In other countries once you leave prison you are considered rehabilitated and companies are not allowed to use your record against you. I believe that’s one of the main reasons other countries rehabilitation rate is so high. In the United States Felons have such a hard time finding jobs after their conviction that’s one of the reasons the United States has such a high return to prisons rate. I believe it should be considered discrimination, if the person is qualified for the job you deny them based off their charge. The only reason a company shouldn’t hire you with a felony is if your charge and position applied for directly correlates. So a person with a drug felony from 4 years ago shouldn’t be allowed to be a pharmacist but they should be allowed to be a clerk at a grocery store. That is the only way we will truly start rehabilitation. How can someone be rehabilitated in prison but come out and nobody will hire them so they can make an honest living, add to our society and become an asset to our economy.
This does NOT include sex offenders & Murders they are NOT felons they have there own categories.
Should we also put quotas on businesses where you have to hire x number of former felons per x $ amount of income for that business? Or should we let business owners and managers hire who they want to hire based on the values of that company and the details of the products and services? This is supposed to be a free country not a bureaucracy. The government doesn’t always have the peoples’ interest at heart.
I think companies should be able to hire who they feel is best unfortunately most companies will see you have the qualifications and are a great candidate for a position but they specifically don’t hire you due to your record, I think incentives should be in place to encourage employers to hire felons or they should add having a record to discrimination. America will never rehabilitate people if they don’t give them a chance to prove rehabilitation.Especially when they put people on probation and parole saying they need to have a job knowing nobody will hire them. Other countries are not allowed to ask if you have a record on applications/ interviews because they feel as though the person is rehabilitated and paid there dues to society whether it’s being in prison, paying restitution ect.
I agree with this policy. As a felon considered non dangerous non repetitive I can’t even deliver pizza or do Uber eats. I’ve been searching for a job for 2 years. I have medical issues so I have physical limitations so I can’t just got work for McDonald’s or a gas station. In addition I need something g that pays more to support my family. I have a college education and a good solid work experience background. All the “good” jobs want a clear background check. I feel it is discrimination. No one is even willing to give me a chance and I am applying for jobs that have nothing to do with my conviction.
I totally understand as when I was 17 being an idiot I got a felony on my adult record no matter how many years go by, it’s still an issue. I have worked a few jobs but when you get laid off it takes months/ years just to find someone willing to give you a chance. I am strong enough to keep pushing forward and keep trying… while others have children and family who need them to provide. When I was 18 I would go to interviews with my record saying I don’t want to waste your time ect they would hire me and the day I was supposed to start call and say “ wE dOnT hIrE peOpLe lIkE yOu” which is very discouraging for someone trying to change there life around. If the united states wants rehabilitation they need to open the doors so people can truly be rehabilitated. A job gives you purpose it keeps you busy and it pays your bills. That is the first true step to rehabilitation. I know so many felons who would show up and work harder than most who don’t have records. I just want the stigma to be taken off peoples back so doors can open and they finally feel like a human being instead of a docket number.