Convicted felons face a notoriously difficult challenge in finding work after their release from prison. According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research,
“It is not simply that individuals who commit crimes are less likely to
work in the first place, but rather, that felony convictions or time in
prison act independently to lower the employment prospects of
ex-offenders.”
That remains true despite a number of jurisdictions—including the
federal government and 24 states—enacting “Ban the Box” legislation that
requires employers to ask about criminal convictions only after initial
screenings. In addition, more governments now push employers to
consider issues such as whether a conviction has any bearing on the job
on offer, mitigating circumstances and evidence of rehabilitation.
When it comes to convicted felons’ job prospects, a number of
officials and community organizations believe that technology is an
unusually forgiving industry. That’s especially true in Silicon Valley
and the East Coast’s technology hubs, said Chuck Pattillo, general
manager and executive officer of the California Prison Industry Board, a
state organization that provides offenders with work and training
programs while still incarcerated.
The main concern of tech companies, Pattillo said, is whether an
individual can do the job. “Yes, there’s going to be a background check.
But there’s more to a background check than a yes or no question.”
According to the online community Jobsforfelonshub.com, a number of
brand-name tech firms will consider convicted felons for employment.
These companies include Apple, AT&T, IBM, Sony, Tesla and Xerox. So
will enterprises with large IT operations, such as Boeing, Kohl’s and
United Airlines.
In many ways, former prisoners should conduct a job search like
anyone else: with lots of research, targeting, and planning. But there’s
also no question that a criminal record presents extra hurdles during
the process. Bootcamps and other tech-centric programs, both inside and
outside of prison, may have helped a former prisoner master certain
technical skills, but they still have to pay special attention to other
areas. Some things to think about:
Always, Always Be Honest
“Be 100 percent transparent,” said Chris Redlitz, co-founder of the
San Francisco-based non-profit The Last Mile, which recently partnered
with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the
California Prison Industry Authority to create Code.7370, an effort to
train prisoners in HTML, Ruby on Rails, CSS, Python
and other technologies. Those who successfully complete the program
will be eligible to join “The Last Mile Works,” a Web-development
business that will serve paying customers from inside prison. “In my
opinion, the sooner the issue comes out, the better.”
According to Pattillo, the CPIB encourages people to include their
prison time on their résumé. “Basically, you want to say, ‘Yes, I was in
prison and this is what I learned there,’” he said. Programs like The
Last Mile’s, he notes, “are well-known in the tech industry.”
“It’s critical to bring up your past before the employer discovers it
in a background check,” added Mark Drevno, executive director of Jails
to Jobs, a Lafayette, Calif., non-profit that helps ex-offenders prepare
for their job search. He coaches former inmates to focus on identifying
the hiring manager and having a frank conversation with them. “Tell
them your turnaround story,” he said. “You want to show them how you’ve
changed.” Ultimately, the manager should become your advocate with HR,
placing your background in proper context.
Understand the Background Check
Initiatives such as Ban the Box are designed to give you a chance to
prove yourself as a professional. That way, when employers do learn of
your history, they’re more apt to weigh it alongside your skills and
personality.
Companies that conduct background checks say that many employers look
beyond the simple fact that you’ve committed a crime. They take into
account your offense, how much time since it occurred, whether you’re a
repeat offender and how your record relates to the job at hand.
A number of HR executives suggest the background check serves as
something of an integrity test. If you’ve gone through an interview with
the hiring manager and didn’t volunteer the story of your conviction,
most companies will end the process as soon as they learn of your
offense.
Pay Attention to Your Appearance (and Lose the Tattoos)
A number of organizations teach ex-offenders about how to present
themselves through their dress, grooming and speech. You need to
demonstrate that you can make the transition from prison culture to
workplace culture.
In particular, Drevno said, think about your tattoos (if you have
any): “A quarter to a third of people coming out of prison have visible
anti-social, gang-related tattoos, and those are real job-stoppers.”
Fortunately, many groups and dermatologists will remove them
free-of-charge. Jails to Jobs provides a list of such resources here.
Remember that the tech world is in something of a labor crisis right
now. Recruiters, HR practitioners, managers and other industry experts
agree that there are more jobs than candidates in areas such as software
development. While paying heed to Drevno’s advice to only apply for
jobs you’re truly qualified for, keep in mind Redlitz’s observation
that, in this environment, “people are less concerned with your
background and more concerned with your product.
Top 10 Highest Paying JOB in Information technology
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Where can Ex-offenders Find Jobs
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Ten Steps to Getting a Job with a Criminal Record
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In 2007 I was charged with two separate DUI offenses. The first one that I had ever received was in March and I got a second one in October. I received these charges during my own personal time off from work. At the time I was a driver for a beer distributor, ironically. I didn't report back to work because I was certain that I would be fired, after all I was unable to perform the job for which I was initially hired. Since then, I have had much difficulty finding a job, and it is extremely depressing. I have a family to support, and I am desperately seeking any help that I can get.
