There are several programs available for ex-offenders. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is available to employers as an incentive to hire felons. The Federal Bonding Program is another employer incentive, and ALL WorkForce development offices have counselors that help felons find employment. The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) provides funding for training and tools needed for a felon to aquire responsible and gainful employment. I have done extensive research on this subject and will be posting a lot of information on my web site www.felonresources.com in the near future. You may also want to consider temporary employment agencies. Many of them go out of their way to find employment for felons and many of these jobs are temp to hire. Please e-mail me at jking@felonresources.com if you have any further questions.

I know in Detroit MI, there is a program called Women Arise on the West side of Detroit, They specialize in informing newly convicted felons and felons convicted 4 years back of there rights in the work place as felons and as women, and all of what they know bout the can and cannot dos for felons.It's a great program but the DHS and Work First Organization does not support it as a Work First program just because your a felon. They assist in placing you in temps services and programs that will train you if you can pass general knowledge test. I encourage anyone in the Detroit area to check out the web site at www.womenarise.com. I pray that I've helped many.

what kind of jobs can a felon apply for .and stand a good chance of being hired? thks Fred

I know that Kroger will hire felons. They don't hire felons that stole from a former employer or violent offenders and probabally the same for sex offenders. I worked in a manufacturing facility but I have been told that the stores have the same policy. Good luck

Is it possible for a convicted felon to get a job as a cardiovascular sonographer?

i am having a hard time finding a job i been home since nov. 2 2007 and cant find a job were can i go i want to change my life i have a family i want to help and take care of.

Im a ex felon i didn't serve any prison time, but I was kinda stupid basically my now ex wife put a restraining order on me and I wrote her a letter that was actual concern about my unborn daughter at the time. I too have a hard time and I think it's harder cause they look at me as a violent offender and that was back in 2000. and now it's 2008 but i recently started college and such so hopefully by that time I won't have too much problems.

I am in Richmond VA. I have a BA in History and a minor in business. I am business savvy, I have managed employees, I am above average with computers. I read and write well. I have good interpersonal skills and good communication skills. The felony is keeping from working anywhere but labor or food service. I have a 5 year old and must verify with PO support. I can't make it on minimum wage. My felony was a drug conspiracy (federal) did 21 months, released in Oct. now on 5 years supervised release. I had a possession felony in 1990 when I used to get high. I pray for an opportunity daily, I don't know what else to do.

Hi, i'm 21 years of age and when I was 18 I made a huge mistake and used someone credit card who was given to me. I receive Deferred Ajudication for two years, it was classified as a felony and now I'm starting to pay for it. Luckily I was already in college, but now I can't find a job making above $9.00 an hour. I'm blessed to have found this job but lets be realistic what am I going to do in 4 or 5 years. They said when I completed my probation my record was suppose to be clear but now they say you have to wait 5 years from the time you were released off probabtion for it to come off. I can't get into any apartment, I'm having a hard time trying to get into clinicals which is my second part of nursing school. I just pray soon there will be something done to help those who are trying to help themselves, especially for nonviolent cases. So if anyone is from the Houston area and have any advise for me please feel free to share!!!!!!

I had no idea that my life would be changed forever when I so illresponsibablly got caught purchasing drugs. I was sentenced to 6 months in the state jail for possession of less than a gram. That happen in 2001 and that was the first and last time I committed a crime. I continue to pay for this mistake. How are we able to rebuild our lifes if we can't find a job. We have to take care of ourselves and our families just like non-offenders do. I live in Houston and I can't believe how limited the resources are for ex-offenders. I am seriously thinking about starting a program to assist offenders who are trying to rebuild their lives. Society needs to understand that everyone deserve a second chance. There are no perfect people in the world, its time for society to show alittle compassion for those of us who has made a mistake. If anyone know of a organization that help ex-felons find employment PLEASE let me know.

I think everyones only hope is to wait 5 years from the time you commited your felony, 3 years for misdemenors. Then apply for an expungement, if they dont grant the expungement you will at least get a ' work pardon'. A work pardon is if a company searches your background nothing will come up, but the cops will still see your record. Also you cant be on probation at all to apply for it. If your not on probation and it has not be the 5 or 3 years yet you can still apply for the 'work pardon'. I know this stuff cuz Im a felon too with an Assalt 1 and 2 charge. And Im finally getting my record expunged after 6 years of waiting and working dead end jobs finally I will be able to work as a Medical Assistant like I went to school for. For everyone else who is waiting out their probation time, the best I can say is keep looking. Try any kind of job. Labor, Waiting tables Ect.. Any job is better than no job. And remember it could be worse and its not forever and I agree it is unfair. Good luck to all.

hey hang in there sometimes all we want to do is give up, but dont .you have the best thing family. i know what you are going throw, i have a long crimnal history, i started comitting crimes in 1986 and they lasted untill 1999, and beleive me this has haunted me so bad, you would not beleive just keep the faith in you're higer power mine is god and ask him everday to help you stay strong. when less excpect it, someone will give you the chance, dont lie when you go to a interview, be straight foward with them and explain what you did and ask them to please give you the chance to prove you're self, it will be hard but someone will give you the chance, i was given the chance for being honest and became the manager of a clothing store making alot of money , was able to buy a car a year1/2 after that and 2 years after that i can happly say i own my 1 family home ive come a long way, i just got lay off bummer and iam going throw this all over again, no one wants to give me the chance, but i beleive god will not let me down remember the best thing is we are claen not doing all the bad stuff we use to do. and we are not in jail , please keep the faith it will be allright, try going to church sometimes the people in church can help you . just one thing dont go back to you're old ways .

