Hire a felon, please!

Society iz fuck3d up an judg3m3ntal but lik3 my grandma always say A STRONG MAN IS A LAST LONG MAN BAAAAAAAABY MY N3W ORL3ANS ROOTS SO IM HAVING A HARD TIM3S ALSO BUT I STAY PRAY3D UP B CUS TH3R3 ONLY 1N3 WAY AND DATZ UP

quenicy in Stone Mountain, Georgia said: hw did u g3t start3d bsid3s putting ya own mon3y in

Hi Quenicy in Stone Mountain,

I made excellent $$ in the corporate world but when that dried up I went month to month with no income. It cost me $10 for my hackney license plus a few bucks for a map book and street guide. After my first night in the cab, my pockets were stuffed with cash. One never gets rich driving a taxi, but there's plenty of cash to be earned.

In my home based opportunity I initially used only free marketing techniques. Although now I can afford to spend $$ on marketing, I still use free marketing because it works so well. My activity is affordable for any budget. I used to work 80 hours a week in the cab. Now I commute 3 minutes to my desk and spend only 2 hours there on a long day. I receive much more cash now than I ever did in the cab.

Chuck
www.cashgiftingcabbie.com

DATZ V3RY IMPR3SSIV3 HOP3FULLY MY LUCK WILL FALL SOON

enriqua venezueal in Dallas, Texas said: I feel for all of you because there is no forgiveness in America for any crime. Also, we were lucky enough to have our black leaders stomp out Affirmitive Action. And please don't wait for Obama, it's not going to happen. My mother hasn't committed a crime in over 22 years. Her offense from 1972 is showing up and she is now having problems. I've read the forum and I was like wow! You are talking about 5 or 10 years try 35 years ago. So what does that tell you.

I have no faith in man only in god

LOUIS ARNOLD in Atlanta, Georgia said: I have been looking for work the past three month no luck,I have a bond by the state of ga. most company tell me even with the bond there insurance company just want insurance a felony.By the way Iam a felony

that is true but it doesn't mean that you need to stop trying keep on trying

I have someone in another state who used my name and other info and went to prison in my name. They caught up with him but the felony is still on my record. All i have on my record is a misdeninor i still get turned around on background checks. how I'm suspose to feed my family it's hard ,I don't want to do nothing stupid. I haven't work since January 08 this year

So I was charged with agg assault with a deadly weapon thanks to a crazy ex of mine. Rather than being smart and fighting the crime with bunches of $$$, I took the deferred adjudication, even with that I'm screwed. I don't break the law I just didn't have enough money to pay for a lawyer. I have no faith in the American judicial system. Today I went to a temp place and they pulled my record and only a misdemeanor showed up so with any hope I'll get the job. I now know what people with records feel like, and 90 percent are rehabilitated but for some reason they can't be hired like they're going to do something at the job they get when most of these people's mistakes are very far in the past. All I can say is good luck and never give up.

We are in the process of changing the way companies discriminate against ex-felons on jobs. Not only is this action against the law, by which we are going to begin boycotts to all companies that perform these acts, but these companies need to be educated that this country was started by felons who came here as fugitives from the tyrant King George of England of whom refused to hear their redresses and suspended their habeas corpus remedies. Any idiot can see this by just reading the Declaration of Independence. Furthermore, we are going to push to have all companies who do not hire felons removed from the equal employment opportunity status. We need your help in making these changes. Please log onto our site at www.fjtf.org and support our cause.

IT HAS BEEN VERY HARD FINDIND A JOB.I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INTERVIEWS BUT NO ONE EVER CALLS ME BACK.I KNOW ITS NOT THE WAY I INTERVIEW BECAUSE BEFOR I CAUGHT THIS FELONY I NEVER HAD ISSUES GETTING JOBS.THE ONE PLACE I DID GET HIRED AT DECIDED THEY WANTED TO LET ME GO AFTER MY SECOND DAY OF ORIENTATION,BECAUSE OF MY FELONY.BUT I TOLD THEM IN BOTH OF MY INTERVIEWS MY SITUATION.PLUS I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER FELONS WHO HAVE WORK AT THIS SAME PLACE.I FEEL VERY SCARED BACAUSE IM ONLY 22 AND I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF.I HAVE NOTHING.I JUST DIDNT THINK THINGS WOULD BE SO HARD.I THOUGHT I WOULD GET A JOB,BUY A CAR,SAVE UP MONEY FOR MY OWN HOME AND START SCHOOL.BUT NOTHING IS HAPPENING.