Felon with DUI needs help finding jobs
Hello,
I'm guessing that your license has been taken away. Your career may be over and it may not be. I'm going to suggest two things. First, I suggest that look into a Certificate of Rehabilitation. A Certificate of Rehabilitation is a court order, which declares that a person who has been convicted of a felony is rehabilitated. If a petition for a Certificate of Rehabilitation is granted, it is forwarded to the Governor by the granting court and constitutes an application for a pardon.
Then you want to look into a Certificate of Good Conduct. The purpose of is is to provide evidence that you have been rehabilitated for employment and other purposes. It shows you are a law-abiding citizen and fully rehabilitated. It has no other legal effect.
These certificates are not available in all states. It would be a good idea to contact your local legal aid office where you may get assistance at a low cost or even no cost.
As always, I suggest ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs to contact their local One-stop Career center with help with their job search efforts. You can find the nearest center to you here:
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Employment Background Checks: Know Your Rights
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Where can Ex-offenders Find Jobs
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Ten Steps to Getting a Job with a Criminal Record
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The next step, announced today at the Koch network’s winter meeting, is a “getting back to work initiative” designed to follow up on the legislation, launched in partnership with the Society for Human Resource Management, the trade association for human resources employees. The initiative will inform businesses on how to recruit, hire, and keep employees who were previously incarcerated.
Charles Koch told the assembled members of the network, “when you hear that one out of four [Americans have a criminal record], this isn’t just some small isolated piece, this involves everybody throughout society.”
SHRM’s CEO Johnny Taylor said his organization had found that as many as 80 percent of employers supported the idea of hiring felons – but a much smaller percentage had actually hired many. They found three main obstacles among employers. The first obstacle was legal compliance issues, including most federal agencies and contractors that deal with security issues or require a federal security clearance. The second was the perception of civil liability on the part of employers, and a fear that hiring a felon could lead to a lawsuit if the felon committed a crime on the job. The third, Taylor said, was a psychological NIBMY (Not In My Backyard) mentality – that plenty of employers and employees liked the idea of hiring felons, but not at their own workplaces. He’s hoping the “employer toolkit” offered by SHRM and the Koch network will mitigate those forces.
Taylor admitted the liability issue was one of the most challenging, as the potential legal risk to employers varied from state to state. He noted that studies indicate that felons who had been released from prison were no more likely to commit crimes in the workplace than employees with no criminal records.
“Regardless of the employee, you do your diligence,” said Mark Holden, the general counsel for Koch Industries. “We’ve been hiring people with criminal records for as long as I’ve been here, about quarter of a century, and we’ve never had that issue. When you hire someone, either way, you’re taking a chance on them. We’ve hired people from the best schools, from the best background, and we’ve later found they’ve stolen from us.”
Taylor said that depending upon the measuring stick, there are anywhere from 6.6 million to 7 million unfilled jobs in the United States right now, and each year, roughly 650,000 people leave prison and reenter society.
“The First Step Act’s prison reform elements include education and skill training,” Holden said. “More people are going to be coming out for prison skilled and ready to go, ready to get back in the game. When employers choose to put applications of convicted felons in the wastepaper basket, it’s a huge wasted opportunity. A lot of these people are very hungry and very humble.”
Chris Wright, the chief executive officer of Liberty Oilfield Services, said that in his experience, released felons “have a passion to prove themselves. Really, you’re hiring the heart. If they’re going to work hard when no one is looking, and if they’re someone who will do the right thing, even under stress, you’re going to win.”
Holden noted that the while the Koch network pushed for the First Step Act and is eager to see America’s businesses start hiring the recently released, they oppose government mandates requiring employers to hire felons, and want to see employers freely embrace the option.
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Monica Andrade served 16 months in prison starting in 2002, followed by three years on parole.
Her crime? Manufacturing a controlled substance for sale, and child endangerment. More specifically, Andrade manufactured methamphetamine while her 13-year-old son was home.
Andrade completed her sentence and set out to change her life. She went to AV-East Kern Second Chance for help.
Michelle Egberts, an ex-felon herself, is founder and executive director of Second Chance. She ran “expungement” workshops to help ex-felons clear their records. The two-hour workshops are packed with information including the barriers people face as they work to clear their record.
“She educates on all the records that are out there,” Andrade said.
Expungement is a court-ordered process that allows an offender to seal or erase the legal record of an arrest or criminal conviction in the eyes of the law.
An individual is eligible for expungement if he or she committed a felony or misdemeanor and was not incarcerated in state prison, has fulfilled his or her probation, and was not convicted of an ineligible crime such as rape or child sexual abuse.
Andrade, 50, served time in prison, so she was not eligible to have her record expunged. But she was eligible for a Certificate of Rehabilitation.
