Do you think it is discriminatory against felons to not give them a job if their criminal background has nothing to do with the job they are applying for? For instance, a felon is applying to work as a cook in the dietary department of a nursing home, and they have many years experience in food service and are well qualified for the position, but are turned down for the job because of their record. However, their criminal background has nothing to do with abuse, whether it be sexual abuse, battery, assault, or even elderly abuse, should they still be denied employment?
Prisons are overcrowded with many people who once they get released to begin with, they end up getting sent back to prison because they can't obtain employment, are pretty much shunned by society, and then have to turn to selling drugs or prostitution just to get by to make their bills. Sure, they did their crime and they have done their time, so why do they have to continue to be punished by society and employers even after they have paid their debt to society? Do you think it is discriminatory to these people who are well qualified, but get turned down because of mistakes they have made? Shouldn't it depend on what the convictions are on whether they can work in a certain field or not?
Obviously a person who is convicted of robbery or some sort of theft shouldn't be able to work in a bank, but shouldn't that person be able to work as a food service employee in a nursing home, or maybe be a factory worker who works in quality control? The job market these days is bad enough for people who have clean records, but shouldn't felons have the same chances to better their lives and become a better person and be able to pay their bills and not have to turn to committing crimes again just to eke their way through life, constantly looking over their shoulder for fear of going back to prison because they are turned away from so many employers?
Melinda (11:00)
16 comments:
I totally agree with this. Someone who is trying to do right in the community should have the chance even if they were a convicted felon. Maybe they want to make a difference with their life and they can only do that by obtaining a good job. Just because they have been in jail doesn't make them any less of a person so why should they be treated like it? Especially if the job has nothing to do with their delinquency.
-Nikki (1:00)
I agree that felons should be treated the same way in certain circumstances. But there is always programs for felons who are coming out of jail to help them get back in the community and do the right things. If they can't find the job alone then there is always help by other programs.
Jared (1:00)
Yes i agree because everybody deserves a second chance to get a job, start over and do right. I don't think they should be treated different just because they went to jail for a certain reason.
-Terrian
I have to disagree. The reason is in actuality would you hire a person that might have a tainted background compared to a person with a good background. The answer is no. thats the mind set of most employers. they dont want anyone that might give their business a bad reputation. You cant change the past no matter how hard you try to change the future.
Rocky V (1:00)
IN MOST CASES I DO THINK IT IS DISCRIMINATORY TO NOT GIVE FELONS A JOB . FOR EXAMPLE, MY EX HAS A FELONY D.U.I CONVICTION AND NOONE WILL HIRE HIM. HE HAS PUT IN OVER 200 APPLICATIONS IN THE LAST 2 YEARS AND EVERYONE HAS TOLD HIM NO. EVEN DOLLAR GENERAL DOES BACKGROUND CHECKS NOW. YOU WONT GET A JOB AT WALMART,TARGET,MEIJERS, DOLLAR GENERAL,FAMILY DOLLAR, OR ANYWHERE ELSE WITH ANY FELONYS ON YOUR RECORD. IT IS VERY DISCRIMINATORY. WHILE I DONT AGREE WITH HIS CHOICE TO GO GET DRUNK AND DRIVE AND GO TO JAIL FOR IT, DAMN!! LET THE GUY RUN A DAMN REGISTER OR STOCK SOME SHELVES SOMEWHERE! GEESH! HE DIDNT KILL ANYONE OR RAPE ANY BABIES!! AND THE ONLY ONE WHO WAS HURT FROM HIS DUI WAS HIM BY GETTING A SENTENCE OVER IT! AND YES, IT IS VERY DISCOURAGING TO THESE EX-CONS WHO ARE TRYING TO MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVES TO CONSTANTLY BE TOLD NO YOU DONT PASS THE CHECK.AND I DONT THINK THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN THEY RELEASE THESE PEOPLE, THAT IF THEY DONT GET WORK, AND DONT GO BACK...IT IS THEIR FAMILIES THAT HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM! THEN AGAIN, I HAVE A CLEAN BACKGROUND,PASS A PISS TEST WITH FLYING COLORS, HAVE GREAT CREDIT, AND A CLEAN DRIVING RECORD AND CANT FIND ONE EITHER.