I read alot of frustration in all of these comments, they sound very familar. I was convicted of a felon in the state of georgia in 1997 served three years, still have alot of unsupervised probation left, however the world, our society is still the only thing holding me back. Honestly it's really more the State, the Govt, that holds felons down, the very ones that call our time served "rehabilitation" are the ones with their foot on our neck, guess i sound very frustrated still, 11 years ago is along while back, but today 2008 i'm am still being punished for young stupid decisions....advise...use your testimony..help others...keep a VERY close relationship with God....Vent if need be, but always be glad your not where you used to be, and you can still get where you want, IF you don't give up or in....

I having been fighting everyday to find work, I made the same mistake twice, sometimes we do stupid things and I have done a lot of stupid things. Not just getting in trouble with the law. The thing is I have dreams and goals and in all that I have been through with domestic abuse in my family and in my own life, I am still fighting. I have had many doors closed in my face, but for some reason God just keep on holding on to me. The things that I have done in my past souldn't hinder me in my future, but they have. Hinder us all.My answer is to keep holding on to GOD's hand cause HE has all POWER.....

I too have a felony now. Mine isn't violent. I got a DWI back in 2003 which I admit was my fault and stupid of me to get behind the wheel. I got convicted of my second DWI January this year. I am currantly on probation for it. Thing is, we went out around 7 PM. Had only two drinks. All of a sudden, around 11 PM, I just flipped out, took off out of the bar. Anyway, turns out we found out about 2 weeks later that my drink was spiked with ecstasy(if I spelled it right). We also found out who it was that did it. That this person also did it to a biker club member recently and is currantly on the run as she was arrested for drugs and jumped bail. As for the breathilizer with me, that was thrown out of court. Here you have to go to one court for the breathilizer and a seperate court for the DWI. I wound up in court for the DWI first. Then when I went to court for the breathilzer they threw it out of court. Needless to say, I am a convicted felon now because 2 DWI's within 5 year are a felony. I called the police department to ask where such a felony would fall. They said it's not a violent felony, infact it falls under traffic. They said it's a felony but yet it's not a felony. So then why is it I'm still considered a convicted felon? I can't get a job no where. Not even with K-Mart. And K-Mart told me to my face that they won't hire me because I am a felon. I said what I am convicted of has nothing to do with running a register or hanging clothes on racks. They still wouldn't hire me. Now for the kicker. I found out that I can do bounty hunting work. Yes, I can get a license to bounty hunt. Only license I can't get is a permit to carry a gun. That's fine with me 'cause I really don't like guns anyway. So, now I've been searching on how to get a government grant to open my own bounty hunting business. I wrote the governer of New York. I got a reply within two days. Gave me all the info I need on goverment grants, who to contact and how to get what I want. They also told me about training, where to go, who to contact. They congratulated me on getting my life back in order and wished me the best of luck. But how's that for a kicker?

I am a 21-year-old female who took the wrap for an ex boyfriend who later left me in jail when i was serving time for HIS crimes. I was barely 18 when i got my 2 felonies. Ever since i have been free i have been going to school, i earned my Associates Degree and i am working on my Bachelors, the only problem is that no one will take a chance on me. I am so talented and organized and I am scared that because I was young and dumb i will never be able to fully support myself. The whole system is a catch 22. They want you to gain employment but yet no employer wants a felon. Any ideas?!?!?! I don't know what else to do?

what we need to do is stop supporting businesses and corporations that won't hire convicted felons. some places are going as far as not hiring if you have a misdemeanor. we need to show that if we stand together and start protesting these companies, our government, our cities, and make them realize the cost of imprisonment per year per inmate can become a salary so we can pay taxes instead of taxpayers paying out of they're pocket to keep us in there the economy would improve off of that alone. we are now considered bottom of the barrel citizens, the last of the last to be picked if all else fails. we,re complaining but not trying to improve our situation. if we put the heat on these politicians and make ourselves noticed we can try to get real programs for felons that will allow them to make money while training for jobs so they can be able to provide for their families and stay out of jail. otherwise we all should just become career criminals and give up. i'm currently working on a way to start a movement that will grab national attention to this problem if anyone is interested in becoming part of the solution instead of looking at this as a problem email me at (gg6kids@yahoo.com) i look forward to hearing from you soon.

