Life After A FELONY

[drinkindreamin]

I need some advice? How hard is it to get a job or get back in school after a Sch II felony charge? What professions are willing to accept your felony history? I have a friend dealing with a Sch II charge looking at Cosmo or beauty schools. Is that even an option? I'd like to hear from the ladies that have had experience with professional careers and lost it. What's the best way to get your life back. Any advice would be appreciated.. INBOX if you would like.

[ShysterJon]

In what city and state does your friend live?

[drinkindreamin]

Thanks for responding Shyster John.. Without getting into too many familiar details lets say Shreveport Louisiana.

[alaine]

Tell her to call the state board of Cosmetology in the state that she is in and ask that question. That info should be on line as well. For sure, she won't be able to get in the Medical field or anything like Mortgage, Real Estate, Insurance or anything that requires a license like that.

This may help... https://www.iseek.org/exoffenders/fi...cupations.html

Good Luck!

[OldGent]

Depending on the exact charge she could work as a mental health tech in the substance abuse field. They are more understanding of folks that made mistakes and are trying to get it together.

[Fancylady]

Felonies ruin your life.Hard to get work.housing.etc.

[instfixer]

I have worked in refineries

Some require a background check with maybe 7 different levels. 1 being 'snow white' and 7 being 'terrorist'

It was explained to me that they only go back 7 years so even a murderer that got out of prison after 7 years will come back as 'snow white'

Is a felony record forever? I don't know but worth inquiring about. I would suspect the answer is complex

[TinMan]

Originally Posted by instfixer

I have worked in refineries

Some require a background check with maybe 7 different levels. 1 being 'snow white' and 7 being 'terrorist'

It was explained to me that they only go back 7 years so even a murderer that got out of prison after 7 years will come back as 'snow white'

Is a felony record forever? I don't know but worth inquiring about. I would suspect the answer is complex

7 years used to be the norm when credit agencies were working out of filing cabinets. Nowadays a background check will go further. How far back they will pick something up varies, but I've picked up 20 year old criminal charges and bankruptcies fairly frequently.

[TheJudge69]

Originally Posted by instfixer

Is a felony record forever?

YES! Unless you get a pardon. There is a difference between how far back in time a background check covers and a felony record. Felonies are for ever.

[Jannisary]

Felonies are forever and should turn up in a background check for a state professional license. You are better off being honest and self disclosing than trying or hoping to hide it.

Depending on the offense there might be some leeway on getting the professional license, but that varies state by state and by the offense committed and the subsequent life lived. For example I know a lady with a minor felony from two decades ago who was still able get a certain state professional license that a quick simple reading of the licensing regulations or general info found online would seem she was ineligible for. In her case she was honest and self disclosed, had changed her life substantially, had impeccable references from her professors and people in the field and after investigation the licensing board granted her the license, though there are some conditions attached that regular licensees don't get. Now she just didn't gamble six years of her life and tens of thousands of dollars in the hope they would give her the license at the end of it all. About 2 years into her undergraduate degree after deciding for sure what she wanted to do, she researched her options and contacted the licensing board and found out there was a path forward despite what the naysayers had been telling her.

Here's the rub though. Despite being licensed she still has to undergo background checks for new jobs that she would like to advance to and that felony from 2 decades ago is an issue. Luckily one organization looked beyond that and hired her and she's happy there but if she would want to advance to a bigger organization or try to get a state job in her field the felony is always going to be an issue.

So the issue is not just being able to get whatever license the person wants but to be able to be successful and advance as far as they want in their chosen career with a felony record trailing them wherever they go.

[Trey]

My buddy was making $45 or so and hour till he was drunk driving. Like the commercial on the radio, he lost his job, his car, his girlfriend, and his house. He now lives with his mom. The oil fields call him no more, a waiter is what he is looking to do now.

If this is a girl we are talking about maybe show her the site here.

[canny]

There are a lot of national companies that will hire felons, I saw a list of them once but I don't have any convictions for anything other than speeding so I don't remember where it was.

A lot of small local companies will hire felons too. I know of a small factory where I grew up that only hires men in halfway houses. The owner pays them $1/hour less than non-felons will work for so it works out for both him and his employees who can't find any other jobs.

[Gotyour6]

Look into relief of disability

[austin_voy]

As someone who is getting licensed, to work in my field, in LA I can tell you that LA is pretty tough on sex offenders. She won't be able to get into almost any field that has to deal with the public and requires a license. Any felony other than a violent felony or a sex offender might be "forgiven" by the licensing board after some period of time. But sex offenders are there for life. In Texas you're better off being convicted of theft by fraud in excess of $10,000.

After some period of time she might be able to ask for a pardon with return of all rights (but you have to specify ownership of firearms). But there are four states where that is pretty much a waste of time. Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and, yup, Louisiana.

Now, remember that IANAL, but I have become very familiar with the laws in some of those states WRT felony convictions (but not having one) because of my licensing requirements.

Some states are getting rid of the "are you convicted of a felony" question on applications and more employers are willing to forgive all but the nastiest, but not all.

[Randall Creed]

Felon, huh? This person should go into politics. They'll fit right in.

No, I keed (but not really). It's all about one's ability to market oneself. Everything's based on opportunity, connections, and timing. People with clean records and all kinds of ability are unemployed, while slackers fresh out of the pen have high paying jobs, because they know the right people (not saying this person's a slacker...just making a point).

It is better to be honest on any application, because they're going to check anyway. Good luck. It's rough out there, even without a record. I heard on the radio other day that Wendy's is getting ready to go automated.

Probably more companies to follow, if the People don't start raising hell about it.