Convicted felons

[ldgarrit]

First time on here so be patient...

I will make this pithy (simple).

On the morning news i caught a little tidbit on something of great interest to me.

On all applications, they ask if you have ever been convicted of a felony.

Question: Do you think that this should be on an application?

I personally think this is discriminating. I feel that if a person has been convicted of a prior felony, they obviously have paid their dues. Period. They shouldn't be discriminated from there on after.
There are many people more than capable of performing a job regardless of their past criminal history. They may be of great value to the company they are applying to.

They should not have to carry this burden nor pay any further "sentence" for the rest of their life. Let's fast it, people judge, and because of this fact, this would prevent a perfectly good applicant from acquiring a job.

I do feel, however, if a conivcted felonist wants to displose this information during an interview, this is of personal discernment.

By preventing and/or blocking someone from being a productive, tax paying citizen is wrong. There is nothing positive that comes out of this practice.

What are your thoughts?

[aggressor]

Would you want a convicted child molester working at your childs school?
Would you want a convicted bank robber working for you if you owned a bank or a store?
Would you want some convicted identity theif working in a postion to see all of your records?

I believe it is a good system & there are still people that will lie on this portion of their app.

With a good lawyer most first time offenders can get away with a felony with just a slap on the wrist & if they stay out of trouble for 5 years it can be exsponged from their record so not all people that have felonies have really paid their dues.

[Apostolic]

I have a different way of seeing this issue.
I know some folks can't over come their past crimes,and may act on them again given the right opportunity.

However some have just made a mistake,and in time will be able to live a normal life.

I had a very troubled past,and have just retired after a 45 year career in the trucking industry.

I personal don't think that question should be on job applications.

Because with all of the todays electronic tracing something that was very bad won't be hidden.
Where as the folks who had just messed up in their younger days will be able to get hired,and live a productive life.
This is my opinion based on how my life has worked out.

I was very blessed of God to have had the good life I've had up till now.
Even though I was a real bad messup in my younger days.

[johnc1go]

I don't think it's any potential employer's business if you're a convicted felon or not in regards to asking on a job application. I do however feel the employer should be allowed to do a criminal background check and if something comes up, there should be a procedure in place to discuss any blemishes during a job interview. If the candidate for employment is qualified enough to get an interview, they should at least be granted the privilege to explain their conviction before being automatically weeded out, prior to the interview stage of the hiring process.

[ranger309]

Originally Posted by johnc1go

I don't think it's any potential employer's business if you're a convicted felon or not in regards to asking on a job application. I do however feel the employer should be allowed to do a criminal background check and if something comes up, there should be a procedure in place to discuss any blemishes during a job interview. If the candidate for employment is qualified enough to get an interview, they should at least be granted the privilege to explain their conviction before being automatically weeded out, prior to the interview stage of the hiring process.

This sounds like a good idea to me too.

IMO, everyone deserves one chance to screw up (I am obviously not speaking of murderers, rapists and child-molesters here) in a less then serious way and be given a second chance to fly right and make a good life.

It amazes me how many people in this country seem to think anyone who made a minor mistake should not be given a new shake in life, but branded with a scarlet "A".

After all, last time I checked, this was a country with a huge population of millions of Christians, and what did Christ say about forgiving such people ?

[pro1driver]

Originally Posted by ldgarrit

First time on here so be patient...

I will make this pithy (simple).

On the morning news i caught a little tidbit on something of great interest to me.

On all applications, they ask if you have ever been convicted of a felony.

Question: Do you think that this should be on an application?

I personally think this is discriminating. I feel that if a person has been convicted of a prior felony, they obviously have paid their dues. Period. They shouldn't be discriminated from there on after.
There are many people more than capable of performing a job regardless of their past criminal history. They may be of great value to the company they are applying to.

They should not have to carry this burden nor pay any further "sentence" for the rest of their life. Let's fast it, people judge, and because of this fact, this would prevent a perfectly good applicant from acquiring a job.

I do feel, however, if a conivcted felonist wants to displose this information during an interview, this is of personal discernment.

By preventing and/or blocking someone from being a productive, tax paying citizen is wrong. There is nothing positive that comes out of this practice.

What are your thoughts?

i do not see this as discrimination. i see it as weeding out the scumbags that do not deserve a job, especially in MY industry, which of course is trucking.

i recently got my driver's license re-newed, and i got the hazmat endorsement. i HAD TO HAVE a background check. if i didn't "pass" this check, i'd be denied my hazmat.

then i went and got the TWIC card. which AGAIN, i had to have my fingerprints and background check.

i work hard to keep MY JOB and i earned the right to what i have.

i do not want to see any felon(s) in jobs they simply do not deserve.

they screwed up, and royally, and i gotta let them NOT disclose they have an arrest record..........????

uh,.......NO WAY...........

they can go pound sand.....