Not necessarily. According to the law, and it is common knowledge that when you are incarcerated you lose all rights. ALL RIGHTS. It is because you did something that we as a society has decided is wrong and harmful to mankind. Being African American, Jewish, Korean, Hindu, Hispanic, isn't. I believe there is a difference.

Would you want to take your child to a day care, that was owned and run by convicted felons? Enough said.

If the person has paid his or her debt to society they are entitled to employment like everyone else and it should be considered employment discrimination.

Not on your life. The last thing I want to do is work next to a convicted felon. Espeacially a sex offender. As for paying thier debt to socity, hardly, most of them get cake sentences and go live in very nice clean prisions where they get three square meals, clothing, education, medical care and all the other amminities that being incarcerated gives them while their victems are hung out to dry. And don't get me started on the cusiness of probation you can violate and nobody does anything or home arrest where the bracelet is easy to cut off.

It's another insintive not to be one. I believe in 2nd chances but a convicted felon is pretty serious. Don't worry, if they stay clean for awhile things will change. After something like this happens, its hard to get your good name back again, i said hard, not impossible.

It depends on what the company does, and in some cases what the felony was. You wouldn't want someone convicted of Felony: Sexual Assault working in a rape councelling centre for example, but there's no reason that such a person couldn't haul garbage for a living. There are some vocations, notably law enforcement, working with the elderly or children or people with learning difficulties, where any kind of felony eliminates you. This isn't discrimination. People who have proved unreliable from a law point of view should not expect to be trusted with very sensitive jobs. Not prepared to accept the consequences? Don't do the crime.

Princess Wench, You obviously have no idea about what you are saying. Prison is a real nice place, never knowing if someone is going to kill you over a cookie, or worse being gang raped. My stepfather removed me from the house six months after he married my weak mother, I was fifteen. I sold illicit substances to pay my rent and eat. I did this successfully until I was 17 when I got busted with copious amounts of marijuana, enough to earn me a prison sentence with a public defender. I was terrified for my life every single second that I was there. I was surrounded by filth and in a prison that was over 100 years old. I was on the top tier, no AC, heat rises it was well over 100 degrees in my tiny cell that I shared with another inmate, which was smaller than the closet in my old apartment. We got out of our cell to eat and shower only, as we were segregated from general population for our protection. I was eventually released, received my GED and went to college on a student loan and working at a pizza parlor. I earned a degree in chemical engineering, got hired by a well known Texas oil field service company, made a great salary, invested my money and am now in commercial real estate. I now earn more money than I ever thought possible. I am thirty-six now and have a high six figure income, so don't tell me people don't change, they do all the time. Now to answer the question, no it is not discrimination to have a policy not to hire felons. I made a choice and broke the law, choices have consequences. Don't be discouraged about those companies, just keep trying, it might take you longer to find employment, but it is out there. FYI, most companies don't do background checks past 7-10 years (unless it's federal, state, or city government). If you can, become your own employer, I'm the best boss I've ever had. Good luck

Employment discrimination covers only what's written into the laws governing that jurisdiction. Legal standing, to my knowledge, isn't included in any employment law prohibiting discrimination. You can deny employment to someone openly gay in some states. You can deny employment to a convicted felon. That's just the way it works. That said, keep trying. Sooner or later you'll find the right position and can hopefully put all this behind you.

It is discrimination. As is not hiring people who smoke. Or not hiring people with tattoo's. Or not hiring someone with body piercings. If you are asking should it be illegal discrimination, the answer is no. If I can not hire you because I don't like your fashion sense, then I certainly should be able to not hire you because you are a convicted felon.

I use to share the same ignorant close minded opinion about felons until i became one. I didn't go out and kill anyone or steal or sell drugs, I was a correctional officer and was set up by my own co workers. I found out about drugs that were being sold at the prision by my co workers and i exposed it. Little did i know they lost out on a lot of money and was very pissed of about the lost. In return they set me up by giving the inmates all my information such as my car, where i lived, and my full name and ssn. They had outside people follow me to my home and to work. They then told me that if i didnt make things right, they would go after my family then myself. I reported this to cdc which is the highest rank you can go. Little did i know they were involved too. They dropped of drugs and wanted me to take it into the prision; I was afraid to do anything but my family i feared for the most. I picked the drugs up but i didnt take them into the prision, i sat outside wondering how i could just leave and get my family out of here before they made a move on us, but it was to late. The very ones i trusted came out and said i was selling drugs and i was arrested. I spent 6 hours in jail and was released. Shortly after the prision was shut down. The judge believed my story but said it was hard do to the prision being shut down; and if they could find the one involved that i would lose so i took a plea. I do community service and im on probation. I have a wife and kids and i never been in trouble before, I am a very hard worker but now i have to face the turn downs by employers due to this. People just see the word felon and assume automatically bad peoson without asking what happen or why. Thats wrong everyone is guilty of something illegal rather its something small or major. Even if its changing lanes without a turn signal or 5 miles over the speed limit. Wrong is wrong but the difference is you havent been caught yet. If the country is about in god we trust, then the last thing i remember is that god forgives and give second chances. So should we be given a second chance... yes because if it was you, you would want one too. If a person cheats on there spouse or you fail to pass a test arent they sometimes given second chances ? Everyone deserves a second chance i mean why kick someone when there down but then say they dont have a life when your not trying to allow them to?

