Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Felon and after 7 years still cannot find employment...

I found this discussion and thought it was great. Its one of the most asked questions I get from people that are dealing with past and present felonies. It is helpful to know that these are not the only options available and not the only advice I would offer. Soon I will be posting my entrepreneurship information and article from a great resource that explaines why this is the best option. In the future I want to do a step by step tutorial on the beginning of setting up a new business, specifically for a felon.
Here is the posting....

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How does an ex felon get a job and make a better life for himself?
My boyfriend was convicted of a felon, over drugs, over 7 years ago and he just hasn't been able to find work. He is a good person, just messed up years ago when he got into drugs. Does anyone know of any resources or what he can do to make a better life for himself? He really wants to succeed. It's not fair that someone who has a good heart can't move on with his life because of a dumb mistake.

Best Answer - Chosen by AskerHe can go and work at being a trash man or check out the local probation offices for help. I know of a couple of ex felons who work picking up trash ( it is not as dirty of a job as some think) and are making 18 to 20 buck an hour. Or he can go and get help in training for construction. Any job with no money transactions or contact with the public jobs. He can also go to the local library or go to the Urban League job resource centers for help in finding local places that hire ex-felons. The local library may have more resources in helping him find places to apply to and temp services also hire felons, but he has to always be truthful and tell them about his past crime so they can direct him to the correct place. And if he had a probation officer, call and ask for help in getting a job. You never know what they may have to tell you. And job web sites and offices of the state government can help him find work, and he can look for a job fair for ex-felons and if he goes to one, just ask the recruiters if they hire ex-felons. I hope this helps some.

-- Consider self-employment.
All work, no matter what it is, generally consists of solving someone else's problem. If he knows what kind of problems he actually likes to solve for people, there's probably no reason he can't work for himself. While it might be hard to get a job working at a lawnmower repair shop with a felony record, if he opened his own lawnmower repair shop, nobody would ever ask about his record at all.
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Your in a real jam..........
There are thousand and thousands of talented, experience people on the street due to the economy…the competition for any job is extreme. …people will do anything for much less just to feed their kids……..I don’t expect it to get any better before 2012……sorry……

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It is tough with a felony on your record. Construction is usually one job that tends to overlook the past.

Criminal Law, checks and balances

Here is an Answer! posting I found where the best answer I believe sums up why checks and balances is so important and why it has not worked in our society as orginally intended.
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Criminal Law? The criminal justice system is made up of three interdependent agencies (police, courts, and corrections) just like the United States government (executive, legislative and judicial branches). Much like in the criminal justice system, one branch of government cannot function effectively without the function of the other branches. Why is it important in both the criminal justice system and the government that the power of law is divided among three different bodies of people? Do you think it is effective and efficient to spread the decision-making and participants among so many people?
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Best Answer - The idea that each part of the whole provides checks and balances for the others is great. The founders of our Nation were inspired to create such a system. And, if it was continually run by honest men who did not seek power and control over others, it would be an efficient and magnificent system, where true justice and equality would be the result. It would be a system worthy of the respect of all.

However, the gross inefficiency of the criminal justice system and the overly developed sense of partisanship, with each part of the system vying for control of the others, and politicians making back room deals, lobbying and promoting personal agendas over the good of the people ... well, you get the picture. It certainly shows that our system is breaking down. I think it can safely be said that when the wheels of justice turn so slowly that hardened offenders have opportunity to commit heinous crimes over and over before justice is served, and elected & appointed officials turn their backs on the principles of Truth, Freedom, Equality for all in order to continue their reigns of power ...when that happens, it can safely be said the checks and balances are no longer working.
Unfortunately, its the system we have. ~Z~
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I think it is! Courts keep the police honest. If police were allowed to try criminals, they would have no incentive to follow procedure--rules of evidence, rights of defendants, etc., even to respect the Constitution. Independent courts are necessary for a real democracy to work.
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Corrections is not really in the system of checks and balances like the executive/legislative/judicial system of the federal govt. Corrections don't really have power to influence courts or enforcement, they just deal with the results. Courts have certain powers over corrections, though, which is as it should be.

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Criminal Attorney Posting....

I found this posting in Yahoo Answers!. This was a great posting from a mother whose son is charged with Murder. At the end I will comment.
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Can someone help me find an affordable criminal attorney in Atlanta?I need a criminal attorney for my son that's facing a murder charge. I have contacted several people however they are asking between 10k and 25k, I know there is someone out there cheaper than that!
RDo a web search or contact the state BAR for advise. Remember, in a matter this serious, you get what you pay for. If your son is innocent, no price is to high, but be realistic. Do not "Mortgage the Farm", if you have any doubts. I would contact the best "Law College" in state, talk to the "Dean" about your options and any advise they may have.

