why can't  a convicted felon get hired as easily as a non felon?
395826
Because you have to be an illegal alien to get a job!
55905
Please check within your city government or social/grass-roots groups for programs offered to help ex-convicts.  I knew a man who was able to utilize a resource through a rehabiliation center to go get his CDL.  He was locked up for like 7 years about 20 years ago.  There are resources out there.  DON'T give up.
345384
Absolutely it can.  Many places now ask on applications whether or not you've been convicted of a felony.  There are laws against discrimination, but companies can find lots of excuses of why they didn't hire you.\n\nThat said, not all companies discrimate and you can still find a fabulous job.  I would be open and upfront about my past if the company asked about it on the application because if they hire you and find out later that you lied on the application, it could cost you your job.
315726
There is a non-profit organization called Prison Entrepreneurship Program which is described as "a Houston-based nonprofit organization that leverages the skills of senior business executives to constructively redirect these talents and equip inmates and former inmates with entrepreneurial training—enabling them to productively re-enter society."\n\nhttp://prisonentrepreneurship.org/\n\nAs for small business loans, felons typically find it hard to get one, even SBA. SBA adopts a "cautious" approach to lending to felons and oftentimes bases its decision on how serious the crime committed was and whether there is strong likelihood that the offense will be repeated again.
13215
Im sorry I dont have any help for you. However, I am 26 years old and three years ago I was in a vehicle when similar circumstances occurred. Also resulted in a felony conviction. I have a bachelors degree in economics and have just applied to law schools. I know its very discouraging. I dont expect to get into any schools, but I am trying everything under the sun. If I do get into law school, I am going to make it a huge priority to help people trying to get into the workforce to be successful.
317722
You could still be hired.  Be very carefull when asked about your criminal and citation record to disclose it all when asked or filling out the application.  Manytimes they are looking for lies on the application or during the interview and do not consider past criminal and citation records if disclosed.  If not disclosed they would consider you lying.
1100671
OK….let’s get to the guts of this issue.\n\nFirst of all, I AM a convicted felon.  I was convicted of a theft after a 4 day trial in 1992.  My conviction – a felony conviction with 8 years probation and 30 days in a “half-way” house.\n\nRegardless of my conviction, everyone….EVERYONE….. has committed a felony.  The real issue is – have you been caught or not?  My mother used to cheat on her taxes in her early 20s.  My father used to drive home from the saloons/bars after work.  My brother, in high school, used to sell small amounts of drugs to the jocks. Today, he is a lawyer.   My college professor admitted to stealing cars as a young punk in the 60s.  EVERYONE, one way or another, has committed one or more felonies.  EVERYONE.  The question is….has everyone been caught?  No.  Of course not.  So some people have the stigma of being “convicted felons” and others, in my opinion, are lucky and get to point the finger as the “felons.”\n\nBut whatever….who really cares.\n\nBut when it comes to getting a job……don’t play the victim.  As a felon, you made someone or something else the victim.  Now that your time in jail or probation has passed you by, don’t even think about complaining.  You are in this mess due to YOUR actions, like it or not.\n\nFelons get jobs all the freaking time.  For a while, after my conviction, I had a slew of jobs – \n\na.Delivering newspapers from 2:30 am to 5:30 am.  ($200 a week)\nb.Washed dishes for $7.00/hour every mid-day.  ($150 a week)\nc.Waited tables as a waiter every evening. ($150.00 a week)\n\nI didn’t sleep much, but three part time jobs paid me $25,000 a year.  I didn’t see my wife much, except on the weekends.  But I made an ‘acceptable’ living and paid my bills.\n\nAfter a while, my paper delivery job collided with my dish washing job, so I got a different job during the day – working as a general laborer for Labor Ready ($30 a day).\n\nWhile working the three jobs, I also applied to numerous job applications in the Sunday paper, on Monster.com and on career builders.com.  Every week or so, I would get a “bite.”  Someone would call or email with interest in hiring me.  I would ask – “What are the requirements?  Drug test?  Background check?  Credit Check?”   Most people would say – “Yes, a background check and drug test.”\n\nBut, you know what?  Sometimes….every now and then, someone would say – \n\n“No….no background check, but we do test all applicants for drugs.”   Once I heard that, I would work very, very, very hard to get that job.\n\nAfter a year of working three jobs and sending resumes, I was hired.  My salary - $32,000.  I said ‘goodbye’ to Labor ready, delivering newspapers….but still waited tables (part time) on weekend evenings.  That gave me another $50.00 a week.  The extra $200.00 a month is great way to pay for pizzas, sushi, renting videos, buying subway sandwiches, postage stamps, etc.\n\nSee?  It can be done.  It merely takes the continuous effort.\n\nStop playing a victim.  You CAN do it.  Never complain or condemn.  Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get to work.\n\nThere are lots of Felons (ex-cons) out there who work every single day.  According to the government, there are 15 million of us.  Being one of the ‘working folks’is EASY.\n\nGet to work!  \n\nDavid\n\nP.S. – I’m not going to say “Good luck” because I believe that you MAKE your own luck.  Don’t ‘have a great day’.  MAKE IT a great day.  And by the way, if your probation and parole are also completed, you can even VOTE in Texas again.