A Certificate of Rehabilitation is available only for people who have gone to prison. They can get it after a certain amount of time if they meet the criteria. If granted, the document restores some of the rights of citizenship that were forfeited as a result of a felony conviction. It also acts as an automatic application and recommendation for a pardon from the governor.
Andrade attended four or five of Egberts’ workshops to begin work on getting her Certificate of Rehabilitation. She received the document in December 2016.
“There is an 11-page questionnaire just from the courts, from the DA’s office, that needs to be addressed, and if it’s not addressed correctly you’re not going to get your COR,” Egberts said.
The application package includes character references from at least four people who know you went to prison and have turned your life around. Andrade had at least 10 letters of recommendation. Andrade submitted her application for the pardon, including another seven pages of questions, in August 2017.
Former California Gov. Jerry Brown signed Andrade’s pardon on Nov. 21.
“She’s our first pardon,” Egberts said.
Egberts estimated Second Chance has helped more than 2,000 people expunge their records since 2012.
“Everybody is eligible so I don’t discriminate,” Egberts said
However, she noted individuals who committed crimes such as murder, rape, or kidnapping are not eligible for a certificate of rehabilitation.
Andrade visited Egberts’ Mojave home to talk about her pardon and how she is working toward creating a better life for herself and her family.
Andrade’s 13-year-old son, Carlos Boquin, is now 30.
“He is my idol because he never gave up on me,” Andrade said.
Boquin continues to help his mother and her two youngest children, his sisters, after Andrade’s husband was deported back to Guatemala six years ago. She lives with Boquin and his family.
“It was either fall back and go back to my bad ways and repeat history again, or this time, my son said, ‘Mom, I’ll watch the kids, you go to school,’ ” Andrade said.
Andrade went to school. She received an associate of arts degree in 2014. She received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from California State University, Bakersfield in 2017.
She is working on her master’s degree in criminal justice at Grand Canyon University. Andrade hopes to become a probation officer in the juvenile division for the Los Angeles Department of Probation someday. Her ultimate goal is law school.
“I’ve been through it; I’ve experienced it. So that now I can understand and I can relate, so that if anyone wants to talk to me I can be there for them, “ Andrade said. “That’s my goal — is to be there for someone else, to help someone else.”
Andrade got involved with meth because of a weight problem.
She weighed nearly 300 pounds at one point and was in abusive marriage. She started losing weight with the assistance of a doctor who prescribed fenflurmine-phentermine, or fen-phen, an anti-obesity treatment later found to cause potential fatal heart problems that led to its withdrawal from the market.
Andrade met drug traffickers through her former security job. They introduced her to meth to help her lose weight. The meth gave Andrade energy that kept her busy cleaning her house and helped keep the weight off. Andrade said she had children and could not go to the gym.
One thing led to another and Andrade eventually started to cook her own meth. That eventually led to prison.
Andrade has seven children, The two oldest are boys and the rest are girls. At one point her five oldest children were taken away from her. All are now adults. Andrade has seven grandchildren.
Andrade did not expect to get her pardon as soon as she did.
“It couldn’t come at a better time,” Andrade said.
After five years renting the same home, Andrade and her family face eviction.
“I don’t make a whole lot of money; none of us do,” she said.
Andrade is concerned that although she has a governor’s pardon, potential landlords might see her record after a background check and deny her.
The background check will show what Andrade was convicted her and her prison term, along with her Certificate of Rehabilitation and her pardon.
Egberts started AV-East Kern Second Chance with her former partner, Richard Macias, a retired law enforcement officer with 25 years’ experience. Macias now serves as director emeritus.
“Everybody deserves to be rehabilitated,” Egberts said.
Egberts was convicted in 2004 for grand theft. Her case involved more than $100,000.
“I have not been able to fiscally pay off my restitution. But I have done it and more by giving back to my community.” Egberts said.
Egberts is not proud of her crimes. She spent almost three years in prison. When she left prison, she had a four-year degree in business administration with an understudy in marketing.
“Couldn’t find a job for nothing,” Egberts said.
Egberts still has not found a job. She has not cleared her own record.
“I haven’t had time,” she said.
That is because she continues to help other felons. She no longer has a place to conduct the workshops, so she works from home. She walked across the room and picked up a package she received in the mail recently.
“There’s 13 cases in it from Long Beach,” Egberts said.
They do not make any money from Second Chance. Any money they do get goes toward supplies such as postage and ink.
“We’re looking for a home,” Egberts said.
Explained: Misdemeanors, Felonies, Pardons, and Expungements
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I recently was hired at a nursing home and was railed through all the pre employment paper work everyone goes threw these days. I had a drug test, back ground check and had to submit my fingerprints. Well I got a call that something was found in my back ground that has to be looked into further. All they information I was given was that the incident occurred in 2003 making me 16 and I of course knew right away what it was. I was charged with a misdemeanor and did 1 year probation. I like many other people had it seal away because I was a juvenile. Can they not hire me because of this? This is the only thing I have ever done in my entire life. I have never been arrested nor even gotten pulled over. My adult record is clean.