I doubt that you are going to find an attorney for less than that. You can look in the local phone book for the local american bar association and they can give you a list of criminal defense attorneys and perhaps some attorneys that do court appointed cases. You can ask if they know of any that do pro bono cases, it never hurts to ask.

If all else fails and you can't find one, have your son request a court appointed attorney, they will give him a form to fill out and if the court finds that he is indigent, they will appoint him one. If they turn him down the first time go back to the court with the names and firms of at least 3 or 4 attorneys that you have tried to hire and were turned down, that may change his mind and he'll appoint him an attorney.

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My problem with this situation is that with a court appointed attorney in this matter you may not receive the type of legal treatment you need. Its beyond me to say if someone is guilty or not but its definitely a situation where you need as good of representation as possible. If your rich you can afford to get this and more. If your poor you have no choice, or do you? I think the idea of asking a dean of a law college is excellent.
I would like to know what you think.

Found this in a jail posting....

Jail????????????????????my play brother is in jail but we dont really know why..but someone said he was in there because someone told the police he was dating a 17 year old soon to be 18 and he's 22.[her parents already know about them dating]what do you think will happen?

if he was already in jail rite now wouldnt the police come to her house and ask if she wants to press charges???

im confused??
what do the police do in this kinda situation?

You could try and write to, or visit your friend to see if he wants to tell you the facts.
Otherwise, it is not any of your business.
Even people we think we know well may have done something illegal we do not know about.
Dating a 17 year old is not illegal, unless your interpretation of the word dating is different to mine.


The charges in most states would inportuning, corruption of a minor, sodemy, and statutory rape. She does not have to press charges, and cause it is atleast a class 3 felony and up to a class 2 the prosecutors office can independently pursue this case. Some sex crimes involving minors only require them being shown holding hands by a witness, and victim's have been known to deny a relationship in cases where the defendant was convicted.
You can find his charges cause they are public record on the county clerk of courts website, and confinement information on the jails website.
For Class 3 felonies, imprisonment for five to 20 years and a fine of up to $100,000. Note if he is a repeat offender it is a class 2 felony punishable up to life, and no less then 20 years. He likley get parole in 2 and 1/2 years, but he will always be a registered sex offender.

First check with your state, I do not know of any state where it is statutory rape for dating someone 17. The age of sexual consent in most states is 16. I could look it up if i knew what state you were in. But i doubt he is in jail for any dating problem with information you furnished here. Must be something else
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This was taken from a Yahoo Answers! Posting.


I do not condone sex crimes, its disgusting. If your 22 I believe you are too old to date a 17 year old. What do you think?

Monday, March 2, 2009

How to survive jail? This is how I did....

Easy. Keep your mouth shut. Don't trust anyone and just do your time. No one is in jail to make friends. It’s ok to have acquaintances that you play cards with but really you want to make a habit of keeping to yourself. I found people that wanted to do their time in a positive way (exercise, cards) and hung around them. You will notice that jail is highly territorial. You do not want to sit in anyone’s seat at meal time. This of course depends on what kind of situation you’re in. I was in max lockup which was 23 hour lockdown. I was also transferred after a couple of months to the next one down which was a nice change considering you could move freely about. Another great way to do your time is read a lot. If you don’t normally read, now is the time to do it anyway. Writing letters to friends and family or really any type of creative writing is beneficial. In jail all you have is time.
Last tip is to NEVER gamble. Of course it’s not prison but someone once told me that everyone in prison has gone through the jails first. Everyone. I say this because its particularly bad to gamble in prison because of gangs and getting in debt to people. When you owe someone money in prison or jail, its more than a bad thing.

Recap: Reading, cards, exercising, writing and eating. Do NOT gamble.

Challenge with this Blog

There is no question there is an overwhelming need in this country for some sort of reform. Unfortunately with todays economy there is no help for a felon in sight. I read somewhere that one out of every ten people in California is unemployed. If this is true for the average person, imagine how hard it is for someone convicted of either a felony or another type of crime to get work. It seems impossible. Of course if its been long enough then some states will not even ask you unless its within a certain time frame (7 years).
The hard part with this blog is to get it in the hands of the right people to help them. Once the resources I plan to post are finally up then that will be a big first step in the right direction.
The plan is to use google adwords and other sources so that people who search for rehabilitation or felon help with work can find this place to receive help with ideas and more.

If anyone has any ideas or needs any specific resources that they cannot find here, please email me or comment.

Thanks!
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