Stay strong and PRAY PRAY PRAY!! Go to a temp agency. Apply at every single one of them and keep calling them until you find a job. Good luck!

I've read through most of your comments and I empathize with all of you. I work with a ReEntry Program here in Michigan-helping to reintegrate those coming out of prison back into the community. More specifically, I work to identify companies/employers that are willing to hire ex offenders. I make cold calls, look in phone books getting addresses to visit employers: identify myself and began talking with whomever is at the counter. I've gotten some pretty descent responses. In addition, find out about community meetings that address these particular problems and attempt to attend those most of them are open to the public and it would be great to get to know community leaders. Hopefully these tips help! If I can be of further assistance, please email me at rmboykins2002@msn.com

Darrell Bell (www.fjtf.org) in Omega, Georgia said: We are in the process of changing the way companies discriminate against ex-felons on jobs. Not only is this action against the law, by which we are going to begin boycotts to all companies that perform these acts, but these companies need to be educated that this country was started by felons who came here as fugitives from the tyrant King George of England of whom refused to hear their redresses and suspended their habeas corpus remedies. Any idiot can see this by just reading the Declaration of Independence. Furthermore, we are going to push to have all companies who do not hire felons removed from the equal employment opportunity status. We need your help in making these changes. Please log onto our site at www.fjtf.org and support our cause.

I have a possession charge, got framed, riding with a dealer. I have a Bachelors Degree and working on my Masters Degree. My felony was 15 tears ago. I did not go to prison. They put felonies on us to hold down and keep us in proverty. They just had a man running during the past election with a felony, it's different for whites with felons. We do need to change the laws and file discrimination suits against those who refuse to hire us when we are qualified to do the work. Ccelaine25@aol.com

I am unable to find employment, here in Oklahoma, I gave one employer a bond paper to fill out during an interview, I thought they would hire me because companies get a big tax break from the government if they hire us, however they did not hire me. I used to lie, because my felony just stared showing up after 911. I probably would have gotten the job, if I had not been a felon. I have not been to prison, but convicted of possession with intent to distribute. I used to be a substitute teacher, a behavioral Rehabilation Specialist and many job skills. I got my felony in KC. Mo in 1995, mo. does not have an expungent program. I completed my AA degree, my BA degree and I am working on my Master's degree, I applied for a pardon, and was turned down, I can reapply in October of 2010. I am not going to reapply again, I am going to start my own counseling agency and open up a retail store selling black hair products and black clothing lines. Those of us who have skills must band together and become self employed and then employers, stop waiting on the white man to hire us, cause they will not. We do have a black President now, and I sincerely believe he will do all he can to address our needs, if enough of get together and send petitions to him. I thought I was the lone ranger until I read this website. There is a nonprofit agency in KC.Mo. started by felons called Beyond Conviction, and I hear they are very successful in helping felons get jobs. I am stuck here in Ok., in school, so I can't go back to KC., at this time. I was told they could place me on a good job in two weeks, this organization h. I have been praying for a very long time, with no success. I am trying to get a job with the state of Oklahoma, I have taken tests and scored high, they know I am a felon, and they keep emailing me job alerts, and I keep filling out applications, one day they will hire me, because I do have faith. I was looking for the HARDTOHIRE website, when I stumbled across this site.

David Thompson said: Somebody help. Everybody is talking about
the 2nd chance Act but nobody will even talk
to you with a felony. Company policy....

