Felony Guide

Can I get a job with a felony on my record?

Who hires felons? Where can felons get jobs? Do they need to be bonded? Are certain industries more lenient about background checks than others? Will felons make less money due to their criminal background?

There is no doubt that having a felony conviction in your recent or even distant past can have an adverse effect on your ability to find gainful employment. However, there are resources available to help felons become productive members of society and obtain jobs. Likewise, there are certain employers and industries that are more likely to hire felons than others.

Some states, court systems, and correctional facilities have offender reentry programs that help prepare felons for life outside the prison walls. Often, these programs can offer referrals and advice for felons seeking work, which may include job or vocational training, assistance with resume writing and interviewing skills, and help with job searching techniques. Your state unemployment or workforce development office also may have resources to help you find and apply for jobs. Programs such as these also may offer access to skills testing, G.E.D study courses and testing, and other educational opportunities, which may help felons become eligible for a wider variety of jobs. Additionally, some non-profit and religious organizations exist to assist felons in transitioning back into society. Some reentry or employment programs also provide benefits such as access to counseling, appropriate clothing, haircuts, medical care, substance abuse treatment, and transportation in order to make it easier for felons to find and retain jobs.

Find the right employer
While some jobs and careers may be unavailable to felons under any circumstances, such as certain law enforcement and government jobs, there are still industries that are open to hiring felons. For instance, some factories and construction companies are willing to hire felons. Temporary placement agencies often have listing of employers who are willing to consider hiring felons; for instance, if a felon is able to successfully complete a temporary assigned placement, and show the employer that he or she is an ethical and dependable worker, then he or she might be able to transition to a permanent job with that employer in the future.

Other sources of potential employment for felons tend to require less skill, such as restaurant, janitorial, and other service-oriented jobs. Although these types of jobs might pay less than other jobs that require more skill, fast-food or cleaning jobs can give felons a starting place for future employment. For example, if a felon can show a pattern of steady, dependable, consistent employment for a certain period of time, then he or she may be able to move on to a higher-paying or more skilled job.

The government can help
Furthermore, the federal government offers certain benefits for companies who are willing to hire felons as part of their workforce. Some companies are eligible to receive federal tax credit incentive benefits for each felon that they hire. Likewise, companies can help ensure the trustworthiness of felon employees by using bonds, or business insurance policies, through a federal bonding program. Bonding protects employers from losses due to employee theft or dishonesty. These bonds are given to employers free of charge for a period of six months as incentives for hiring felons. Once the six-month period is complete, and the felon has successfully continued employment, then he or she may be eligible for a commercial bond in order to provide the employer with ongoing protection in case of losses.

Also see:
Hiring a felon

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I have conficted of a flony. During that time I was dealing with a severe brain truama that left me both physically and mentally impaired. Is there anything I can do about this?

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Scott Cook
Tuesday, July 6, 2010

i plead guilty for having a possession of a uncontrolled substance. basically im done paying my court fee and done with my community service. but its hard finding a job,i stay in washington the state. is there a site or a job listing for convicted felons?

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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Does anyone know where to find a list of companies the have Federal Bonds to ensure trustworthyness of felon employees?

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jeff
Monday, April 19, 2010

i am a 20 year old woman and i have been out of work for 2 years. after being out of work for a uear or so i obtained a felony and 2 misdemenors for 'bad checks'. i am having a hard time paying my probation due to not being able to find a job with my background and lack of experience. wat can i do to find a job to pay my probation and get my record expunged?

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jamekia wells
Friday, March 12, 2010

I pled guilty and received a felony for embezzling about $50,000 from a previous employer in 2005. Double whammy, getting fired and being arrested. I paid back about $15,000 and received two years probation with no jail time. I even got off probation for good behavior after 17 months.

Because I have HIV and history of depression, I applied for and represented myself in my SSDI case. I was denied the first time, but I won my benefits at the appeals level in 2008. This was all after being told by AIDS Legal Counsel that they couldn't help me because I had less than a 25% chance of winning my case.

I have a BA in Psychology, but I want to return to school and further my education because I want to counsel others to help them after prison, or help them prevent committing crimes. Do you think this is possible?

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Michael
Saturday, February 27, 2010

I pled guilty to misappropriated funds, DA dropped the embezzling charge I got 3yr probatons with 1 year restitution, i served and probation suspended. I am a certified bookkeeper and I try not to look for something in the same field. I just lost my job as an assistant manager, company filed bankruptcy, now i am looking but no one wants to give me a chance that my former employer gave me. I am thinking about school but I hear that certain degrees cannot be obtained with a felony. I am lost!

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Adriana
Sunday, July 25, 2010

also wanted to mention from experience. You need to understand and admit that you broke the law, you did something wrong. i know that right now it sucks and you are in a terrible position. my son is facing this now. But like i say to him, if you are thinking like a criminal you are going to be treated like a criminal, every time i went to court with him i would cry this isn't where WE belong .. And i mean this for all here asking these questions. I don't care whats in your past, what made you do the crime , or if your parents sucked. you need to come clean in your heart and say i did a terrible thing and HIT the floor on your knees! The lord God himself is the only answer for you all that cant find a job or peace Please I'm not trying to preach to you or shove God down your throat. just give him 2 weeks! that's it and see if the change comes.

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cheryl
Thursday, July 22, 2010

when you are sitting in jail contemplating what you did and why that is when God comes to you. pleading for god to give your son 2wks doesnt work that way. "you need to understand and admit that you broke the law..." maybe he needs jail time to change.

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Adriana
Sunday, July 25, 2010

Mike hats off to you! i think that the passion you have in your heart to help those in jail is your calling. I believe that God allows things to happen to us to prepare for our calling in this life. So start, if it seems that doors are flying open for u good do it. If it gets to difficult find outside passions> God Bles you!