I believe that it should be. What ever happened to equal opportunity employer. What does that reall ymean. To me that means that everyone should have the same chance to get the job. I have been in prision and I beleive that when we get released we should be looked at differentlty. That is why a lot of the inmates return to prison because people look at them the same as when they left for prison. Unless you have been in the inside and not just looked at it from the outside, you really have no right to speak on it,. I know form bothe sides!!!

yes. i kno convicted felons and thank god he finally found a job and it's minimum wage but he's working hard raising 3 babies a teenage son and his gf and her daughter. i respect him so much for it, but because of this discrimination it took him almost a year to get a job

How many perfect people do you know? Do you think a mistake made twenty years ago should punish forever? I don’t. I think people can change. Please read my story and follow the link to sign my petition. With hope, prayers and signatures the “Second Chance Bill” will be introduced to 2009 General Assembly. The more signatures I collect, the better the chance of this Bill becoming a reality. In October of 1985 I went to New York on vacation. I worked as a waitress mostly at night and carried a small handgun for protection. Without thinking I packed the gun in my suitcase. On my return flight I tried to catch an earlier flight and brought my suitcase to the ticket counter. The suitcase was searched and I was arrested for “Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon”. This is a class E felony. I didn’t understand why this was happening; to me I just made an innocent mistake. I was scared to death and was a single parent of a 5 year old. The lawyer that I hired said the crime carried a sentence of 1-5 years. I plead guilty because I feared that I would lose my child. The lawyer told me that when I left the state of New York I would not have to worry about this again. That turned out to not be true. In the last 23 years I have not been in any more trouble. I raised my child, returned to college and recently graduated with honors. The purpose of returning to school was to find a successful job and increase my wages. I am also a Notary for the State of Virginia and a member of Phi Theta Kappa. In 1994 I had my civil rights restored by Governor Allen. Recently I went on a job interview. The application asked if I had ever been convicted of a felony. Of course I said yes. I attached a letter of explanation, the order from the Governor restoring my civil rights and my notary certificate. I also added to the education portion that I graduated from college with honors. When the interviewer read my letter of explanation she excused herself and said that she needed to speak to her supervisor about my conviction before she could start the interview. After about 15 minutes, she returned. I couldn’t believe that I was being treated like this. They did interview me. After the interview I asked her how she thought I did. She said that I did very well and she thought of many jobs within the company that I could be considered for. She said that she thought my conviction could stop me from being hired and as it turned out it did. I sent my resume to this company through an internet add. Nothing in the job announcement asked about a felony conviction. This treatment made me feel very uncomfortable and prompted my decision to write this e-mail. Recently many corporations have implemented a criminal and credit check on all prospective employees. Other than getting my civil rights restored I have asked the Governor of Virginia for a pardon. It was denied because the Governor cannot pardon a crime from another state. I applied for a pardon in New York and I was denied because the Governor only pardons extra exemplary convictions. The Governor’s office suggested that I have my civil disabilities restored in New York. The New York Supreme Court restored my civil disabilities March 4th, 2008. I asked for a Presidential pardon and I was not eligible because my offense was not federal. I think that everyone deserves a second chance. How would you like to be judged your entire life for a mistake that you made when you were young? No matter what accomplishments you make, you are held back because of your past. Here are a few of the requirements that I feel should be fulfilled before you’re granted a “Second Chance”: 1) Applicant has been conviction free for 10 years. Your conviction must not be a violent offense. 2) A resident of the state of Virginia. The conviction could have happened in another state. 3) Your civil rights have been restored. 4) At least four references that can prove that you have turned your life around since the conviction. One of which must include that the applicant graduated from a community college, university or trade school, since the time of conviction. If the applicant is granted a “Second Chance”, the record will be sealed. This will allow the person to carry on with his or her life without the constant discrimination that they will have to endure without a “Second Chance” If you agree with “The Second Chance Bill”, please follow the below hyperlink and sign this petition. http://www.petitiononline.com/2ndchnce/. I appreciate your help.