I've been out for 9yrs and still have problems find a good job.I was lock up for protecting my daughter. Never been in trouble before or after

my felony conviction was in 1998, i was just offered a position and excepted on completion of my background check which i disclosed prior in my interview. once the check came back, it looked even worse on paper, and they decided not to hire me. i was sooo hurt.

It is also interesting that I doubt judges, surgeons, cops, etc take drug tests or have never gotten in trouble. My sister is a judge and she does not have anything on her record or use any drugs but no one is drug tested. Seems kinda hipocritical to me. It has been hard for me to even rent an apartment due to a posession charge over 20 bucks of weed. I find it hard to believe that no one in these huge complexes are using? The world is crazy and people do change. It seems like discrimination to me. I received a deferred judgement which I was told meant it would not be on my record. It is on my record with the words NON CONVICTION next to it. That doesn't seems to matter to anyone. Why can't it just be taken off if it is a nonconviction?

Eric in Atlantic City, New Jersey said: There is a lot of good advice for felons looking for jobs at my blog:

helpforexoffenders.wordpress.com

Recently my blog has changed you can find it at:

adviceforex-offenderslookingforjobs.blogspot.com/

I am a convicted felon and have never had any luck with a big corporation to hire me or even give me the time of day. I decided to start a interior trim buissness because my father was a trim carpenter. I was very sucessful until the market crashed almost a year ago.I am about to lose everything I worked hard for and cannot get a job anywhere else because of my crime. I cannot even get government help to go to school even if I wanted to. I just do not get how the state can expect a felon to better his life when so many doors are closed in front of them everywhere. I am a very bright individual and I am stuck riding the construction wave for the rest of my life for a desision that took 5 minutes. My brother is a Nuclear Engineer and has a great life and did 500 times more bad things than I ever have or will. I now I should not look at other peoples situation and judge them but it just not fair. I am a father of two beautiful children and I hate for them to think why I never got a good job. It is very hard sometimes to keep trying to do the right thing and keep your head up when every time someone hears that you got a felony they automatically label you as trash. I would do anything for a second chance but I know in the states eyes there are no second chances.

iam about to be foreclosed on my home. My unemployment is running out. I have a OFHA voucher, that I cannot use to get an apartment even in the worst locations. This past friday my mother and i went to Oklahoma City, looking for a section 8 apartment. The first thing I was asked was are you a felon. I do not look like a criminal, far from it. We stopped at a aprtment complex so run down with all kind of hoodlums standing out front, my mother said you can't live here, I told her these are the only places I can get, because of my felony. My mother gets angry and says, "I am not getting out of the car. She said you must want to get killed, that is how rough this complex looked, trash evety where, windows boarded mattress and junk piled on top of vehicles etc. Guess what, the lady I spoke with told me I could not live there because I am a felon. She said they would reject my application. It seesmlike I am Charles Mansion or Jeffery Dahmer. I started to cry, the worst place in town and I cannot live there, this is really frightening. However, OFHA issused me a voucher, but it is against the government for me to live there because of the tax credit act, this is what I was told. This makes absolutely no sense at all. We non-violent felons need to file a government petition to Obama. My mother said convicted molesters get to live places you can't live in. "WOW!", and this is true. Maybe a group of us can try, and get on the Oprah, or Monteil Williams show. We need some public broadcast to help our cause. If we cannot go public and tell our stories, we will never get a piece of the American dream; a house, decent job, be able to provide for ourselves and families, end up back in jail, or destitute, pushing grocery carts around, and sleeping under bridges, this is frightening to me. I feel I have nothing to live for. I have never been to prison, but maybe this is why some people keep going back, so they will get 3 squares meals, and a bed. What a life?

