Do ex-cons deserve the same equal employment opportunities that people who have never been convicted of a crime do? In our society many ex-cons, whom have served their punishments either in prison or probation, are often not given jobs they apply for, even when they are qualified. So why should they not be offered those jobs? They made a mistake and got themselves into trouble, but they served their punishment...why should they be punished for the rest of their lives? People have to have jobs to live, and when an ex-con cannot find a job, how is that person supposed to become a part of society? How are they supposed to stay out of trouble when they can't even find the money to support themselves?
Thanks for your help-- Nigel (11:00)
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We would like to believe that the answer to this question is yes ex-cons do get the same equal-opportunity to get a job as everyone else does, but this is not true in todays society. Educating employers on the rehabilitation these ex-cons go through while serving time would go a long way, I believe, in correcting this problem. I know that if I was hiring an employee and I saw that they had been convicted of some crime, I'd be a little less convinced that he'd be a good hire for me. This is because I have no background with any ex-cons. So how do we fix this? I believe the best way to go about this is instate a rule where for any job hiring that at least one ex-con that applies must at least be interviewed for the job. An interview can tell you a lot about a person, and if these ex-cons aren't even getting a chance to show an employer who they are today, then they really have no shot at getting a job ever.
-Patrick Larson-
It would be nice if ex-cons had an advocate or was the advocate for themselves in explaining pertinent information about their rehabilitation that would give employers knowledge that the ex-con was stable enough to be hired and not commit another crime. It's really unfortunate because some of the ex-cons may have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the employer may have actually hired someone with no record that just simply hasn't gotten caught in the act. Alot of Employers have a contract you sign before your hired that states they can let you go at anytime, so I think more employers should at least give the ex-cons an opportunity if they are qualified and if it doesn't work out than at least they(ex-con) had the chance to try like anyone else would have received.Ex-cons aren't necessarily bad people , only humans that happened to make a bad decision at the time and get caught doing it. Sometimes the best way to learn a lesson is by making a mistake, Ex-cons should be given opportunities if they served there punishment, otherwise why would the law enforce a punishment only for the general public to continue enforcing an unwritten punishment by not given these people a chance? In certain cases though were you have a child molestor trying to get a job at a school with young kids than your first priority would be to protect the kids,rehabilitation or not there should be more job options than a place that would be continuous reminder of the crime commited. Really a case by case decision by each employer needs to be thought about as to not put the ex-con into a detrimental situation that could only harm both parties more.Amy Soneson
If I'm an employer, I'd like to think I'd base my considerations primarily on the job interview and a candidate's past experience in the field, but everyone has preconceived notions and assumptions and prejudices, and it's insincere to pretend that we don't and that they don't come into play when making important decisions, such as hiring someone to work for you. This being the case, I think the fairest thing might be to have regulations in place regarding how to handle the employer-exconvict dynamic. Many states reward businesses who are willing to help ex-cons get back on their feet, and I might support this idea.
I'm assuming that the more violent or socially repulsive (child molestation) the crime, the tougher it is for the ex-convict to get a good job. I would be okay with more government programs (at the state and city level, especially) being put in place to help these people out. I'd want the person to try on his own first, but once he has applied at, say, 10 places and found nothing, he could come in to a state agency that would help him find a new job. Again, I think a system based on incentives and rewards for employers willing to hire excons might be the best way to go.
A tangential issue . . . are fellow workers entitled to be informed about excons being hired to work alongside them? For instance, if someone has committed a violent crime, such as shooting a fellow employee, should other workers be informed of this person's mistake to give them the opportunity to adjust their behavior around the new guy ("don't make him mad!") or even to quit their job if they don't want work around an excon).
John Wentworth
It really all depends on what the person was convicted of, in my opinion. Let's say a guy was working for a bank and was secretly stealing money, gets caught, and goes to jail for a few years. After he gets out, he applys for a job at another bank. If I'm the one hiring at that bank, there is absolutely no way that i would take a chance on hiring that guy. So i think it all depends on the situation, and every situation is different. The ex-con made a choice to do something wrong and has to live with what he or she did for the rest of their life. Very interesting topic to read about.
Matt Lindsay
Unfortunately what you write is true and there is so many variables to consider when hiring an ex-con. Yes, they served their time, but what got them there in the first place? Was it some stressors in their life that led them to commit a crime against humanity? Does that not exist for them now? Are they really rehabilitated? I guess we don't know unless we weigh all the information and ask all the right questions during an interview for a potential position. Is the person who is hiring qualified to make a judgement on the rehabilitation of the ex-con? On the other hand, people who have managed to stay out of the prison system doing all the right things, going to school, getting a degree and following the rules, what do you tell them when you opt to hire an ex-con over them? How does the ex-con prove himself? I have many more questions than have answers. Linda Francis
i believe that ex-cons should face some sort of difficulty in attaining a job after they get out, but todays standards are unreal. it is almost impossible for an ex-con to get a job, which in my opinion causes more crime, people who can't get jobs sometimes have to resort to crime just to survive and then they end up right back in prison. the government needs to establish work programs for these people. i think that a good solution to this problem is a two step process. first government job placement. second, i think that cons(depending on the crime of course) should only have to tell their employer up to three years after their release, then they never have to bring it up again.
Ex-cons are not exactly the people i care the most for, but the position we place them in only their problems and our problems worse.
I think that a lot of people learn there lesson in jail or prison. I’m not saying that all ex-cons are good guys but they deserve a chance too. What these guys need to be taught in jail before they come out is that they can find jobs through places like the Fortune Society and Labor Ready. Labor Ready sends out guys early in the morning and if an employer likes the person, will keep them. They should also be taught that they can write letters asking the government to forgive them for their crime and get the record sealed. Most of all, they need to keep trying
Amanda Borders (12:00)
I think ex-cons should be able to get a job after serving their punishment. Ex-cons are people who can't just live by not having a job. Everyone needs a job. If someone tried to get a job and was an ex-con, it would wonder on what their crime was and how they were treated for it. If they learn for years what they did was wrong and did no other crimes they should be able to have a job to support themselves. Everyone should get a second chance even if they learned, but still struggle.
Katrina Burkhardt
I think it is fair for employers to hold a criminal record against a person, but I think that this should depend on the crime. A business is about making money, so the employer is going to choose to hire the best bet. A person is likely to repeat past behavior. I think that the nature of the crime and the position applied for should be taken into consideration.
Megan Qualls
Ex-cons do deserve equal employment rights. Part of the path to reconstruction in an ex-cons life is the placement of a good job. These ex-cons should have personal counselors that place ex-cons in proper fields. This counseling and preparation should start while they are still in jail. The skills that are needed to cope with their job and society should be underwent at the prison. I believe that certain restrictions are alright. For instance, you wouldn't want a sex offender with multiple offenses teaching children, or a violent crime offender in a stressful work atmoshere. I believe that ex-cons should be allowed to redeem their stature in society, however, society seems to make it harder for them. instead, if we promote their redeeming themselves and support them with the skills and know-how, there will be more successful ex-cons. Right now, without the support, many ex-cons feel forced into retorting back into crime. Most of the time it is the result of finances or their unexceptance into society.
Aaron Peters
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