Juvenile offender wants Job Search Advice
Hello,
I'm not sure where you live but most states seal juvenile records from the public. In most cases they are only visible to law enforcement, the court system and government agencies. The one instance that it would not be sealed is the case of a sexual offense. If that is not your situation, you should seek legal advice as to why your offense is visible.
Many ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs often need legal advice. I suggest your local legal aid office.
I hope this helps.
How to get your Juvenile Record Expunged
How can a juvenile record affect my child's life?
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Where can Ex-offenders Find Jobs
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Ten Steps to Getting a Job with a Criminal Record
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I came across your blog while looking for work. First, I would like to say how much appreciate your time and efforts in providing helpful information for ex-offenders. I have read through most of the posts and your advice has given me some hope in finding work.
I was convicted of a misdemeanor charge of burglary. This occurred over 10 years ago. I didn't serve any jail time and was given 3 years of probation. Since then I went back to school, received a bachelor's degree,started my own business, and plan to go back to pursue a Master's degree.
I want to work in a youth care facility, specifically working with at-risk youth and provide counseling, mentoring, and outreach. However, if a facility is licensed by the state, live-scan is a requirement. I had the misdemeanor charge expunged, but I know that the charge will still be on record (which I had expunged). I actually had an interview for a facility and when asked about my criminal background, I was honest with that person. However, she could not hire me because of the record. She told me that I could apply for an exemption to work in the facility.
My question/concern is that from research on receiving an exemption, I would have to have the particular facility send a letter/request to the Licensing board before I can fill out the appropriate paperwork to get this exemption. Is it common for any facility to honor this request? How I interpret this is that this facility would have to support you and go out of their way so they can hire you. My frustration is that any place is going to hire someone else that has a clean background over someone like myself. So I am wondering if you have had
any experience with exemptions or clearances through the DOJ/LIvescan? Do you think it is possible for ex-offenders to get jobs in this field? I will jump through hoops and get what is needed to get hired but is it a lost cause and doing all of this for nothing?
I am sorry for the lengthy email. I've spent many months researching this subject. I really could not find much information in regards to other people's experience with this particular subject. It has been very discouraging. I would appreciate any insight you might have. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
G
Ex-offender may need help to get a job
Hello G,
I guess it couldn't hurt to apply for the exemption and the facility definitely would have to put some added effort into it. I want everyone to understand that expungement and sealing of records does not erase them. They simply are hidden from the public. The charge and subsequent conviction will always be visible to the court system, law enforcement and government agencies.
I know of ex-offenders and felons having similar jobs. The fact that you were informed about applying for exemption should give you hope if you really want this jobs. As I tell all ex-offenders and felons, they should apply for all jobs they believe they qualify for.
If this doesn't work out, you can always contact the United Way office in your area. They will be able to put you in contact with advocates and other organizations that provide services for ex-offenders and felons.
I hope this helps.
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Employment Background Checks: Know Your Rights
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: The Truth About Background Checks
Jobs for ex-offenders and Felons: Expungement of Criminal Records
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Pennsylvanians with old, low-level offenses on their records have fresh hope that past mistakes won’t cost them new jobs or housing.
As of Dec. 26, the state’s new Clean Slate Law allows people to petition to seal legal records in many misdemeanor cases that are more than 10 years old.
“Non-violent first-degree misdemeanors and most simple assault convictions became eligible for sealing, if the individual has not been convicted for 10 years and if no fines and costs are owed,” Sharon Dietrich, legislation director for Community Legal Services, explained in a press release.
A second phase of the law will kick in on June 28, when courts will begin automatically sealing records in eligible cases.
Here are answers to some key questions about the new law and how it works.
How is a criminal record sealed?
An ex-offender starts by completing a Petition for Order for Limited Access, a one-page form at the Self-Help Center at the county courthouse and online at www.pacourts.us/forms.
It asks for such information as the charges and the judge who imposed sentence.
If the offense happened in Lancaster County, the completed petition should be taken to the Clerk of Courts at the Lancaster County courthouse. There’s a $137 fee, but the indigent may seek a waiver.
Clerk of Courts Jacquelyn Pfursich said her office sends the petition to the judge who imposed sentencing and to the District Attorney’s Office. The district attorney has 30 days to challenge the petition, leading to a hearing before the judge. But if the district attorney doesn’t object, no hearing is needed.
District Attorney Craig Stedman said he expects that filing an objection would be rare, happening, perhaps, if facts on a petition were misrepresented.
Stedman called Clean Slate an overdue, crime-prevention measure because it promotes employment.
“If someone can have a job, they are tying themselves to the community,” he said. “That's a great indicator that the person is less likely to commit crime.”
