Comments on: Column: Ban the Box, Hire Fairly

By: Lemmy

Lemmy — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:56:07 +0000

I have followed the story of the Washtenaw Jail Diary and have some amount of sympathy for the guy. Still, “banning the box” is hardly the solution to getting this guy a job. From what I understand, having read his entries, the guy made a one-time mistake and paid for it with jail time. Even if he never commits another felony, why should we change the entire system just to suit the minority of offenders who are in his position (ostensible self-reform/rehabilitation)?

From my experience dealing with those who have been convicted of a felony, this guy could get a job – he’ll just have to adjust the kind of job he is willing to accept. Here is a top 10 list for ex-felons that I pulled from another site:

1.Online GPT Services

This is the best job for a felon, because it requires no screenings whether it be background checks, drug tests, etc. Everyone is accepted, and you work on your own time and you can work as much or as little as you want. Online ‘GPT’ or “Get-Paid-To” services offer a great way to make a few hundred dollars a month without spending a lot of time working. There are many GPT services available, some better then others. My experience with GPT services has been a great one, and I recommend this as the best job in my list of Top 10 Jobs for Felons.

2.Privately owned small businesses

Some chain businesses have rules against accepting felons. Small business owners are more likely to accept you. They will take more of a ‘risk’ in hiring employees, and you can be more personal with the business owner.

3. Independent Contractor

Many people will still use your services as long as you get the job done. If you work hard, it doesn’t matter that you have a felony on your record.

4.Family business

See if you can work in a family or friend’s business. They will be happy to hire you if you are willing to work hard. They will probably be glad to help you get back on your feet.

5.Temp Agency

Temp agencies can occasionally find good work for you. Many times it will be day labor, so be in good physical shape.

6.Telephone Customer Service

Many companies are willing to hire felons for over the phone customer service, because you aren’t dealing with the people in person.

7.Start your own business

You can start your own business. One idea is to go to school to be a locksmith, and start your own company. Also consider getting a barber license.

8.Truck driver

Many trucking companies are willing to hire felons. Most likely you will need to obtain a trucking license.

9.Join the army

The army accepts people with criminal backgrounds, depending on the crime. Contact a recruiter to see if you qualify to join.

10.UPS Delivery Driver

UPS has been known to hire felons. They have moderate salaries and is a stable job to have.

By: Fred Posner

Fred Posner — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:06:51 +0000

I don’t understand the need here to emphasize the hiring of felons. If you owned a company, and were going to hire a person to work with a cash register, take information from customers, or work with the public… wouldn’t you want to know if they were a convicted felon? And that certainly may be enough to get rid of them before wasting any time in the hiring process. Yes, the past is the past. But the past also can present a pattern.

If they went to prison, are they listing that as an address?

I’ve worked with convicted felons, and they are very open about the history. Which is maybe the reason why they were hired. Being honest and forthcoming certainly goes a long way. Trying to hide something until later is suspicious.

Also, it’s hard for anyone to get a job now. I think “the box” poses no problems whatsoever. Removing it seems ridiculous.

By: Dan Ryan

Dan Ryan — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:04:04 +0000

@Joe, having the box allows both parties to talk about the issue. Not having that box means the employer won’t have as much information.

Again, would you like politicians not to disclose the source of their funding. Would you like people on non profit boards not to disclose their conflicts of interest. I’m always on the side of disclosure, and this question is no different.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:07:51 +0000

Thank you Ali, very well put.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:45:20 +0000

What most responders seem to be missing is that the author isn’t arguing against background checks and screening: he’s arguing that they should be conducted later in the process, and that convicted felons should be allowed to explain what happened rather than being automatically eliminated at the first stage.

Seems fair to me.

By: Ali

Ali — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:06 +0000

At risk of plagiarizing arguments already made in favor of “eliminating the box”, I think it is important that people who have committed felonies in the past and deemed to have paid for these transgressions by our highly thought out justice system, be able to have the second chance they are promised and indeed deserve.
As the article has made clear, a ex-sexual assaulter will not be your child’s teacher, an ex-embezzler will not be your banker, and the ex drug dealer will not be your pharmacist. But perhaps the ex-embezzeler could at least be considered as a school teacher, the ex drug dealer as a banker and even the ex sexual assaulter as a pharmacist, provided they all possess the skills to hold these positions. The crimes they have committed should not have anything to do with the work in their profession, and as stated in the article, the employers can always run a background check after which they may decide not to hire the candidate with an explanation as to what aspects of the crime concern the employer.
Of course it is common for people to feel pessimistic regarding the full reintegration of ex-felons into a society whose laws they transgressed in the past, perhaps it is our unforgiving nature. But there must be some space to consider the many people who actually have changed and want to make a better life for themselves and their families. Things are not as easy and black and white sometimes. It is pretty extremist to believe in the saying “Once a criminal, always a criminal” or “A criminal is a criminal is a criminal” without even considering what relation the crime has with the position they are applying to. (As Megan expressed more eloquently in the conclusion of her post.)
If it is not a permanent punishment that some of the previous comments are suggesting, then how do they propose the ex-felons make a living and leave their past lives behind to embrace the model life we all want them to live if they are denied to opportunity to start a career and provide for themselves and their family legally?

And lastly, if we truly believe that criminals are not readjusted and have not redeemed for their crimes then perhaps there needs to be a change in the justice system in which the citizens are more confident. Perhaps we need to consider a shift away for a system that seeks to punish to one that is concerned with rehabilitating instead. Research has shown that there are environments that seem to breed more “criminals” than others. Perhaps we could invest in alleviating the circumstances of the environments.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:17:52 +0000

@Megan: Thank you for your detailed, mature response.

@Dave (and Dan and Lana): I believe you do indeed miss the point. This *is* about indefinite punishment, even if that is not your intent. What matters, however, is not your intent, no matter how good it may be, but the actual result of the “box”, which is to deny even a chance of gainful employment to people we who have paid their debt to society in the eyes of the law.

By: Gary Salton

Gary Salton — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:43:27 +0000

@Megan: I got an idea. Why don’t you hire a felon or two–maybe as a house cleaner or baby sitter? Can you walk the talk or just talk.

By: Dan Ryan

Dan Ryan — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:27:32 +0000

No one wants to deny felons a job. That’s discrimination. What I support is having the box, because I believe disclosure is a good thing. Then the issue can be managed. That’s why we require disclosure in many arenas of life.

And, I’m sorry, there’s no excuse for selling drugs. I can’t find a job just won’t cut it. There ARE jobs out there, but perhaps not ones people would like.

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:47:50 +0000

Yeah, I absolutely saw this article as a call to put more convicted pedophiles to work in day care centers, well spotted, Lana.

No, wait, that would be a stupid inference to draw. Try rereading Megan’s point 2 as a factual point and not as some kind of claim about morality.