employment is to apply at smaller independent temporary employment agencies. Often companies end up hiring their temporary help. Independent agencies don't have to deal with restrictions larger agencies may have placed on them by their parent companies as they relate to hiring ex-offenders and felons. They are free to hire anyone they choose. You can find listing in your local telephone directory and apply as you would any other job.

I also suggest that you apply for jobs using your resume and a well written cover letter. Often when you apply for jobs this way, your record may never come up.

I hope this helps

Felon needs a job for a new start

Felons, jobs and Deferred Adjudication

Will Deferred Adjudication Bar Felons from Jobs?

  Please help! I found your blog online.

I'm currently serving 5yrs of probation for deferred adjudication (for felony case). I feel that I should contact the attorney that handled my case - because I recall my attorney saying that I either pay off my debt and be done with everything or pay while serving the whole 5 yrs of probation. I am still having a hard time finding a job. The majority of my work experience is in an office environment, with that in mind - no one will hire me! I have had tons of interviews, and I've been let down. I have some production/warehouse experience, but that's still not helping. I was told by my PO that I have the right to choose "No" when it comes to the question on any application asking "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?" And, I choose "Yes" when it asks me "Have you ever been convicted and/or deferred adjudication." My background check comes up showing my felony. I'm still serving this probation until 2014, and my PO told me I have to wait until 2014 to try to remove this thing off my record. Now there was an increase in my probation fees from the original judgement. I could barely afford it much less paying more. I'm still not working. I moved back to Texas recently and started working for a small business (attorney's office) that didn't do background checks. So, I was with that office shortly while looking for another job, and then I had an excellent opportunity through an agency that paid more money, and I was guaranteed the pay rate increase and filled out the paperwork and I went through the interview. Everything went through and I was chosen for the position. And, the day I was going to start was the same day I received a call that my background disqualifies me from the job offer. I have not been convicted of any offense. I have already been to the Texas Workforce Center, and applied through them. Had more interviews, and continued to be rejected for numerous positions that I would qualify for - but it's the background check that hurts my job search. Please advise!

Thank you,

Bess

Hello Bess,

For those unfamiliar with Deferred Adjudication, in most cases, adjudication is withheld pending some other action, usually successful completion of the terms ( usually a fine and probation,) dismisses the case. If you successfully complete the terms, in most cases the charges are dismissed. When you complete the terms you will be given a document declaring the charges dismissed. In your case, the probation period is five years and that may present a problem until probation is complete. This will appear on background checks as a pending charge that sometimes will turn an employer off.

As I often suggest to ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs to consider working as a temporary employee as a way of getting a permanent job. Temporary agencies are a great way to quickly get back into the working world. Many employers use agencies to try out new employees before hiring them. Good workers are hard to find. If an employer sees that you are hard working, punctual and fit in well, he may offer the job permanently.

The key to applying for temporary jobs for ex-offenders and felons is to apply at smaller independent agencies rather than large national companies. Small independent agencies have fewer hiring restrictions than larger national companies and are free to hire anyone they feel that can help them. You can get a list of these agencies in your local phone directory.

Once your probation is finished I suggest that you apply for expungement. This may help when it comes to background checks. Since expungement is a legal process, I strongly urge you to get professional assistance.

I hope this helps.

Are you an ex-offender or felon who has a question about finding a job with a criminal record? You could have your question answered right here.  'Eric Mayo helps Felons and Ex-offenders get Jobs

Email your question to: adogzheart2@gmail.com.

If you are really serious about finding a job with a criminal record, or you want to help someone you care about, visit my website From Jail to a Job

Felons may use expungement to get jobs