For those who need it, free legal help is available through “My Clean Slate,” a program created by Community Legal Services in partnership with the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Volunteer attorneys will help to determine if someone is eligible for the provisions of the Clean Slate legislation, which went into effect on Dec. 26.
What happens after the judge grants the petition?
The Clerk of Courts Office marks its record of the conviction: “Sealed. Not open for public inspection.”
The office also notifies the police department, the magisterial district judge, Lancaster County Prison and other agencies that they are prohibited from sharing the records.
How does automatic sealing work?
The new law creates an automated process to seal any arrest that didn’t result in a conviction, summary convictions after 10 years, and some misdemeanor convictions for those who've been law-abiding for 10 years.
For those cases, no petition needs to be filed starting June 28.
Instead, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts will pull eligible records from its database of all criminal records and submit them to the Pennsylvania State Police to check for possible conflicts. The ex-offender will get a letter saying the old record will no longer show up on background checks.
The state will remove eligible docket sheets from its online listing of criminal cases, but not the listing of fines and costs.
The state office will also notify the Clerk of Courts which of its records must be sealed.
Pfursich said she doesn’t know how many local cases could end up sealed. In 2018, a record 7,522 criminal cases were filed locally.
Are people taking advantage of the new law already?
About 700 people statewide petitioned to have their records sealed in the first week after the law took effect, Gov. Tom Wolf said at a news conference Wednesday.
But it's too early to predict the law's impact here, officials said.
In Lancaster County, there wasn’t immediately a noticeable increase in the number of petitions for offenses that fit within the margins of the Clean Slate Law, according to Steve Gumm, the executive director of the Lancaster Bar Association.
But the bar association is “very happy with the law's passage” and sees it as the right step for those whose old, non-violent offenses have created barriers for their lives.
Attorney Mark F. Walmer, who routinely handles cases for sealing, expunging or pardoning past offenses, said he believes the big change will be the phase of automated sealing, when petitions will no longer be needed for eligible offenses.
“The sealing statute will be good for people who have one or two very old misdemeanor offenses," he said.
Walmer noted that the responsibility for verifying that a record has been automatically sealed will fall on individuals. Under the law, only “non-controversial” offenses are automatically sealed; other cases — those that include multiple charges or have unpaid fees, for example — make it through the automated system.
“There are many different disqualifications," Walmer said. “Know exactly what is on your record, have it reviewed by an attorney.”
How big a difference will it make?
Tara Loew leads Lancaster CareerLink’s Re-Entry Services, which works with job-seekers who have criminal backgrounds.
That program serves about 600 people a year, she said, and overall, about a quarter of the people Lancaster CareerLink works with report some kind of criminal record.
Many employers ask about misdemeanor convictions, she said, and retail theft charges can be “extremely limiting” for job-seekers, “more so than felony charges in some cases.”
Loew expects the new law to have a big impact on job-seekers.
In addition to giving individuals that deserve it a second chance, she said, the law breaks down barriers to finding full-time life-sustaining employment — helping families thrive and contributing to the local economy and community safety, as someone gainfully employed is much less likely to reoffend.
She said it also helps employers who might be inclined to give applicants a second chance by taking liability away from them, because legally they’re hiring someone with a “clean slate.”
Loew also said CareerLink has recently held two free criminal record legal clinics for job-seekers, with MidPenn Legal Services, Lancaster Bar Association, Rep. Mike Sturla and the law firm Bentley, Gibson, Kopecki Smith P.C.
Attendees got a chance to have an attorney look over their records and see what their options might be, she said, and when possible were offered free continuing legal help.
The clinics were a hit, Loew said, and CareerLink now plans to offer them quarterly, capped at 30 attendees.
Can an employer ask about sealed records?
Attorney Jennifer Craighead Carey, chair of the Barley Snyder Employment Practice Group, said in an email that Clean Slate prohibits employers from requesting criminal history records that have been sealed and they may not rely on such information in making an employment decision.
The law also allows applicants questioned about sealed records to answer as if the offense did not occur, she wrote, recommending that employers use disclaimer stating that applicants “should not provide information about expunged or sealed criminal convictions.”
How do employers feel about Clean Slate?
Tom Baldrige, president and CEO of the Lancaster Chamber, said it hasn’t heard much from employers about the new law, but he believes they’re generally supportive of it.
“No one is looking for additional barriers to hiring people,” he said, noting that the current workforce need is the most acute he’s seen in 19 years with the chamber. “There are companies that are literally turning down business opportunities because they don’t have the workers, and that is relatively widespread.”
He doesn’t consider the law a game-changer for employers, he said, but does think it “gives some people who might have been hesitant to fully enter the workforce because of some past indiscretions the confidence to come back, and that’s a win-win.”
Harold G. Ford III of NetAtWork is president of Lancaster Society for Human Resource Management.