charlotte Henry in Fort Smith, Arkansas said: Iam about to be foreclosed on my home. My unemployment is running out. I have a OFHA voucher, that I cannot use to get an apartment even in the worst locations. This past Friday my mother and I went to Oklahoma City, looking for a section 8 apartment. The first thing I was asked was are you a felon. I do not look like a criminal, far from it. We stopped at a apartment complex so run down with all kind of hoodlums standing out front, my mother said you can't live here, I told her these are the only places I can get, because of my felony. My mother gets angry and says, "I am not getting out of the car. She said you must want to get killed, that is how rough this complex looked, trash every where, windows boarded mattress and junk piled on top of vehicles etc. Guess what, the lady I spoke with told me I could not live there because I am a felon. She said they would reject my application. I feel like I am Charles Mansion or Jeffery Dahmer. I started to cry, the worst place in town and I cannot live there, this is really frightening. However, OFHA issused me a voucher, but it is against the government for me to live there because of the tax credit act, this is what I was told. This makes absolutely no sense at all. We non-violent felons need to file a government petition to Obama. My mother said convicted molesters get to live places you can't live in. "WOW!", and this is true. Maybe a group of us can try, and get on the Oprah, or Monteil Williams show. We need some public broadcast to help our cause. If we cannot go public and tell our stories, we will never get a piece of the American dream; a house, decent job, be able to provide for ourselves and families, end up back in jail, or destitute, pushing grocery carts around, and sleeping under bridges, this is frightening to me. I feel I have nothing to live for. I have never been to prison, but maybe this is why some people keep going back, so they will get 3 squares f

I no longer have the support or resources to seek employment. I will be homeless on the 1st of Dec. I must admit it is quite a stretch to hire someone like myself considering my record. However
I have paid my debt to society and I must continue to repay this debt over and over again. I have exhausted all sources, including
individuals I know. Homelessness for me takes me out of the game for now my very survival this winter will depend much on my willingness to keep going to not give up even though it has been 8 yrs since i held a job. Thanks to all the folks who mean well, I have received some good advice.

jazzy catmanliving in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania said: I no longer have the support or resources to seek employment. I will be homeless on the 1st of Dec. I must admit it is quite a stretch to hire someone like myself considering my record. However
I have paid my debt to society and I must continue to repay this debt over and over again. I have exhausted all sources, including
individuals I know. Homelessness for me takes me out of the game for now my very survival this winter will depend much on my willingness to keep going to not give up even though it has been 8 yrs since i held a job. Thanks to all the folks who mean well, I have received some good advice.

Sorry to hear your bad news, I am going to call my mortage company Monday, and see if they will accept my voucher to keep my house, or rework loan. I am with Country Wide a predatory lender. What kind of crimes did you commit, I am asking because you are welcome to stay here with my dog and myself. After, we must try and help othersa out. I live in Oklahoma in a rural area. I am not seeking a relationship, of any kind, just trying to do what Jesus would do.
You could get a job here at the chicken plant, it's really cold, and they hire anyone through the temporary agency.

Sincerely,
Ccelaine25@aol.com

Ramona in Atlanta, Georgia said: I can relate to you all. My felony conviction was in 1996. I'm in the process now of having my conviction expunged. I will also submit an application to have my conviction pardoned. I'm currently attending school for Bus. Admin. My goal is to go into business for myself. I plan on owning a sports bar on or before Jan. 01,2009. I currently have a small tax preparation business.(After being turned down by some many companies. I decided to go into business for my self). I have to write and speak my every move into existence. Man doesn't give 2nd chances.Man has to stay focused on our past mistakes to keep from focusing on his own mistakes. Therefore, I have decided to put all my trust in God. I always tell myself,"what man won't do, God will always do", without judgements or unforgiveness. My advice, t,o all allow yourselves to step out on faith and try God. God is bigger than any storm that you may go through. And, right now we all are in our own storm.
Have Faith in God

How are things working out for the Sports Bar? Are you on track for the 2009 opening. Thank God I did. My family will be moving to Atl in three weeks. I am in the US Army not an ex felon, but my husband is. I'm sure he'll run into all these road blocks too. We plan to open a security firm. contact me @klisflower@aol.com Rose

Be Cautious when replying to these so called opportunities. do not let someone make your bad situation worse.

David Thompson said: Somebody help. Everybody is talking about
the 2nd chance Act but nobody will even talk
to you with a felony. Company policy....

