Many companies hire ex-offenders and felons

Many companies hire ex-offenders and felons

Credit KEVIN NIEDERMIER / WKSU

Finding jobs for  ex-offenders and felons is a very difficult task. I know, I have been helping ex-offenders and felons get jobs for many years. I wish there was one thing I can tell them that would make this job easier, but the fact is, it will take a plan and a lot of hard work. Unfortunately, too many felons consider themselves victims of society that are constantly discriminated against for things they have done in the past. When a felon is released, the sooner he or she finds gainful employment the lower the risk of re-offending.

As I tell my students, don't expect anyone to feel sorry for you. Don't look for any sort of favors. There are few to be found. There are ex-offenders and felons hired everyday. You have the right skills and attitude you could be a big asset to the right company. Jobs are not going to come to you. You will have to get out and compete for them. Anytime someone else wants the same thing you want, you have to compete for it. Unfortunately, the playing field is not level. You have a criminal record which will put you at a disadvantage when it comes to competing for jobs. This does not make things impossible, just a little more difficult. The only way to overcome this disadvantage is to work harder and smarter. My question is, do you have what it takes to get a job? Filling out a few applications a week and spending the rest of your time hanging out or playing video games won't get you a job. You must plan to put in 40 hours per week, finding job openings, writing letters, making phone calls, filling out applications and working on your interviewing skills. There are ex-offenders and felons hired everyday. If you have the right skills and attitude you could be a big asset to the right company. Let's look at some things you will need to increase you chances of getting a job.


A Resume

Everyone looking for a job should have a resume. A resume is an individual summary of your background, experience, training and skills that helps you to present your best qualities to an employer. If you have a resume, have a professional person look at it to judge it's quality. If you do not have a well written resume, I suggest you get some help putting one together.

Proper Interview Clothing

Do you have appropriate interview clothing? A well fitting suit with a nice shirt and tie would be Ideal. That may not be possible for someone just getting back into society but I suggest that men at least have dress slacks, a light colored shirt and a coordinated tie. You should also have a pair of shoes that you can shine. No boots, no sneakers…shoes! Many of my students buy their interview clothing at thrift stores. They find quality clothes at very low prices, clean and press them and they are ready to interview. No matter how you get them, the right clothes makes all the difference. You should also have a neat haircut be clean shaven. If you wear a beard, it should be neat and trimmed. How do you look? Do you look like an ex-offender or a businessman? Do you look like you are going to a business meeting? You should - an interview is a business meeting. You should always look like a professional who is there to conduct business! Always dress like you have an interview even to fill out applications. You also want to leave the employer with the impression that you have class. You will never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Interviewing Skills

While your resume may get you an interview, it’s your performance on the interview that will get you the job. Remember you are going to a business meeting so be personable and friendly but keep it businesslike. Do not reveal too much information. give full responses to the interviewer's questions but never volunteer information that is not asked for. If the question of your record comes up, briefly acknowledge it but do not spend too much time talking about it. Focus on what has happened since your conviction and what you have done to make yourself a better person. Develop a friendly smile and a good handshake. You have to make the interviewer forget that you are an ex-offender. Get a friend or family member to help you by playing the part of the interviewer. Practice will pay off.

Finding Job Leads

The most effective method of finding job leads is by networking. Networking is simply talking to people you
already know and asking if the know of any job openings. Believe it or not, this how most people get their jobs. Employers save time and energy by hiring people that are referred to them.

Another great source of good opportunities is to apply for temporary employment. A lot of employers need temporary help. Many temporary employees are hired permanently if they prove to be good workers.

Smaller independent agencies are a better choice than larger, nationally known ones. Independent agencies do not have the same hiring restrictions that may exclude ex-offenders are free to hire anyone they choose. They are more likely to hire a person with a criminal record. You may find some in your local telephone directory. Apply to them as you would any other employer.

