Felon is looking for training and a career

There is help for ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs

Hello,

I am Allison, 29 yo, from southern CA.

My concern:

September 2011, I was charged with grand theft in the amount of $30,000 and as result I have a felony and must complete 5 years of felony probation. The actual crime occurred 8 years prior in 2003, at the age of 20. Characteristically, I don't even vaguely resemble the young person that I was then. I feel like I'm stuck working in a job that has no benefits, opportunities, or room for enhancement. I was scheduled to begin classes this year for respiratory therapy, but the board does not allow felon participants because I will not be able to obtain state certification here in CA. Furthermore, as a convicted felon, I don't meet criteria to receive federally funded financial aid to attend any 2 year college.

I make $11 an hour and can't afford to pay for classes with my limited income.. I feel like giving up because I just don't know how to turn this around. The DA is willing to reduce it to a misdemeanor in 2 years and can be expunged after the $30,000 fine has been satisfied, but realistically, that may never happen.

In the meantime, I don't know what to do. I have an 8 yo son and I want to provide him with life beyond the necessities. I just don't know how or even where to begin.

Can you help me manage my life and come up with a plan, please?

Kindly,

Allison



Hello Allison,

Despite what you may consider a bleak situation, you are better off than most ex-offenders and felons...you have a job. You may not qualify for federal educational funding but you may qualify for occupational training funded by your state.

As I suggest to most ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs, make a visit to your local One-stop Career Center. This is a really underutilized resource. Each state has a network of centers that provide an assortment of free services that can help you in getting a job. In addition, these centers provide a long list of services that can help people get jobs and even train them for new careers. Some services available are:

Career planning and counseling

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

Computers with internet access and word processing

Daily access to thousands of job listings

Job-related magazines and local newspapers

Job postings and referrals

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

Each center has trained counselors that provide one-on-one assistance. Many of them have experience assisting ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs. You can find the One-stop Career Center nearest you at:

www.servicelocator.org

 Where can ex-offenders and convicted felons find jobs

 Ex-offenders and felons can find jobs

Felon wants a career in Psychology or Broadcasting.

Advice to help a felon get a job

Good afternoon,

I have read your blog and have gotten a lot of great ideas to pass along to my clients. Thank you very much for that! However, I'm clueless when it comes to my partner. We have been together for 3 yrs. I knew getting into the relationship about his past, but growing up on the "other side of town", I thought once you did your probation and paid your fines you were good! How wrong was I. He has not served any prison or jail time, but does have 3 felonies for drugs and last yr was charged with felony manslaughter (grand jury turned it down...and we were told he was charged b/c the other family was pushing the DA...small town) but this is on his record as well.

So, my question to you is where do we begin. He has an interest in psychology and broadcasting but not sure if he could have a job once a degree is obtained. I know this was rambling, but I know he is at the end of his rope, and every path is a dead end.

Thank you for any information that you can share. By the way we are in N.C.

Miss K,



Hello Miss K,

I encourage all ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs to apply for anything they feel they are qualified for. Your friend is looking at a career in Psychology. The only problem I see is that there are some jobs in the psychology field that require licensing or certification.

Before he invests time in money in pursuing a degree in that field he should find out if he can be licensed in your state.

As far as a career in broadcasting, I see no reason that he cannot get hired. In that field he will be subjected to the the same factors that ex-offenders and felons in other fields have to deal with.  The good news here is that broadcasters have to report their fair hiring practices to the FCC.  Hopefully those fair hiring practices include ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs.  He will have to find an employer who will be willing to overlook his convictions. How can he do that? He will have to apply, apply and apply until he finds an employer who will work with him.

I hope this helps.

Felon looking for job search help