He noted that Clean Slate passed the Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support and said, “I think that says really clearly this is really good for potential applicants but also for employers.”
Does it increase housing accessibility?
Ninety percent of the landlords that Tabor Community Services works with through its Community Housing Solutions program — an initiative of the Lancaster County Coalition to End Homelessness — have background checks as part of their screening process, according to organization president Michael F. McKenna and program manager Laura Willmer.
Although not the only criteria landlords are applying when screening tenants, past criminal offenses can create an additional barrier to affordable housing, McKenna said.
Tabor does not track the criminal records of those within their programs, but a significant number of those who have disclosed their background would fall under the Clean Slate law's parameters, Willmer and McKenna said.
“Some landlords will do a full background check and look for absolutely everything and others do not do one at all,” said Ann Linkey division manager at Tabor.
Usually, the criminal screenings are to find “violent and drug-related" offenses, Linkey said. The types of offenses that landlords and property managers find disqualifying vary.
“Some will look at a DUI and let it go if it was just that, others would say no,” she said.
Although her team does not track how many housing applications were rejected due to criminal background checks and what those offenses were, it does happen, Linkey said.
“It's a good thing for our clients who have those kinds of backgrounds," Linkey said of Clean Slate.
“It will complement the federal Fair Housing Act," Ray D'Agostino, chief executive officer at the Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership, said of the new law. In most cases, real estate decisions based solely on criminal records are already prohibited, he said.
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I have a felony conviction for theft. It's the only spot on my otherwise clean record. I am a compulsive gambler who is attending Gamblers Anonymous and getting treatment from a psychiatrist. I have been looking for work for a long, long time and can't even get a call back.
Previously I worked as an accountant but my addiction will keep me from that type of work. I would like a shipping/receiving or an inside sales position or maybe a dispatch job. All these positions are ones that I worked before I started my accounting career.
Recovering felon needs a job
First of all I wish you success on your recovery. I'm not sure what state you live in but some states offer what is known as Certificate of Rehabilitation. A Certificate of Rehabilitation is a court order, which declares that a person who has been convicted of a felony is rehabilitated. If a petition for a Certificate of Rehabilitation is granted, it is forwarded to the Governor by the granting court and constitutes an application for a pardon.
This information is not intended as legal advice. You should consult a qualified professional that is experienced in this field. One option is to contact your local legal aid office where you may qualify for free or low cost legal services that can help with this process. The legal aid office may also have relationships with employers who are willing to hire ex-offenders or felons. Check your local telephone directory to find the legal aid office nearest you
A suggestion I make to all ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs is to go to your nearest One-stop Career Center.
One-stop Career Centers are very underutilized resources that ex-offenders and felons
can use not only to gain employment, but to get vocational guidance and
preparation. Also, these centers offer a long list of useful services.
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 searching
Every
center is staffed with trained counselors that provide one-on-one help
for job seekers. Many of them have experience helping ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs.
As stated in a previous post, you can find your nearest center here:
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Where Ex-offenders and Felons Can Find Jobs
Are you an Ex-offender with a criminal record? You could have your question answered right here. Email your question to: adogzheart2@gmail.com.
Companies Hire Felons | Companies That Hire Felons | Companies That Hire Ex-offenders | Employers That Hire Ex-offenders | Employers That Hire Felons | Jobs For Felons | Jobs For Ex-offenders | Jobs That Hire Felons | Resumes for Felons | Felon Friendly Jobs | Felon Friendly Employers | Jobs for Felons | Jobs For People That Have Felonies | Jobs For People With A Criminal Record
My name is Eric Mayo. Welcome to my blog. I have helping ex-offenders and felons get jobs for many years. Many people with criminal records feel they have no chance at getting jobs. That is far from the truth. Though it may be a bit more challenging to ex-offenders and felons, it is possible to to compete for jobs. To do this, felons must construct a plan to neutralize the effects of having a criminal record.
It is definitely going to be more challenging, but the challenges can be overcome by hard work, planning and creativity. I started this blog to offer ex-offenders and felons practical advice and other useful information that can help them get jobs.
What I want everyone to understand that jobs are not going to come to you. You are going to have to go and get them. Getting a job is tough. Getting a job with a criminal record is even tougher. You are have to work harder, smarter and longer than the average job seeker because your record has put you in somewhat of a handicapped position. No one is going to feel sorry for you. The only thing that is going to work is hard work.
I will be updating this blog often so make it a point to stop by from time to time to see what questions have been asked and answered here. If after a while a questions similar to your situation has not been asked, feel free to send me an email with your question. I may not be able to answer your question right away, so look through the available responses. Maybe you will find some information that will help you.
To get everyone started, Click the blinking sign below. I will take you to a page where you can search for open jobs in your area. You can also scroll down to our huge list of companies that hire felons. Best of Luck!
