Hiring Felons

Zeyomie

Jan 28 2009, 07:30 PM

This really irks me, I have several friends, and even some family members who are felons. They've made their mistakes and have paid their debt to society. But they are not able to get respectable employment, It seems these days the only places that will hire felons are fast food joints. Most of them that I know have resorted to running their own businesses because people refuse to hire them because of their background. At least those who don't work at McDonalds or Waterburger.

Employers are not supposed to discriminate against felons, just like anyone else. But I guarantee you, you have a felon apply for a job, and someone who is less qualified apply for the same job. That less qualified person will be hired well before the felon is even considered. I know too many people who are GOOD PEOPLE that are discriminated against because of their background.

Even when it comes to those who own their own businesses. Should someones background really be taken that much into consideration when choosing them to do your work? Say you want a landscaper to design your yard. His price is reasonable, and he's more then qualified with many years experience, has references, and is known for being honest and doing quality work. Would you hire him if say he was a past sex offender or thief? He's obviously trying to make a life for himself by doing honest hard work, and has learned from his mistakes, or could even have been wrongly accused and still did the time for it, you really wouldn't know. Would you hire him over someone who was less experienced, with higher prices, and fewer references, but had a clean record?

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lonebyrd

Jan 28 2009, 07:59 PM

I agree. There shouldn't be any discrimination against felons. As you said they paid their debt. If they are trying to make a living doing their own business, they obviously are trying. I have some friends who are felons and it is almost impossible for them to find work like you said. None of them have money to start their own business so they depend on state assistance. How does that help them or society as a whole?

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Xalor

Jan 28 2009, 08:36 PM

You're taking the opposing viewpoint, which I am not going to shoot down. I half-agree with you but the way you put it is an extremist attitude. A felon who does a major level crime, such as rape, murder, or high-end burglary, should be discriminated. There is a reason why they have past indictments on the application. Its a level eligibility. If you owned a company would you hire someone if they raped another person, less than a year ago, and got out of jail on bail or did their time? You have think about the employer, also if you were purchasing that service, and you have to think about it if it wasn't your family, would you trust them? Their trust had already been compromised, and they failed to stop their actions. Think more in a family oriented view, but I do agree on some points. If you get arrested and convicted for any crime and you apply to law school or a firm, you're unable to. At a level, felons should have some more level of power, but then who's going to fight for them, or any bet, who would accept such an amendment?

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networker

Jan 28 2009, 08:36 PM

Yes it's true, there should be no discrimination.
The thing, is it depends what they've been arrested for
and what job they are looking for.

Would you really want a bank manager as bank president
who has been arrested for fraud?

The person in question,might make a good electrician
or plumber or something,but fraud and money don't go
together.
People go to extreme lengths to embezzle,and doctor documents and
mislead and such. They should be aware of the consequenses
when they do these things.

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lonebyrd

Jan 28 2009, 09:51 PM

Ok there were some valid points made. It does depend on the job and the crime. But I have a question to pose to people. How long is long enough after someone has been released? Right out of prison I know around where I live there are places to help felons become employed. But i do believe there has to be some sort of trust in hiring a felon. What was their crime? How did they do in prison (like fights, following rules)? Do they have good non-felon references? There are alot of factors that would go into it looking from an employers point of view. How much do they really get to know about the persons background is my question

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galexcd

Jan 29 2009, 02:56 AM

I'm actually going to completely disagree with you here. Although you bring up the fact that there should be no discrimination when hiring and I certainly agree with that, however for felons thats just how life is. For certain felons it may even be a liability issue.

Nobody has a second chance to make a first impression. If that first impression is a bad one then that individual will most likely be judged for the rest of his life. I'm not saying that it is fair, I'm just saying that it is a part of life. As human beings there is no way for one of us to look into another person's mind and see what they are thinking; therefore we judge them based on what they have done in the past. A person could just have made some very poor choices as an adolescent and have been convicted for it. However, how does an employer distinguish these people from truly rotten people who may steal or destroy company property? The answer is the employer can not. It seems more logical for the employer to hire someone with a clean record because that person has proven his ability to function with the rest of society.

So basically the point I'm trying to bring across here is that in a perfect world, yes: felons would have the same likelihood of employment as the rest of us, but you cannot honestly expect the employer to do this in reality. Place yourself in the shoes of the employer, do you care if this man or woman has paid his or her debt to society and spent x amount of years in jail? No, you are much more concerned with with the safety and prosperity of your business.

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chakri

Jan 29 2009, 03:46 AM

This is a very tricky subject.
Several jobs require high level of integrity and it is commonly assumed that a person who has not been responsible with his or her own life (by commiting a crime). So this assumption may cost them their job.

I do feel that they should get a second chance because if they end up frustated without opportunities then they may revert back to crime as a last resort.