I encourage everyone looking for jobs to go to their local One-stop Career Center. You will find a long list of services that can help you find work. You will also find lists of available jobs in your area. There are also
counselors who can provide one-on-one assistance. Often the counselors have experience helping people with criminal records and know of employers who may hire them. The counselors can also help you find opportunities for vocational training that could lead to a new career.

You can find you nearest One-stop Career Center here:


http://servicelocator.org

There are also government programs that can help ex-offenders and felons get jobs. The first is the Federal Bonding Program. Some employers are fearful of hiring ex-offenders or felons since they feel their criminal histories make them more likely to steal, commit fraud or be dishonest in other ways. A bond is an insurance policy that protects an employer against money or property loss due to employee dishonesty. Most felons cannot be bonded by private insurance companies. The Federal Bonding Program is sponsored by the government through the Department of Labor. This program was created to help high-risk, but otherwise qualified, job seekers who have offers of employment. The Federal Bonding Program offers insurance policies that protect employers against any possible losses incurred due to actions by high-risk employees. The program is designed to help ex-offenders and felons who need a second chance. These bonds are free of charge to both the applicant and the employer and can be issued for any job at any employer in any state. Any full or part-time employee paid wages (with Federal taxes automatically withheld) can be bonded, including persons hired by temporary employment agencies.


You can find out more about the Federal Bonding Program here:

Federal Bonding Program, ETA/DOL

1725 De Sales Street, NW Suite 700

Washington, DC 20036

1 (800) 233-2258

http://www.bonds4jobs.com/state-coordinators.html

Always remind interviewers that you can be bonded. Finally, a great incentive for employers to hire ex-offenders and felons is the Work Opportunity Tax Credit or WOTC. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal income tax benefit administered by the U.S. Department of Labor for private employers who hire individuals from specified target populations. One of the target populations are ex-offenders who have completed their sentences within the past year. The WOTC reduces a business’s federal tax liability, serving as an incentive to hire otherwise difficult to employ people. Eligible employers can receive a federal tax credit up to $4,800 for each qualified employee.

You can get more information here:

 http://www.doleta.gov/business/incentives/opptax

There are many opportunities for ex-offenders and felons to get jobs if they are willing to put in the time and effort. Hard work, dedication and a definite plan of action will lead to jobs.

 Many companies hire ex-offenders and felons

 

Where can ex-offenders and convicted felons find jobs

  

 

Jobs for felons: Immediate Jobs for Felons

 

  Jobs for Felons: How Does a Criminal Record Affect the Job Search

 

 

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Many companies hire ex-offenders and felons

Felons can Use a Certificate of Rehabilitation to get Jobs

Many ex-offenders and felons find it very difficult to find jobs after serving their sentences. There are some legal tools that are available that can be used that will make the difficult task of getting hired with a criminal record easier. One of these tools is the Certificate of Rehabilitation. It has also been known as Certificate of Relief from Disabilities or Restoration of Rights or Certificate of Good Conduct.

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.  (In
some cases the granting of a Certificate of Rehabilitation relieves some offenders from the sexual
offender registration requirement.)

If granted a certificate, one may be eligible to be certified in some fields that were previously closed because of the nature of one's conviction

Currently there are 14 states (and Washington, D.C.) in total that offer certificates of rehabilitation:

•  Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Georgia
•  Illinois
• Nevada
• New York
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Vermont

Each state has it own requirements for those who wish to apply for a Certificate of Rehabilitation.  Application for a certificate is a legal process that should only be handled by a legal professional.  You must get assistance from a qualified professional.  Contact your local Legal Aid office where you may be able to get free or nearly free assistance applying for a certificate.

Legal Aid attorneys may know of employers who have hired ex-offenders and felons in your area.