M.S.HUMES
I think that it all depends on the type of felony you committed and the job you are wanting you be hired for. In the case of something like a D.U.I., I believe that the person should still be able to be hired working a job. Driving under the influence is a poor choice is not something that should be taken lightly but it is not something that should haunt someone for the rest of their lives. My dad runs a trucking company and if a driver receives a D.U.I. while driving a vehicle regardless of what it is, the driver loses his license and if it happens again, there is no chance of the driver ever receiving their license back. I believe the person should at least be given a chance to make a living.
Morgan Russian
I agree with this post. If the crime relates to the job, then no they shouldn't get the job. But if there is no relation between the job and the crime, then they deserve a chance at the job just as much as the next guy.
Allison P
I believe that it should be up to the employer to decide if they want to hire a felon or not. They can evaluate the situation accordingly to what position the person will be taking and also how they will act within the workforce. In the end the employer is paying that person to work so they should have the call weather or not to hire them. I think people deserve a second chance so i do believe felons deserve jobs and should not be turned away just because of their record.
Brett Scott (11:00)
i feel that everyone deserves a second chance, and everyone makes mistakes. so to take that second chance would be wrong and in my opinion makes our country really as low as it is!
deashanay
I agree with this post, if a felon applies for a job that is not related to there felony then they should have a fair chance at the job. It is sad that the world operates the way that way and it needs to change.
Clayton B. (11:00)
I agree that it is terribly hard for someone to find a job with a record. I believe that if someone has a record that is very minor than they should be given a chance. Many people do get sent back to jail or prison because they do not believe they fit in with society because they are not given the chance. If their record has nothing to do with the job they are appling for then they should be given a chance.
Darci (11:00)
I think this is a question that has plagued many people working in the penal system. Prisoners have voiced their complaints on this matter. Many have been forced to relaspe back into crimianl behavior because they have been unable to find stable employment to make ends meet because of their criminal record. I do think that however it is discriminatory and biased not to give someone a job because they spent time in prisoner. Their time in prisoner was a debt owed to society and the day that they are released is suppose to be a reintroduction back into the real world as a law abiding citizen. This sounds good in practice but is of course theory and never actually happens this way. I do think that it is something that should changed and employment should be based on what the prisoner was sent to prisoner for. For example, prisoners who molested children should not be allowed in the school system just as prisoners who were incarcerated for theft or bank robbery should not be allowed to work at banking institutions. But that should be done individually on a case by case basis.
Eldridge (11:00)
I agree that it is discrimatory to not give criminals jobs after they get out of jail. They go to jail becaus ethey did something bad and when they get out they hopefully are goanna try to start new. I mean of course there are some people that are just going to go back to their old ways that helped them get into jail in the first place. But i feel they deserve a chance to redeem themselve and I mean in most cases you can just fire the person and make them get a different job if they aren't doing there work. At least you could say you tried. You can just keep a close eye on them and warn them that they aren't goanna get many chances to mess up. They spent their time in jail and have had hard times but don't let one mistake ruin their whole life socially so they can never get on their feet again.
-jake rone-
Felons have a history. That is all. I feel like they should have a clean slate when they enter the job market. Just because they went to jail does not mean that they are a horrible person.
Landon W 11:00
I agree with most of these posts, if a felon applies for a job that doesn't have anything to do with their crime then they should have a fair chance on getting that job. It's not fair when people look at felons as bad people, totally depending on the crime as well, like people have said before, people make mistakes they are human! just like you. Everyone deserves a second chance and if a felon is looking for a job and trying to get his/her life back on the right track then they shouldn't be looked down upon for trying. The ones that go back to crimes should be the ones that are looked at skeptically, they aren't going to stop. I agree that if someone is applying for a bank job and they have a history of robbing banks...that's a no brainer!
~Lauren (11:00)
Felons may have been wrongly accused, and therefore may never be able to get a job. You have to give people chances, and that felon must know how other felons do things. So he could help to catch them. Years of experience, is important, and maybe this felon wants change his life, for his family. He has to start with something, and someone who's working hard to change somehting, is going to be a good worker.
-Daniel (1:00)
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