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Echo_of_thunder

Jan 29 2009, 04:44 AM

well I can honestly see both sides to this. On one hand you have a person who has done there time for a crime. then you have a person who is looking to hire. If the crime was small such as a mistermenor Yea hire them. but if it was something such as murder. I dont think so. it's sad that so many employers look someone with a clean record, when you have so many out there that are able and more than willing to do the work. Can't lie I did somethings in my younger days that cost me a job or two. But think about it like this. would you hire someone that was convicted of bank robbery to work in a bank? I don't think so. But would you hire that same person run your store if he or she had a background in that field? yes. I think so many look and see a record yet they do not look at what that may be. Stereo typing is the word here. They think anyone that has done any kind of a crime big or small is bad. They do not look or think are they now straight. all they see is someone that has done time.

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galexcd

Jan 29 2009, 06:17 AM

QUOTE (chakri @ Jan 28 2009, 08:46 PM)

I do feel that they should get a second chance because if they end up frustated without opportunities then they may revert back to crime as a last resort.

Your reply suggests that you think that employers don't hire certain people because their morals want them to suffer, or so it seems. In reality it has nothing to do with this. I'm sure except in very unusual cases the employer is not emotionally involved in teaching those who committed a crime a lesson. They just want to protect their business. Your argument is like saying "the poor should be given money", or "all those with fatal organ failure should be given an organ transplant". Of course they should! But who do you suggest we make suffer to make this happen? Who's hard earned money should we take away to give to the poor? Who's loved one should we cut open and steal an organ from to give to a dying patient? Who's place of business shall we jeopardize by placing a convicted felon as an employee?

The answer is none. It is a sad answer, but it is the only one we have. It certainly isn't fair but it is the only thing we can do.

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lonebyrd

Jan 29 2009, 04:54 PM

But there must be a way for them to regain a place in society. In the US if they aren't working they can get state assistance. That isn't helping them or us as a general population. There must be some places that will hire someone who has been convicted of a crime, but it all depends on circumstances. No I wouldn't hire a robber to work in a bank, and thinking about it I can understand why people conviceted of robbery cant get a job. Who is to say they won't steal from your company. But maybe working as a landscaper with a company, working with only the outdoors and fellow coworkers, that could work. You can't make a blanket statement about everyone who has been convicted. Everyone has different circumstances. A young adult gets convicted of a crime lets say. They were young and not mature. Maybe prison could have drastically changed that persons life. The crime isn't the only thing that should come into factor. It is the individual.

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iGuest

Nov 21 2009, 06:02 AM

I don't want to hear anymore crying from people who are felons or who have family that are felons about getting a job! I myself feel that this is complete bull****! For one, if they did the crime (many of them did) then they should be punished for it not me! For two, they do their little sentence take classes, get a college degree, and don't have to pay a damn dime! Does that sound fair to the person who paid his way through college and is now in debt due to student loans? My last point is this, since the government is now making it more acceptable to hire felons due to the tax deduction at the end of the year, there are more ex-cons working in todays workforce than people who are upstanding citizens with a clean criminal background! It kills me to see a company refuse to hire somebody because they are too worried about when the next bus of convicts get transported into work release system! How would it feel if you and your felon relative applied for the same job with the same credentials and they got the job and you never even got a call back? So like the old saying is, "IF YOUR GOING TO DO THE CRIME, YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE TIME!" They made their choices so they should have to live with it not ME!

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anwiii

Nov 20 2009, 06:31 AM

i do have to say that the price of commiting a crime is high in the united states. you can serve a few years in prison thinking you're free, but society will still put that strangle hold on ya. but see, that is part of the price. felons can't be trusted in society even if they served their time. just because they served time, doesn't mean they have earned back the trust they stole from people. so. in order to earn back that trust, they have to dedicate their lives to doing the opposite of what got them put in prison in the first place. eventually, it gets easier over time when society can start trusting felons again.

it's a catch 22 for some people because it gives them reasons to commit more crimes when society doesn't accept them after they feel they have done their time. but the thing is, as hard as it is for the felons, it's hard on all the innocent people out there and the victims of people who commit felonies.

i believe in second chances though but reading what you wrote about alot of your family members being felons, there is something seriously going on in that family when it's more than 1 felon in the family. so uintil those issues are resolved, why would you expect anyone to trust? UNTIL they give society a reason to trust them. going to prison isn't enough to gain trust, bud. you have common sense enough to know that. i also see your point though.

i for one am very trusting. i have also been hurt more than others but i feel it's worth believing in someone rather than not believing even if they made mistakes because everyone makes mistakes. nobody perfect. it's just the degree of the mistakes we have to take in to consideration.

if i were a felon and just got out of prison, i would lie on my application and leave it up to the employer to find out wether he wants to hire me or not or fire me after hiring me after he found out i was a felon. sometimes, you can work for a good company without that company finding out or it will give the felon enough time to prove him/herself before the emplyer finds out. sometimes exections can be made to company policy.

another alternative for a felon who is being discriminated is to start their own business. whether offline or online.

we live in a society that trust is usually GIVEN to anyone until they give a reason not to trust. felons have given that reason not to trust them. now....instead of trust freely given, they have to go by the rule and philosophy that trust wont be freely given. you have to EARN IT!

as far as those felons that were wrongly convicted, that will always be a shame and proves nothing is perfect. not even our justice system

QUOTE (Zeyomie @ Jan 28 2009, 02:30 PM)

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iGuest

Nov 20 2009, 05:07 AM

Felons in your society
Hiring Felons

I do not believe that felons should be discriminated against when trying to get a job. Why because I am a convicted felon and I made a terrible mistake in my past and took someone's life but that is not to say that I am a bad person who should not be trusted. I do not lie, cheat, nor do I still. I had never been in trouble with the law before and as of yet since getting out of prison I have not been in trouble with the law. I think that it is very sad that people steady concentrate on a persons negative past. Most people that meet me can not believe that I have been to prison and for what I was in there for. Since getting out I have accomplish a number of things. I for one have gotten my associates in Business and I am trying to start my own business.