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Where felons can Find Jobs
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Ten Steps to Getting a Job with a Criminal Record
Hey my name is Dylan. I have recently gained interest in joining the army. I’m from Illinois and I was charged with a class 1 felony in November, 2016 when I was 17 years old and was charged as an adult. I’m 18 years old now. By law I’m suppose to serve prison time, however I was granted a strict probation sentence. I’m still going through the motions of court, but upon completion of probation the felonies will be expunged. I want to enlist and get things started as soon as possible! Please help me out! Let me know what I can do! Thank You!
Dylan
Felon wants to join the military
Hello Dylan,
The military is often an option for ex-offenders looking for jobs. Once your probation is finished, I suggest you speak to a recruiter. Even if your charge is expunged, it will still be visible to the military. It will always be visible to the court system, law enforcement and any government agency. The recruiter will be able to help you establish your eligibility. I don't know which branch of the military you are interested in but the Army has a record of being more lenient than the others. I know of felons who have joined the military and turned service in careers. You can learn a useful trade in the military and also gain military status that will give you an edge when applying for jobs after your service is completed.
If recruitment numbers are down, you will have a better chance. The Army has been known to grant waivers to convicted felons who have finished their sentences. Waivers are considers on a case by case basis so your particular offense will be considered.
I hope this helps.
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Employment Background Checks: Know Your Rights
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: The Truth About Background Checks
Jobs for ex-offenders and Felons: Expungement of Criminal Records
This Book Has Helped Thousands of Felons Get Jobs ! You can get a copy of this book for as little as $5.00 Click Here!
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My name is Tim. I was reading the blogs on the web site. I have complete compassion in this matter as I am also a convicted felon. It's shameful just to say it aloud, but like the others I have accepted it and realized what I have done is wrong. My convictions unfortunately were aimed mainly at my parents when I was younger do to an emotionally unstable home life. I have corrected my problems and own emotional bouts. I am a successful father of two beautiful little girls and engaged to the most wonderful woman on this planet. We are buying a house soon on her income....I feel less of a person not being able to provide for my family.
I was told last week by Kelly services after an interview that I had the job. It was the best news I heard since my lady said yes to that important question after we laid our baby girl down for the night. I went to work today, I loved it. I liked it so much I started to talking to the human resources person about retirement and shares in the biz. I received a phone call on the way home tonight which is what has sparked my efforts for finding an answer online. Kelly services was relaying a message that a background check had come back and they found a felony.
The conviction that was in question was a misdemeanor. I'm not even sure that will save me from what's ahead but I plan on taking immediate action in the morning. My hopes lie within the kind heart of the hr woman from the place I was employed. The conviction in '07 was not a felony, if there is any possible way to get that taken care of on a very bare income please let me know. Thank you for your time and have wonderful day.
Sincerely,
Tim
Ex-offender may need legal help to get a job
Hello Tim,
Two things come to mind. First, if the conviction was on the application, It wouldn't be a question. As I suggest to all ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs, be totally honest when completing employment applications. It would make no sense to leave convictions off when applying, get hired and than lose the job when background checks are done at a later time.
If your only situation is that your misdemeanor is listed as a felony, one option is to have the prosecutor associated with your case to correct the situation. Often the prosecutor has the power to downgrade a felony to a misdemeanor. If there was an error, you should have no problem getting this done. If you have no success there, I suggest contacting your local legal aid office. There you may be able to get low-cost or even no-cost assistance correcting your situation. Often ex-offenders and felons looking for employment require some legal assistance and that is a good place to start.