Jay has a job for you if you want sells

worthymarketing@hotmail.com

I received a felony conviction in 1992 for theft by deception. A temp agency kept sending pay checks and I (being stupid) continued to cash them. I received 2 years probation and never looked back.

It’s been 16 years since then; I have never been involved in the criminal justice system again. I was able to excl at my career. I never had a problem getting employed. I was laid off from a fortune 500 company in 2006 and have not had a permanent job since.

In 2003 the FCRA was changed with regards to obsolete information. Previously reporting agencies could not report any negative information that outdated the report by 7 years, but now they changed it from 7 years to lifetime with regards to convictions. (This is why there is a lot of confusion regarding the 7 year limitations on job applications.

Background checks are now big business. 90% of big companies now run background checks, even (Walmart).

There is no way to hide your convictions. Companies gather national (all states) crime databases of all convictions (not just yours) and if your name comes up they already have this information.

This has resulted in life time bans on employment for anyone convicted of a crime. Can you get a job, of course, but it will be of the lowest paying and the most physically demanding. I’m almost 50 and can’t do manual labor.

Most temp agency now run background checks. I did get two assignments through temp agency, but I did too good of a job. The company wanted to hire me, I applied they ran the background check and told the temp an agency, then the temp a agency did one and then told me that they can no longer work with me.

I too will soon be homeless with no hope.

David Thompson said: Somebody help. Everybody is talking about
the 2nd chance Act but nobody will even talk
to you with a felony. Company policy....

if you want to do sells give me a shout

Jay w
worthymarketing@hotmail.com

Well I got to move out of the apartment, i cannot pay the rent, my cable and internet is turned off, the car insurance has expired, i am 2 car payments behind which will result in repossession. The other car somehow just ran out of oil, so i cannot drive, if i do it will be illegal. I have no cash, i've been looking for employment for the past 18 months and still have not landed a position. I did get several contracts one with a company i have been with for 5 yrs on and off, however this company is going out of business. I have been fortunate enough to go on 2 interviews 1 interview did a background check upon leaving the interview when i arrived home i received an email stating that "we do not hire drug addicts and felons".............I guess i dont blame him, my record is very bad, however much I have changed. I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to have been of service to mankind and it's going to take quite a while to get the priviledge to be of service again. homelessness is my only option and i must
experience it the way it's going to be experienced.

jayw in Dallas, Georgia said: if you want to do sells give me a shout

Jay w
worthymarketing@hotmail.com

Would love to consider your offer of employment
where can i send you a resume?

At that email address

worthymarketing@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: I'm going to be a bit informal...
Hi all, So sorry to hear about your issues. As long as you want to do right by God, you will be assisted in some compacity. God bless.

I have never been convicted, but about 10 years ago, when I was obviously dumber, I got into it with my Vet over my cat...I threatend to kick his behind, and thus was charged with second degree assault..charges were dropped.

I was actually assaulted by a an Isuzu paint and body shop manager after calling him a name after being disgruntled about my car.
I called the police and filed charges, thinking I was going to either sue the manager or Isuzu...or at least he would go to jail or get fired. None of that happened. Nill. Nada.
Instead...this manager later brought charges against me, lied about witnesses before charges were finally dropped against myself.

The insurance adjuster [his buddy] finally admitted that he witnessed the assault...but not until after we had to go to court and after my charges against the body shop manager were dropped. I still had to deal with charges against myself. Finally the charges were dropped all together, I think the prosecutor knew I was dumb and a bit mouthy towards this guy at one time, but a victim of assault AND being falsely assused nevertheless.

Even though, charges were all dropped, I am haunted with back ground check discrimination...and I'm almost homeless.
I live in Augusta with my ailing mother [you almost think I'm telling tales here, hmm?]. And all the while, I'm trying to find work in histology/lab technology. I've been a yacht stew for three years, I have a BA in Zoology/MA in Publication Design. If anyone can assist me or if I can assist anyone in the same "boat" please contact me at djnieme@aol.com.
I have too much to lose as I become older. Dumb mistakes as menial as mine can cause huge problems. However, do I really deserve this kind of discrimination especially since I have a collegiate background? Seriously?

capacity grossly misspelled. need spell checker on here yall!

is misspelled misspelled?