4 Benefits of a "Certificate of Rehabilitation"

Jobs for Felons: Government Help For Felons Looking for Jobs

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Felons can Use a Certificate of Rehabilitation to get Jobs

Criminal history questions on job applications could soon become illegal

Criminal history questions on job applications could soon become illegal

Posted: Sep 18, 2017 3:50 PM EDTUpdated: Sep 18, 2017 10:19 PM EDT

By Kayla Cash

  KSPY.com

Legislation barring employers from initially asking job applicants if they have a criminal history was sent to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk over the weekend. 

The bill was introduced in February, the state Assembly approved AB1008 on Friday, and it now awaits the governor's signature.

Supporters say ex-felons would be able to get more jobs and potentially stay out of trouble. Lawmakers say employers would still be able to ask about criminal history but not until the applicant has received a conditional job offer.

Democratic Assemblyman Kevin McCarty is one of the politicians behind the bill. If passed, it would help more ex-felons get a second chance.

"For the applicant, especially someone who has a criminal history, it gives them a chance to highlight their qualifications of the job before they have to explain some criminal history that might disqualify them from the job," Kathy Eppright, an attorney in San Luis Obispo, said.

Mychal Cody, manager of Pizza La Nova in San Lis Obispo, says it's important to know who they have on staff when it comes to someone's background.

"They're not only taking the charge of representing our business, and so to be able to clearly identify who that person is going to be could really have an effect on our business," Cody said. 

However, Cody says Pizza La Nova won't judge anyone who applies.

"If they're hard-working and they're trying to make a change in their life and we can be that step forward for them, we want to be that," Cody said.

For some employers, if this bill becomes a law, it could become difficult to scrutinize potential employees without knowing their criminal history, according to Eppright.

"So once they make the offer, then they can say, 'We're going to make it conditional on a background check,'" Eppright said. "Then they have to connect it. If there is something in the background, they have to show how the offense relates to the job the person's applying for."

Employers who deny applicants because of their criminal history must have a good reason.

"Let's say somebody has a DUI in their background and they apply to work at a Starbucks. It would be hard to connect the dots between the connection and why it would disqualify them from being a barista for Starbucks," Eppright said.

The bill would make the following employment practices unlawful under FEHA for an employer with five or more employees:

• Including questions about criminal history on employment applications
• Inquiring or considering the applicant's criminal history before offering a conditional job offer
• Disseminating or distributing an applicant's conviction history background check

If the employer plans on denying an applicant based on their conviction history, the bill would require the employer to do an individualized review of whether or not their history would have a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job.

They would have to consider three stipulations: the nature of the offense, the time that has passed between the offense and sentence completion, and the nature of the job.

The employer would have to notify the person applying with a written decision, and the applicant is allowed five business days to respond, and an additional five days to dispute the decision with evidence.

There are some companies that require background checks by law, so they would be exempt from this bill if it becomes a law, according to Eppright.

Nine states and 15 cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, have adopted similar regulations.

Read the full bill's text here.

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Eric Mayo

A bill that would seal certain criminal records could open doors for millions of Californians

State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), shown in 2019, who wrote Senate Bill 731, said sealing criminal records would remove burdens on previously incarcerated individuals who face discrimination once they reenter society, including when applying for jobs and places to live.

(Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

BY ANABEL SOSA, Originally published by The Los Angeles Times

SACRAMENTO — State lawmakers on Thursday approved legislation that would allow some Californians with criminal convictions to have those records sealed if they maintain a clean record, a move cheered by criminal justice reform advocates and harshly criticized by law enforcement.

Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, a Los Angeles Democrat who wrote Senate Bill 731, said sealing the records would remove burdens on previously incarcerated individuals who face discrimination once they reenter society, including when applying for jobs and places to live. Because California law keeps criminal records public, even long after a person’s sentence ends, those convictions often surface during background checks.

“About 75% of formerly incarcerated individuals are still unemployed after a year of their release,” Durazo said. “So something’s wrong there. We expect them to get back on their feet, but we’re not allowing them the resources to get jobs and [have] careers.”