I hope this helps
Jobs for felons: Expungement - A Way to Erase Your Criminal Record
Jobs for felons: Expungement basics
Ex-offender may need legal help to get a job Companies Hire Felons | Companies That Hire Felons | Companies That Hire Ex-offenders | Employers That Hire Ex-offenders | Employers That Hire Felons | Jobs For Felons | Jobs For Ex-offenders | Jobs That Hire Felons | Places That Hire Felons | Felon Friendly Jobs | Felon Friendly Employers | Jobs for Felons | Jobs For People That Have Felonies | Jobs For People With A Criminal Record | Expungement | Pre-trial Intervention
From The North Carolina Dept. of Commerce The share of former offenders finding work in North Carolina within a year after release from state prison declined from 62% in 1998 to 39% in 2014. This article explores some of the factors that may be responsible for this trend, including changes in the labor market that have made it harder to find a job—particularly for blue-collar workers, and especially for former offenders. In previous articles, we reported that the employment prospects of ex-offenders improved following the end of the Great Recession as the economy grew and the labor market tightened. However, data from the North Carolina Common Follow-up System (CFS) reveal that the post-release employment rates of former prisoners remain much lower than in the late 1990s—a potentially worrying trend.[1]
This article, while not exhaustive, offers some theories for why the fortunes of former offenders recently released from state prison have worsened since the late 1990s. Job-finding rates have declined among jobseekers in general (not just ex-offenders) in North Carolina and nationwide over the past two decades, reflecting underlying changes in the labor market that have made it more difficult to find work. One change in particular—a slump in goods-producing jobs—may be limiting the types of employment opportunities traditionally available to former offenders. In addition, the widespread practice of pre-employment background checks has placed further impediments to post-release job-finding. The upshot: regardless of the cause, former state prisoners in North Carolina are experiencing worse employment outcomes now than they did during earlier periods of economic growth. Individuals tasked with helping ex-offenders obtain employment may find it more challenging to serve this population than in previous decades, despite the opportunities afforded by North Carolina’s red-hot labor market. Before proceeding to our theories, we should first note that the composition of the inmate population has changed over time in ways that may have affected the employment outcomes of former prisoners. For example, North Carolina’s 2011 Justice Reinvestment Act (JRA) redirected misdemeanants from state prisons to county jails, thus increasing the prevalence of felons in the prison population. Prisoners’ education levels have also decreased over time, including prior to the JRA, and as a result they may be finding fewer opportunities for gainful employment after release.[2] Another possible explanation can be found in labor market trends occurring during this period. It has gotten progressively more difficult for unemployed jobseekers to find work since the late 1990s. The share of unemployment insurance (UI) claimants employed within a year after layoff declined from 89% in 2000 (the earliest year available) to 82% in 2014. Similar trends can be seen in survey data; the percent of unemployed workers in the Current Population Survey finding work the following month declined from 34% in 1998 to 20% in 2014.[3]
These declines in job-finding, which mirror national trends, have occurred alongside “jobless recoveries” that feature persistently slow job growth, high unemployment rates, and pervasive long-term unemployment after the end of each recession. Economists have proposed a wide range of explanations for jobless recoveries, including the widespread slowdown in new business startups, which has cut off an important source of job growth; businesses taking advantage of recessions to streamline their operations; and structural changes in the labor market that have yielded permanent job losses in certain industries. These various forces have, individually or combined, helped create a less hospitable labor market for all jobseekers—not just former offenders. The concentration of job losses in certain sectors—particularly “blue collar” industries—provides an additional clue in explaining the worsening employment outcomes of ex-offenders. North Carolina has followed the rest of the nation in seeing declining levels of employment in goods-producing sectors, particularly in Manufacturing and Construction. The Construction sector experienced steep job losses after the Great Recession, while Manufacturing employment fell continuously from the late 1990s through 2010. Our state had nearly 350,000 fewer Manufacturing jobs and 36,000 fewer Construction jobs in 2014 than it did in 1998.
Indeed, most of the decline in ex-offenders’ employment rates can be accounted for by fewer finding work in Manufacturing and Construction. These sectors employ a disproportionate share of former offenders; in 1998, 12% of former offenders were primarily employed in Manufacturing within a year after release, while 11% were employed in Construction.[4] By 2014, the share primarily employed in Manufacturing and Construction had fallen to 6% and 4%, respectively. Employment in these two sectors fell by 13 percentage points, accounting for most of the 23-percentage point decrease in former offenders’ employment rates.
Finally, we note that employer hiring practices may have made it more difficult for former offenders to find work. The vast majority of employers now conduct criminal background checks on job candidates, a trend driven in part by post-September 11th security concerns and the greater availability of inexpensive background checks. The increased prevalence of background checks makes it more difficult for otherwise-qualified former offenders, particularly felons, to obtain employment; academic studies have found that employers are less likely to consider job applicants with criminal records. Among North Carolina employers surveyed by LEAD in 2018 who reported difficulty hiring, 23% reported that applicants’ criminal records were a reason for their hiring challenges. General disclaimers: Data sources cited in this article are derived from surveys and administrative records and are subject to sampling and non-sampling error. Any mistakes in data management, analysis, or presentation are the author’s. [1] The earliest data available in the Common Follow-up System for state prisoners covers the year 1997, and the latest data covers the year 2014. We calculate wages in the year after release from state prison, and treat any wage-earning during this year as an indication of employment. Around 3% of released prisoners are released from more than one period of incarceration in a given year; for these persons, we include only the last release of each year. Wage data in the CFS are based on state unemployment insurance (UI) tax records from employers, and thus may omit earnings from federal government employment, self-employment, “under-the-table” jobs, and other work not covered by state UI laws. [2] In 2010, only 28% of exiting prisoners had completed the 12th grade or higher, compared to 43% in 1998. Source: NC Department of Public Safety, Automated System Query [3] We use longitudinally-linked Current Population Survey microdata from IPUMS-CPS, University of Minnesota, www.ipums.org [4] Here we define “primary employment” as the sector in which a worker earned the most wages in each year. In 1998, 37% of employed former offenders primarily worked in Manufacturing and Construction within a year after release, compared to 23% of all workers in the state.
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