1133795
your crime does not fit under discrimination, as you committed that crime.  That was a choice, unlike race, gender, etc...I don't think that everyone will turn you down, I typically look at the crime when hiring, and believe me, there are a lot more people out there with records than you would guess.  If someone was a thief, or violent, I will not hire them.  Companies can refuse to hire for ANY reason.  It may just be that here in MIchigan the economy is so bad, and unemployment is so rampant, that their just aren't enough job openings.  But, I would be honest about yourself, if they are asking.
981728
I don't think most rehabilitation programs are successful.  We can't force someone to change-they need to want to change, and even then they may not succeed.  Most programs do not address all needs, and most ex-convicts, have a more difficult time  due to the NIMBY syndrome (Not in my backyard).  Who want's a convict to live next door? Almost no one.
1014994
I dont think any school board would hire a felon.
98823
It is a shame actually that in many cases prisoners are getting larger accomidations and more ammenities than the average soldier in a military barracks.\n\nI say, once they are convicted, have them doing all kinds of duties. Hard labor, intense cell cleaning each day, basic training type work hours, etc. Chain gangs would be good to have more frequent again.\n\nNow don't get me wrong. Those convicted of minor crimes that will be out in relatively short amounts of time should have jobs to possibly teach them a skil to be employed on the outside. Rehabilitate, but not in some easy or pansy way.
533074
LOL @ fire starter!!!\n\nseriously, for a felon, you can hardly work at burger king.
369268
The criminal justice system is designed to pick on the economy weak. So if you are poor and have done something wrong or are accused of having done something wrong  chances are you will either retain a badly overworked attorney  or a lawyer on the way up or out. Because the DA wants to prove how tough she or he is to the voters your the one they will try hardest to convict because your an easier to do so. If you do have some money there is a good chance you can retain legal power that actually has time to work on your case and has friends in high places that he or she has helped put in office. As a result, you'll usually either get off or a lesser sentence.
445918
It may not always be legal for an employer to not hire someone based on their crimial history (it must have a direct impact on the type of work you would be doing). For example, I cannot hire someone who is on a sex offender list because we work with children. But in reality, an employer will make a decision based on his/her personal beliefs about who they think you are based on what you tell them/what they know about your history. A decision not to hire can always be justified later on regardless of the real reasons -- "he didn't answer the interview questions well" "the other applicant displayed better qualifications and abilities". Like it or not, that's the way it goes. \n\nYour best bet, in my opinion, is to be up-front and honest about your past. It may cost you a job or two, but at least when you are hired, you'll know that A) you are working with someone willing to give second chances and B) your past will not come to light after your hired and get you fired, C) your new employer believes you can do the job despite whatever is in your past.
199975
well because no one really knows the heart of the person and there is always a risk they are running to hire someone with a criminal past, especially when there are many assets at stake. JUST BEING HONEST! do i agree with this? no, i believe everyone deserves a second chance. but having my own business i know that what i have has costed me a lot of hard work for me to "trust" someone just because i want to be a good person. if hired, HONESTLY i would keep a very close eye on the person til they proved they can really be trusted and that they have changed their ways. AGAIN, JUST BEING HONEST!
733990
To have a federal felony record you must have been convicted at a court marshal.  Don't listen to what these other poeple say.  If you were given an administrative OTH then you are not a felon.
1049867
sorry darling but you wont be able to.once you get convicted that puts a big dark cloud over you.You will find out there is alot of jobs you wont be able to get.