It is a shame that I have so many talents, skills and qualifications and still can not find a job because of people who think that we should not be given a second chance. I have a family to take care of, bills to pay, as well as taxes just like everyone else but society wants to continue to focus on my past instead of the present. I have been turned down by many people while job hunting and soon as the hear that I have a felony the answer is I can not hire you. I know that I am a hard worker, dedicated, trustworthy, honest and dependable. It hurts to be turned down all the time but I think that I would be an asset if hired with anyones company...But they will never see it cause they can't get past "MY PAST" That is why alot of people have become repeat offenders...How are they suppose to make a living and take care of their families. Everyone makes mistakes...Some learn from them and some don't you can not judge everyone alike.

-reply by Ms. K

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iGuest

Nov 17 2009, 09:04 PM

When I was 4 years old, my uncle (by marriage), sexually molested me. He repeatedly did it for years. He told me that if I told anyone, he would kill my father. Finally, it stopped when I was in 8th grade because he moved away. I had a hard time all my life trying to understand what was happening to me and became very depressed over the years but I fought it. I fought it by being very active in high school, getting good grades, being a cheerleader, UIL competitor and winner and even getting 3 full scholarships to college. But, something happened to me once I graduated. I began acting out and was really depressed and thought I was going crazy. I sought after help but couldn't get answers. I didn't have self worth anymore and had low self esteem. I found myself trying to make people like me by being someone I was not. Eventually, I committed a crime (forgery). I never had a criminal history and even with the forgery, didn't take anything that didn't belong to me. I was just stupid and tried to impress someone to make them like me. Anyway, I got in trouble for it and spent 5 years on probation. I have 2 weeks left on it. Since the crime, I got the help that I needed, went to college and got my BA in Psychology and am in grad school studying Human Relations and Business. I'm also helping other women who have been sexually abused as well.

The problem is, no matter what anyone says about my past, I know who I am. I'm not the person that committed that crime. That person was hurting, abused and hopeless. Nevertheless, no one will give me a job. It's hard to find an apartment that's not in a bad area, and most of the time, I can't get assistance. I believe that first time non-violent offenders should have the opportunity for a sealed or expunged record. But, currently that's not happening. So, what are our options? Who's going to give those who are truly trying the chance to redeem themselves? This is not about first impressions. This is about survival. Here I am trying to make a better life for myself and don't know where my next meal is coming from. I'm staying at a family members house because no one will give me housing. No one will give me a job to take care of myself. What choices do we have? Going back to crime doesn't work for me, because it was NEVER me. I just got caught up in my situation because I had underlined problems that needed to be addressed and dealt with.

Today, I've been having to talk myself out of committing suicide. I feel like it's going to always be this way. But, I'm not going to let myself go out like that! I'm strong, I'm a hard worker, I love life and optimism. So, I will wait and pray. Someday, somehow, something will work out...For the good.

-reply by Still Standing

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iGuest

Nov 14 2009, 11:31 PM

Felons
Hiring Felons

I just have to say not all Felons remain criminals for the rest of there lives. My husband was convicted of armed robbery at a store when he was 19 years old. He was hopped up on drugs and alcohol and did it on a dare! He had a fake gun no excuse he did it and he deserved the sentence that he got! He did his time and when released he went out and found a job and traveled all over the U.S working paying taxes and paying his debt to society. He has not been in any trouble nor would he since his release. He has a wife and children that he would do anything for! But after 9-11 he is not only treated like a criminal he is also treated like a Terrorist as well as a criminal! He can not get a job in the places that he worked pre-9-11 like oil rigs and plants he can't even get a job at McDonalds cause he was convicted of robbery! I think that if you stay out of trouble for at least 15 years then your criminal record should be explunged automatically! Child Molesters and Murders have more rights to work in this country then my husband and that is just wrong! Yes he was convicted of a violent crime in a scene but it is a far cry from a child molester or a cold blooded murderer! My husband has been un-employed for several years now and does the oddest things to make extra money for the family. He collects garbage around the neighborhood such as tv, dressers, tables, and such and brings them home and works on them in the garage and fixes them up and sells them in almost new condition! I just think that our society does not realize that they do nothing to help these people and stereo-type them and keep them from working so what do you think they will resort to next when they can not provide for their children and their wives the cycle could come right back around and start all over again. I know my husband would never do that but I am certain it does happen and now you know WHY!

-reply by Donna

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Hiring Felons - What is so wrong with it?

Hiring Felons - What is so wrong with it?

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