Hi again everyone,

For any of you who feel that you are not being heard while suffering in silence or even if you are tempted to commit some kind of crime in order to survive or even suicide, please consider doing this instead: Whether you're dealing with charges or convictions/felonies/misdemeanors, please contact the most popular news organization in America:

www.cnn.com/feedback/. Tell them your situation.

I'm going to do the same after I post this, I'll post what happened to myself along with the issues with employment back ground discrimination, please do the same, maybe Lou Dobbs or someone out there at CNN can talk about these issues to help all of us who are just trying to find a JOB.

We've got fight lazy recruiters and recruiting practices and stop being treated as if we're just disposable.

Recruiters would rather LIE to people like me or yourself in order to placate the situation... in order to refrain from having to disclose as to why they aren't willing to hire folks like you. It is A COMMON practice. REMIND CNN!

www.cnn.com/feedback/!!

Background on My Background Discrimination [still ongoing too]:
In 2005, in ATL, I was hired by KForce and Cryolife as a research tech.
Four days later, I was fired due to a back ground check from Cryolife.

I was told that I lied on my background check. Yet, I believe that I answered honestly since I was only asked about "convictions" and not charges [all charges were already dropped about 10 years earlier]. This was the turning point of my career and my livelihood. I went from lab technology to yacht work in South Florida a week after I was fired in ATL and ready to commit suicide...this was not out of remorse or sadness..I wasn't even crying.....it was simply due to economical concerns. I was homeless for two weeks. I was scared, and at the time, I had no one to go home to. Fight the Power before it can END you. Don't let it. Keep Strong.
www.cnn.com/feedback

It would be nice if we could get some exposure from the Oparh show, or maybe Monteil Williams. I saw a program on cable this past week excons talking about prisons, and the black population in regards to the unjust legal system. We definetly need some public exposure, to help combat this crisis. I went for a job interview at UPS, which was listed on this site as a felon friendly work place. I filled out the application on line, of course it asked if you are a felon, which I replied truthfully.

I was sent an email for an interview, Fort Smith Ar., this past Thursday. There were only four of us who showed up, for driver helpers for the holidays, they were expecting ten more. After, we each went in, for separate inteviews, I was told I could not come back because it would take too long, for them to do a background check on me, on me even though, I had given them all the information they needed.

I emailed the interviewer, stating that I reported that I was a felon, on my original application, and if they did not want to hire felons they should remove their ads, from the list at Alert Indeeds. I was truly embarrassed, I also told the recruiter, that I would not have filled out the application had it not been a felon friendly ad.

She emailed me back and said, they needed workers immediately, and it had nothing to do with me being a felon. They had ample time to check out my background, before I arrived. I had two negative strikes, one being black female, second a felon. The other white lady who showed up, looked more criminal than myself. I do not look like a criminal, but this felony thing, mkes me appear as though I'm a Charles Mansion.

Employers need to realize we just want to join America's mainstream, and become productive citizens. The main reason a lot of people have felonies is that they are unable to get decent employment.

Charlotte Henry
Ccelaine25@aol.com

Debbie Niemeyer in Augusta, Georgia said: capacity grossly misspelled. need spell checker on here yall!

is misspelled misspelled?

I agree, I have made typo's often I am not wearing my reading glasses, and I am too lazy to get out the dictionary while sitting in bed typing, I do enough of that, while writing papers for Graduate School, oops!. After, typing comments there is not a an edit review. Sorry, but I hope you all get the intended message. (smile)

