Is it fair that people with criminal backrounds can't get good jobs?

Question

I look at it like they already paid for their mistakes.

Answer 1

In some cases such as child molestation etc. it's necessary.......but I do agree that it's not fair especially if it's a misdemenor and they aren't "career" criminals. I've noticed in some states you don't even have to be convicted......just simply charged with a crime. Now I know they say it doesn't exempt a person from a job but how is anyone to know that that wasn't the reason for not getting hired. Plus.....most people with minor criminal records probably wouldn't have them if they had access to good attorneys because it's quite clear there's alot of criminals out there but big bucks get them off.

Answer 2

You are right, to an extent. But employers also have the right to know about their potential employees criminal past. If someone has been convicted of stealing from the company they used to work for, this says to the employer that this person is a "risk," especially if the job entails the prospective employee handling a lot of money. If a person has been convicted of child molestation, the school that he has put in an application for the position of janitor needs to know this. They may never offend again, bu, then again, they might (and statistics show that it is more likely that they will). I do feel for those ex-cons who know they made a mistake and want to lead a better life, and yes, they paid their debt, so why should they "pay" more...and it does seem like society often makes it more difficult to for them to re-assimilate, thus making it more likely that they will re-offend, but, at the same time, employers have the right to protect themselves, and chose who they want to hire based on ALL available knowledge. Obviously, it's a very complicated issue.

Answer 3

Look at it from the employers side. A criminal background tells the employer that there is some question about the honesty and character of the person. That employer is not going to trust his business to someone who may steal from him or otherwise interrupt his business. Statistics show that people with a criminal background usually become repeat offenders. Is this fair? Probably not. But you can't expect an employer to risk his business by taking a chance on you.

Perhaps you should accept a "low end" job from someone who will hire you. You then will have a chance to prove yourself. Do a good job, show up on time, keep your nose clean, stay out of trouble. Work for a year or two - then, when you want a better job, you have an employer reference to take with you.

You really can't expect to walk out of jail and fall right into a "good job". Your previous actions, whatever they were, have consequences - this is one of them.

Answer 4

It is not the fault of employers to be wary of people with criminal backgrounds...

It is the responsibility of the former criminal to establish him- or herself as a good individual and a hard worker, to prove to be a person worthy of a "good job."

If that means working at a menial job making minimum wage for a few years to establish a good track record of being able to hold down a job and show up at work, then and only then can you worry about advancing. You can't start at the top.

Answer 5

So start a company, work out a deal with the local corrections facility, and become a halfway house of sorts. Teach them valuable job skills with the hope of establishing a credible work history. Keep the ones who're honestly trying to mend their ways, cut loose the career criminals. A business owner can practice any form of philanthropy they choose.

Answer 6

Depending on what they did, sometimes yes I think it is fair. Rapists, and child molesters dont deserve to be free much less get jobs that people who never attacked an innocent member of society could have. You cant trust a person that unstable to do anything around people, its a danger to the other employees. People who commit crimes like this never pay their dues because no matter what we do to them we can never effect them in the way that they effected their victims.
As for people who are incarcerated for drugs or something to that effect, I believe they do deserve a second chance. They are not a danger to society like rapists or murderers, or people who have commited crimes against children.

Just my opinion.

Answer 7

Criminal Record Search Database : http://www.SearchVerifyInfo.com/Help

Answer 8

They had a choice at one time in their lives, and they chose crime,,,,and they can possibly get good jobs, but they have to want it and make the effort to acheive it, what do they want??? for us to just toss them a good job, they screwed the system once or twice or however many times with their criminal activity, so they now need to earn it, deserve it, and porve they learned. It can be done, but they have to try harder than the ones who followed the system..????

Answer 9

THAT'S AN EXCUSE. YOU HAVE TO LOOK IN OTHER FIELDS OF WORK NO ONE IN THE FINANCIAL FIELD WILL HIRE A CRIMINAL. BUT A GOOD CARPENTER OR MASON CAN EARN A VERY DECENT LIVING. THEY NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OFFERED IN PRISON AND LEARN TO PERFECT A SKILLED TRADE THAT THEY CAN EARN MONEY FROM. THEY NEED TO TAKE THEIR HEADS OUT OF THE CLOUDS THINKING THAT THEY WILL WORK IN AN OFFICE WHERE FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS ARE BEING MADE OR WHERE SENSITIVE DOCUMENTS ARE BEING PROCESSED. THEY CHOOSE THEIR LIFE AND PART OF THAT IS THE RECORD THAT THEY WILL HOLD FOREVER. JUST BECAUSE YOU SPENT YOUR TIME IN PRISON DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY TRUSTED. YOU MUST REINVENT YOURSELF AND LEARN A SKILL THAT WILL NOT BE HINDERED BY A CRIMINAL RECORD.

Answer 10

They may have paid for their mistakes but have they learned? I'm not going to risk a violent person amongst my employees just cause he paid his time, that's a law suit waiting to happen and not right to risk the others safety. I'm not going to let a thief run my register and do my books, he may have done his time but he might have just gotten smarter as to not get caught the next time.Just to name a few.