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cheryl
Thursday, July 22, 2010

please can some one tell me how i can get a job i made a deal to embezzlment of 5000.00 and the deal was it not be on my record as long as i pay my fines and have it paid off in 2014 well i was told i am not a felon and i found out this week it is on my record and its not put on hold like it was surpose to be it got me a s a felony embezzlment convition so now i screwed the only work i know is runnin a cash reg are cooking i need help dont no where to turn to i still owe 4200 and i at lost


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cassie
Wednesday, July 14, 2010

How did you pay back only $15,000 and get off probation early?

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dave
Monday, June 14, 2010

I guess all cases are different, but I believe it had something to do with the company not wanting to turn over financial records to my lawyer to prove the exact amount?


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Michael
Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Its because embezzlement is a white collar crime. Sentencing is less as well as payback. It's B.S. that I got more time for a dime bag ($10) then anyone does for embezzlement!

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sneekypeak.81
Wednesday, July 28, 2010

hello im a mothr of 3 and my husband just went to jail doing 6 months how do i know where they moved him to?

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monica
Monday, February 22, 2010

what state do you live in just call the jail or lok it up on line if you live in nc type in nc doc and it will guide you right to it

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kelvin
Monday, May 24, 2010

my son was arrested for selling heroin to an undercover cop about $100.oo wearth and was arrested 8 month after it happen why did they whait so long to arrest him was was let out on a $1000.oo bail and lawyer said he could face up to 9 years in prison can someone help with with this question we are from ny m

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maribel
Thursday, February 11, 2010

if you live in or near Monticello it was probably part of the Obahma Heroin sting which happened late January of last year I can probably tell you who ratted him out and set him up

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Anne
Thursday, July 1, 2010

do you live in the Monticello area, if so I probably know who snitched on your son and set him up

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anne
Thursday, July 1, 2010

They sometimes are trying to build a bigger case against him and others. They may have been trying to get him on some bigger cases but failed at doing so and finally arrested him on whatever they could get. He should be able to easily get a few months jail and probation at the very worst if he has a clean record. If he does not agree to the first offer or two from the DA then he should be fine and likely get probation but it will change his life forever. Someone else recommended him to say he has a problem and needs help, I do not think claiming an addiction will help him since he was selling, but there are alternatives to a conviction and some states are more prone to give those out instead of charging a kid a felony. Have him discuss with the attorney his options.

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Ja,es
Wednesday, March 17, 2010

if it is his first charge on his record he should get a plea bargon and should not have to surve any time

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james
Monday, February 15, 2010

till him to say he has a drug problem and he needs help most likely they will give him a suspended sentence and make him complete a drug program if dosent he will go to prison and if this is his first time thats what happen in california anyways its not as bad as it seems they have a lot bigger fish to fry good luck

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t
Friday, February 12, 2010

they have up to one year to file charges the PD sent it to the DA to see if there was enought evidence to charge him with but it sound like they do

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t
Friday, February 12, 2010

No they don't they have up to 3 years to charge anyone with a felon. They can only hold you in Jail for 72 hrs. I hate when i come on here and hear false info. Don't answer if you have no clue about the friggen law.

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Judy
Monday, June 28, 2010

in Sullivan County NY they do not follow the law there are guys in jail that are in there for months before even seeing a judge, if they don't have a lawyer they don't know they are supposed to be brought in for arraignment within 72 hrs, know this first hand my son was in jail up there a few years ago and there was a bunch of guys that had been sitting for weeks even months without ever seeing a judge I sent him a copy of the law and they were pretty happy that my son showed it to all of them, they were holding guys for ASCAP Violations making copies of copyrighted songs on CD's and selling them to have their cases heard in county Court some of them were already in jail for 3 months(Federal)

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anne
Thursday, July 1, 2010

Has any AZ felon collected the unemployment insurance benefit? (Az prisons gave me docs saying I could get up to X)

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Sue
Monday, January 11, 2010

unemployment is for being laid off, or fired for a reason that's not justified. I don't know if iam off base here as your question could have more history. but for losing your job for being arrested, no payments!!

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cheryl
Thursday, July 22, 2010

its not true i tried and it does not exist. i think you have to have a mental or some kind of disability

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juan
Friday, January 15, 2010

i have a friend who is stressed and depressed because of a felony that might be put on his/her record. He/she is worried about getting a good job and also being able to get back in college, what can he/she do?

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tra
Saturday, December 12, 2009

I would suggest trying getting them hooked up with an agency in your area that assists people with criminal records. Going to school should not be an issue, however, there are certain fields that he/she may not be able to pursue or get a license for. Also, some companies will not consider people with certain felonies. This can also vary by state.

I know it's hard, but don't become too discouraged. With all problems in life, there are answers out there.

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Michael
Saturday, February 27, 2010

you can definetly still get back into college. I go to Georgia Tech with 3 felonies. But a job is a little trickier but they ARE definetly out there 2 I found one and quit it for a better one...with 3 felonies!

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Nai-jeer Watson
Wednesday, January 20, 2010

You are not to get Pell Grants for college with certain felony charges on your record. Drugs are one reason not to get them. As with everything else, there are ways around it.
As for a job, I think all felons struggle to find one. It sucks there are people out there looking for a handout with welfare and yet WE WANT TO WORK and no one will hook us up. I guess people enjoy me riding on their tax dollar instead!

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sneekypeak.81
Wednesday, July 28, 2010

i have a friend who is stressed and depressed because of a felony that might be put on his/her record. He/she is worried about getting a good job and also being able to get back in college, what can he/she do?

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tra
Saturday, December 12, 2009

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