As an Ex-offender who has served his dept to society, I find trying to gain employment all but impossible. I was convicted of attempted CCW, Distribution of canibis, and illegal possesion of a fire arm. I didn't go to prison and I am a highly educated person. I have many skills and qualifications, yet I can't find employment. It is discrimination flat out. People are people and every person make mistakes. I haven't been in trouble of any sort since my conviction in 2004 and deserve to have rights and a chance just like anyone else.

I THINK THAT FELONS SHOULD GET A SECOND CHANCE BECAUSE NOT ALL OF US ARE BAD IT WAS THE CHOICE THAT WE MADE THAT WAS BAD. FURTHERMORE THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE ALL THE SKILLS A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER COULD EVER WANT BUT THE POTENTIAL EMPLOYER IS TOO STUPID TO REALIZE THAT MAYBE A FELON IS THE BEST HIRE THEY COULD MAKE AFTER ALL WE WORK HARD AND WOULDNT WANT TO LOSE OUR JOB. YEAH A DAYCARE FULL OF CONVICTED FELON MOMS MIGHT BE THE BEST OPTION BECAUSE IF ANYONE WERE TO LOOK AT YOUR KID IN A WAY THAT WAS OR IS UNAPPROPRAITE THEN HEY THEY JUST MIGHT GET WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR. BESIDES IN JAIL OR PRISON THATS ENOUGH TO GET YOU AN ASS BEATING. ENOUGH SAID. AND SO WHAT IF FELONS HAVE ALL THE AMMENITIES THAT A PRISON COULD GIVE THEM MAYBE SOME PEOPLE IN SOCIETY DONT LOOK FOR THEIR OPPORTUNITIES AND " CANT SPELL CORRECTLY" OR DONT UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY ARE INTO WHAT THE TELEVISION HAS TO SAY ABOUT A FELON. COME ON GET REAL THIS IS LIFE. PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TO JAIL OR PRISON ARE THE HARDEST WORKERS ANYONE COULD FIND. CAN YOU WALK 2 MILES A DAY IN TE HOT AZ SUN TO A WAREHOUSE IN CHAINS AND FOLD, SORT, AND START LAUNDRY FROM 10AM TO 10PM AND EAT ONLY ONE MEAL ALL DAY. SHIT PEOPLE WITHOUT FELONIES HAVE IT SO EASY AND YET THEY ARE SO FUCKING STUPID.

Listen everyone we bettter fire President Obama he said he did drugs, sounds stupid doesn't it. but if I'm right there isn't a statue of limitations on drug use in most states so should we go ahaed and lock him up. for your information most felonies are non-violent crimes there the girl or guy next door trying to get by in this world when they get popped for some cock or weed. or because they are trying to put food on the table so their kid doesn't cry for milk in the middle of night. So to some of you cats out there that think people can't change and since you did the crime don't complain what are you going to do when the politicians start figuring out that there are over 40,000,000 ex-felons in this country who have wives, sister's, etc.. that still can vote and have the power to vote that "civil death" thing right out of this country. If you read your constitution it says to paraphase that only non peace felons lose those rights and if you are or were one of those felons you just found out that constitutional rights have been denied you and that is discrimination. How would all you feel if all the felons marched on Washington DC. and said NO MORE. WE ARE U.S. CITIZENS, WE PAY OUR TAXES, THAT BUILD THE SCHOOLS,BUILD THE ROADS AND HAVE HELPED THIS COUNTRY PROSPER, HAVE WE NOT! To the ones that think theY are so much better then the men or women that live in their nieghborhood I say to you STOP VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF THESE PEOPLE BY THINKING YOU CAN. Now let me remind you all I'm talking about non violent felons just like the ones that founded this country. Wait a minute those guys raped the indians, imprisioned the African and ran the Mexicans out. Well I guess we as law abiding citizens should do whats right give it back to them and ask the African Americans if they would please except their forty acres and a mule now. The point I'm making is who the hell is any body to deny someone a job that they are qualified for or a place to live. So all you people that think felons don't deserve a good job or a nice place to live what are you going to do when our 40,000,000 votes are wanted by some currupt politian that you put into office because they need to pad their pockets. Pay backs are a bitch. To all you felons out there As I right this I'm finishing my Fifth College Degree this one is in Law, Gender and Race the other's are Architecture,Industrial Engineering, Sociology, Psychology and If evrything goes right I'll be done with a Masters in 2012. Yes I attend a University that is Ranked within the top 25 in the World. I did all this after becoming a felon before that I was a just the average joe with your average education which most supposibly law abiding citzens have, which is on the average, an IQ of about 80 to 100 which means they should not vote at all. Can you believe that 303,824,640 people live in this great country of ours thats right us felons to. But were subjected to a law that was holdover from exclusionary Jim Crow-era laws like poll taxes and ballot box literacy tests -- Can you believe it this is really a law to keep the African American and any one else that some of you so called law abidding citizens are refering to. Makes alot of since. Got to go if any of you felons are not happy with the Felony disenfranchisement lwas in your state just write your Senator or your Congress person they will respond and if that doesn't work do it again. What we need is a United front against thoughs how will deny our children food, clothes and a proper place to live. Just because they think they can. Remember the minutemen were considered by the English as traiters and terrorists. We call them today ARMY,NAVY AIRFORCE MARINES they were considered felons by there own country men and denied the right to go back to England also look at beautiful Austrailia colonized by felons. Do I need to go on. K.