C. Henry
Ccelaine25@aol.com

I feel you. I have an AA, Liberal Arts, BA in Psychology, and I am currently working on my Master of Science in Couseling. I was just talking with one of friends today, and she said I don't why why you are getting all these degrees, you can't use because of your felony. Wel, after i complete my Master' Degree, I can sign a waiver in the mental health field. I am an older student, but i look much younger, and I am in pretty good health, so I will just have to manage to get by. I can also open my own Counseling firm. I will have the skills to do what I want, they can't stop us if we get skills needed to become self employed. But that's what we need to do, become educated and get our businesses up and running and help employ others. Yes, I feel bad from time to time, but as I told my friend today, one of these days God will open up the flood gates for me. I am not living a criminal life, and I just caught being at the wrong place at the wrong time, when I got charged with a felony. I still go and fill out job applications, and I no longer get upset, when I don't get the job, because I'm now used to rejection. I also used to be a Substitute teacher, and very good at it, but those are the breaks. And a couple of places have hired me for mental health postions, the jobs just didn't work out, do to personality conflicts with other employees.
Hold out don't give up, help is on the way, and we must believe it.
Charlote Henry

I just checked out the CNN website you mentioned, could you be more specific, I would like to participate, there is three different forumss, whhich one should I use. And how do feel about contacting Oprah, or Montell? Thanks for good ideas. Lets see how many people would be willing to appear on live TV, to air their concerns. Stay in touch.

Charlotte Henry
Ccelaine25@aol.com

Hi Celeine,

I probably misspelled your name [sorry].
To answer your question,
what I usually do is send an email to CNNTV and CNN News Stories.

But it really may not matter, not so much...as long as you keep doing it. What I do as well is COPY AND PASTE my messages over and over again until someone catches on that there is a serious issue with this type of discrimination...and it DOES affect the economy on some scale. We all need to be concerned as it can happen to any of us who make stupid mistakes. If no one helps us via the media or gov't, some will resort to crime...is that what our society is willing to tolerate? k, off my soap b.

later and thanks for replying! good luck

Charlotte,

With your healthy and mature attitude..that and going to school for a degree in psychology, should definitely put you on a better track. You seem educated and redeeming, I think you will succeed soon enough.

Debbie,

Thanks for your words of encouragement. I like reading your blogs, they are interesting, as well as informative. Hopefully, with our newly elected President, he can possibly impact change on the hiring traditions of big business, the legal and penal systems, as well, of course we know changes will take time. However, we can start compiling lists of concerns that need to be addressed. Together as a group, we can submit new options, to United States Parol and Pardon Board. Ex-felons For Change. (smile)

Charlotte Henry

ramona was yous still able to get an eitn from the irs with a felony record? if so please e-mail at chrislpatton@gmail.com

Ramona in Atlanta, Georgia said: I can relate to you all. My felony conviction was in 1996. I'm in the process now of having my conviction expunged. I will also submit an application to have my conviction pardoned. I'm currently attending school for Bus. Admin. My goal is to go into business for myself. I plan on owning a sports bar on or before Jan. 01,2009. I currently have a small tax preparation business.(After being turned down by some many companies. I decided to go into business for my self). I have to write and speak my every move into existence. Man doesn't give 2nd chances.Man has to stay focused on our past mistakes to keep from focusing on his own mistakes. Therefore, I have decided to put all my trust in God. I always tell myself,"what man won't do, God will always do", without judgements or unforgiveness. My advice, t,o all allow yourselves to step out on faith and try God. God is bigger than any storm that you may go through. And, right now we all are in our own storm.
Have Faith in God

I totally agree with you, trust in God, because with God all things are possible. The world will judge you, me, by our negative past, but through obedience, God can help us fullfill our missions.

My felony was in 1995, I applied for a pardon from the state of Missouri, and was denied back in May of 2008. I was told to apply again in October, of 2010. It will take 24 months for the investigation process after the initial application, again. So, I have decided to start my own business as well.

I plan to open my own Family Counseling, Agency, when I complete Graduate school. I will apply for a another pardon, but if I am rejected again, I trust that the Lord will guide my footsteps.

I also checked into getting my record expunged, however, the state of Missouri does not offer expungement. I had also considered a Presidential pardon, but those apply only for federal convictions.