I hope I can answer some questions, In most cases the time after the offence is "TEN" years after the release from parole, for a pardon or expongement for a felony Conviction. In my state of Tennessee, where I live and have been a citizen for the past 10 years, sence November 1999. I owend and operated Locksmith business's not one but two different ones. The state has come up with a law that restricks a person with a felony conviction to operate as a Locksmith! Now when I moved here ten years ago there wasn't a law that prevented me from working in my field of Locksmithing that I have been acustomed to for all theses years, I have been a locksmith since 1985...With a short intermission of three years Calif pen for sales and transportation in the state of Calif. The fact remains that the law wasn't in effect when I started these business, Now the state denies my a right to practice further more Wrote me a letter to "CEASE AND DESIST" I have 200,000.00 invested in the business of locksmithing and am about to buy another one, what am I suppose to do? If this state thinks for one min that i'm just going to roll over and let them do whatever they want ther're mistaken. I have taken the right steps to apeal this descion, This isn't over and I'm not laying Down. Anyone can change there life all it takes is determination, They will put up walls, WE just have to be persistant, and stand for what we believe is right.

i dont think there are many, it depends on which state you live in?

I do go to church, I joined, was baptized, I've always believed in the lord, I too have seen a big change in my life, I have a job, "no benifits","low pay", but im working. I also bought a car ! But how do you ever better yourself? I worked for ther Sheriff Dept, Adult Probatio Dept, Messed up at the age of 34, now at 39yrs of age, Im a single mom living with with family due to my mistake, this conviction has prevented me form gainfull employment, places to live, jobs that I have trained for. There is not help out here for those who do cange and try to help then selves. I have one arrest for .27 ($27.00) worth of meth. That is holding me back from being who I really am, and preventing me from making something of my life for me and my children. What do we ever do?

Some states have laws that will allow you to get a criminal record expunged. Once you do this you can legally say that you have never been arrested or convicted of a crime and only law enforcement will be able to see your record during a background check. I just started checking on this so I don't have any more information.

Believe me I feel your frustration. After being released from jail I foolishly thought my 5 years with my previous employer would allow them to over look my indiscretion…FAIL! Now I fully endorse the suggestions by previous posters… “…The Work Opportunity Tax … The Federal Bonding Program …WorkForce development ...” …and I would encourage you to work for yourself. With the tools available to you through the networking capabilities of the internet you may be able to start your own business, and I am not talking about impossible to believe get rich quick schemes. Remember this country was built on the ingenuity of small business owners. Try finding fulfilling work with a non-profit organization or as a mentor for youth who find themselves travelling down the same path. My site www.dealingwithfreedom.com covers the standard and alternative ways that you can restore your livelihood, rights, and self-esteem. P.s. If you can’t find the information on my site then contact me at a.f@dealingwithfreedom.com I love doing research! Join me at Linkedin! Follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/DWFreedom

im a convicted felon i have been out for two years i messed up 5 years ago and im still payin for it i have some skill if any one knows any way to help my email is anthony8357@mocospace.com i have a wife and three kids. thanks

I have found one place that will help people with felons to get jobs. Don't get too excited yet though because you have to be diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder like anxiety or depression disoders. If any of you have been to prison and are facing hard times though you know what I am talking about when I say we can all probably diagnosed with something. I am not telling you to fake an issue but go talk to a local drug and psychiatirc center they operate on sliding fee scales. From there go to the Beareau of vocational rehabiitation. Just hang in there man you'll get it. Any further help you can lend me would be appreciated.I just got out two days ago for stealing scrap metal to provide for my family. It wasn't the right way and it will not happen again, but I just made my life and my families lives alot harder. skramer9013@yahoo.com

Not a felon, have never done anything really, never into drugs etc, but I can tell you, as a Recruiter for the past 30+ years, there are sooooo few jobs out there right now that if your backgroun even hints at a troubled past, you have a very huge challenge ahead of you. Where I live in CA, there are NO jobs, people in their 40's and 50's have taken the typically teen and young adult jobs, because they have families to feed. It's brutal out there, but don't forget to look into the shelters, and government run programs for available jobs. You've got to do alot, and I mean ALOT of digging.

I was recently released on 4 years felony probation I am very new to this trying to find a job as a felon thing I have a great work history, great refrences and I am currently in college maintaining a 3.33gpa but for now I am a felon without a job if any one could help or offer any type of encouragement please respond to this messagee viamy e-mail at shana123@hotmail.com

If you are in Florida good luck. I have been fighting a record for 15 years. As for clemency, get a team of lawyers and pray. Most offenses are blacklisted from clemency. Clemency does not make your record go away, that is expungement. This country always cries about fairness and peoples rights, what about the rights of those who made a mistake and now must pay for it years after they were set "free". Does anyone know if you can file a lawsuit against the government for cruel and unusual punishment? Because that is what this is.

not much of anywhere in southeast tennessee