No, it is not. Counter productive....absolutely! However, allow me to point out a reality that is comming. Due to the status of the economy, it is incredibly hard to find a job in the first place. Being a convicted felon, well, lol. So, what do we think felons are going to do when we tell them to go forth and re-asimalate into society with success and then give them a paper hat and a fry basket. The answer is simple, no one can support a family on minumum wage. They will go and take or hustle to get what they need. It is my belief that in denying a way out of crime, we keep felons in it. Dont listen to me though, I was busted for smoking weed. People, WAKE UP!!!!

FOR ALL YOU IGNORANT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EXPERIENCING THE LIFE OF BEING A FELON GIVE ME A BREAK AND SHUT UP PLEASE. EVERYONE THAT IS A FELON IS NOT ALWAYS GUILTY. FELONS DO NEED A SECOND CHANCE AND JUST BECAUSE SOME ARE GUILTY OF ONE CRIME DOES NOT MAKE THEM UNABLE TO PERFORM ANOTHER DUTY WELL. YOU TRY WALKING IN A FELONS SHOES. WHEN YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO VOTE, GET A DECENT JOB, WORK AT A DAYCARE, OR EVEN ATTEND A SCHOOL TO BETTER YOURSELF, THEN YOU COME BACK WITH THESAME COMMENTS YOU JUST MADE.

When I was 17 (a minor), I witnessed some burglaries and turned the guy in. Because I was young, naive, and trusting of the police, I signed whatever they told me and the next thing I know I am locked up in jail for a crime I never committed. After a month of sitting in a scary cell with some crazy people, I finally got my court date to make my plea but the public defender told me if I plead not guilty, I could continue to sit in jail while I wait to go to trial (maybe a year or more) or I could just plead guilty and go home that same day. I was just a young scared kid back then. I didn't know about the law or my rights. So of course, I plead guilty. Now, it's 14 years later, and I am still an upstanding citizen who has never committed a crime. I am the mother of 3 and I have 2 college degrees ( one in nursing ) and no one will give me a job. Does that make sense? Is that fair? I agree that a sex offender shouldn't be working in a daycare but what about the innocent people? What if it was years ago or as a minor? What if it wasn't such a bad crime, just a childish mistake and you've proven you've changed? Oh well, society says you are a felon just like a murderer or rapist and you have no right to gain employment to better yourself or support your family. Maybe I should consider being a criminal. I have already and still am paying the price of being a criminal, might as well get the benefits. What other choice do I have? I can't let my family starve or go homeless. Do we want all felons drying up public aid? Why do you think statistically, most prisoners return to prison? Do you really think it is for the free cable?

The poster above P.W. is a complete moron! You already work next to convicted felons idiot! You also work next to people committing offenses on a daily basis but haven't been caught. Incarc eration does not provide any "amenities" as you call them. You will starve if you have no one sending you money for food, you will not receive adequate medical care, and you will be lucky if a GED program is avaiable. This issue comes down to something very short and sweet. It's a whole lot easier to just take everything you've got rather then work for it myself. Someone better start hiring exoffenders before we decide to just take your shit! Inevitably we will be caught but we can sure wreak havok in a lot of lives before that happens. Just remember, if it happens, all you had to do was give them a chance at a job.

The idiot above doesn't realize that he is already working next to convicted felons and people that commit felonious offenses daily but haven't been caught. Prison is not soft and you have no :amenities" as he thinks. THis issue comes down to this, It's much easier to just take everything someone else has worked for than to work for yourself. These exoffenders want to work for a living. Deny them that and they will do what they have to to survive. So the next time someone robs your ass and takes your shit, blame it on yourself. You could have had an honest hardworking employee.