Right now as I type, I am watching WWW.God TV.
However, if a person is really willing to follow the word of God sincerely, he will allow you to have what you need, and God knows that felons need employment, as well as any other American citizens. I do not want to appear as just waiting on the Lord will fix struggles, but we must prepare ourselves worthy of positions of leadership and trust. It is hard and difficult, but God's Will, will be done. I just experienced a miracle happen to me yesterday, concerning my place of residence, because I turned it over to Jesus. I am not doing what I want to do, right now, but my needs are being met.

On New Years Eve, instead of partying at the club, I plan to attend a local Church watch meet.

Charlotte Henry

Can any one tell how or where I can file for an work pardon.
Thanks.

I do not know, but all workforce centers have the applications, however, the waiver, as it is called has to be accepted by the prospective employer. I had one that I gave to an employer, it's a tax break for companies willing to hire a felon. However, I did not get the job. Some employers seem not to care, nor interested in the tax break. All they see is a felony arrest, and don't happen to be Black American, to top it off.

Sincerely,
Charlotte henry
Ccelaine25@aol.com

David Thompson said: Somebody help. Everybody is talking about
the 2nd chance Act but nobody will even talk
to you with a felony. Company policy....

GO TO GOODWILL THEY HIRE ANYONE!!!!

Great tip, thanks, I will check the Goodwill Agency out.

Charlotte Henry Blaylock
Ccelaine25@aol.com

David, this is true, I forgot about the job that hired me, then I quit for two more dollars per hour. However, both these jobs were in the Mental Health field. My last job, I was a Behavioral Rehabilitation Specialist, actually a very good job. I had nine adult consumers, suffering primarily from schizophrenia, and other personality conflicts. I gained a lot of experience from this job.
The job I left for that one was a Psychology Technician, at a Mental Health residential hospital. I worked in the sub-acute unit, for children under suicide watch. This was actually a better job because it had benefits, where as the other job had none at all. However, neither of these jobs paid enough money for my B.A. Degree. Then again I currently live in a small rural area. In between Arkansas and Oklahoma.

I am going to stay here, because I'm in my first year of Grad School, and there no distractions, and I'm making good grades. I will be leaving here as soon as I get my Master's Degree.

I'm just tired of being unemployed, and I have not worked since April of 2008. My aunt who lives in D.C., advised me to do some volunteer work for non profit organizations, and she said this a way to get your foot in the door.

I emailed an employer two days ago, and volunteered to work for 60 days, for free for the experience and hope of a job.The employer e-mail, today, and said she is out of the office,until January 6th, 2009. This job is for a County Jail Drug Counselor, for the state of Arkansas.

There are jobs out there you just have to meet with the right person at the right time. And having some Education, beyond High School helps a great deal.

Listen people, if you miss spell a word on here and try to retype you have to keep deleting the whole sentence, forgive me for grammatical errors, sometimes I will cut the language so, I don't retype all over again. We need spell check on this site, someone mentioned this before.

Charlotte Henry

send ur resume to oilrigc@yahoo.com

Reading everyones posts makes me feel better, and that I am not alone in this hard life. I was young and stupid, and NEVER thought what happen would have been considered a Felony.

Life has been UNBELIEVABLY difficult. I feel for everyone that aced the interview for the perfect job, only to be canned three days later because the background check came back (Why they hire when they dont staff ex-felons is beyond me - even when you tell them BEFORE you are hired!!)

I feel like its holding me back from everything I have wanted to do and moving forward with my Life. I have been struggling ever since, facing the consequences and responsibilities of my actions. Although I do not believe that they are a reflection of who I am today, I accept that they a serious reflection of character.

I am a stronger, better person today. I want nothing more than to move forward with my life for a brighter, positive future.

Has anyone successfully expunged their record? I want it removed completely so it never comes up!

David Thompson said: Somebody help. Everybody is talking about
the 2nd chance Act but nobody will even talk
to you with a felony. Company policy....

contact your local unemployment office. There is a program for individuals such as yourself. There are some tax advantages for employers who hire you for being in the state program! People do deserve a "second" chance. Even you! What ever you do...do not give up. Fight till the end and you will get a job! Best of luck.