The Senate approved the bill in a 28-10 final vote, and it will head next to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his consideration. The Assembly passed the legislation in June.

If signed into law, criminal records will still be provided to school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, private schools and state special schools that conduct background checks for job applicants. People who have their records sealed also would be required to disclose their criminal history if asked when applying for a job in law enforcement or public office. Registered sex offenders were excluded from the legislation, and those convicted of serious and violent crimes would have to petition a court to have their records sealed.

The bill would permanently and electronically seal most felony convictions after a person fully completes their sentence, including any time on probation, and would require a certain number of subsequent years without any arrests. The bill would also apply to people who were charged with a felony and served time in state prison and who have a record of an arrest that never resulted in a conviction.

Law enforcement, courts and the state Department of Justice would still have access to the records.

But law enforcement groups raised public safety concerns with concealing certain criminal records from public view.

The Peace Officers Research Assn. of California, the state’s largest law enforcement labor organization, feared expanding the relief of penalties for felons would place communities at risk, a concerned shared by other law enforcement advocates.

“A government that has more open records is more accessible to the public,” Frank Huntington, the President of California Assn. of Licensed Investigators told The Times.

Huntington agreed that individuals with criminal backgrounds face discrimination, and said the association was open to limiting the reporting requirements to a shorter time period.

“To completely seal records ... we have a huge issue with that,” Huntington said, adding that private investigators would lose access to court records that are a cornerstone of their work, which involves extensive background checks.

Under current law, people arrested on suspicion of a misdemeanor or who served time in a county jail for a felony may be eligible to have their records sealed, with similar exceptions. The proposed legislation would expand that possibility to people with additional felony convictions, including those who served state prison sentences.

Advocates of the bill argue that the lack of access to employment and housing is what drives recidivism rates and restricts California’s economic development.

Jay Jordan, the chief executive of Alliance for Safety and Justice, a criminal justice advocacy nonprofit and co-sponsor of the bill, said that people are relegated to “post-conviction poverty” by being forced to live in marginalized neighborhoods. “Folks wonder why these people are getting killed? It’s because they live in unsafe neighborhoods.”

Jordan said he and his wife have struggled to adopt a child because of his old criminal record.

Jessica Sanchez, who was previously incarcerated for a short period of time but asked to not disclose why for the sake of preserving her privacy in case the bill passes, said because of her record and limitations to housing, she was forced to move back to the neighborhood she grew up in.

“I want to live in better communities, but I can’t,” Sanchez said about her neighborhood in Central Los Angeles. For a short period of time, she had to move to a shelter with her daughters because of break-ins at one of the first apartments. “I can’t take my kids out to walk in the park.”

Sanchez said it took her nine months to find an apartment that wouldn’t ask her about her prior conviction.

“I just want a safe place to come home to,” she said. “They see that I’m a single parent, have visible tattoos, and then they see I check the box, and they say, ‘nope, never mind.’ You don’t even get a call back. As someone who is trying to leave it all behind, I’m stuck in the same place where chaos happened. How does that work?”

Because of her criminal history, Sanchez, a mother of two, said she is starting to look for new apartments before her lease is up in January. She said she knows the application process is going to take a long time and she has to get ahead now. Today, she works an administrative job at Homeboy Industries, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that helps victims of gang violence and other formerly incarcerated individuals reenter society.

Sanchez has hopes to enroll in law school, but she fears that when she checks the box indicating she has a criminal record, she won’t qualify for certain scholarships.

“What if I want to live my life in a different way and I want nobody to know I’ve ever even been to jail?” she said. “Why can’t that be a possibility for me?”

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Jobs for Felons

Felon Chef needs a job

Felon Chef needs a job

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.

Felon Chef needs a job

Hello Lamar,

Vocational schools usually have a placement department that find jobs for their graduates. I suggest you contact that department and 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:

https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/service-locator.aspx

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.

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

Felon Chef needs a job

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