Tarrant County Holds Job Fair To Help Ex-Felons

Wow, I can't believe the blanket statements some of you are making here. We don't live in a black and white world.
I have a non-violent felony conviction that happened 20 years ago. I was young and stupid and thought I came up with a no harm no foul way to make a quick buck. The quick buck was not to buy drugs or live the high life. It was to save my home which was going to be foreclosed on. Desperation can make people do unthinkable things that are not necessarily reflective of who they are as a person.
I could have hired an attorney and tried to get out of the charge, and probably would have been successful. But my conscious would not let me. I plead guilty.
I have not done anything like that since. And while I have only had 2 jobs over the last 10 years and proven myself beyond any doubt to be a reliable employee, when my former employer of 7 years had mass lay offs due to the bad economy, I found myself in the new technical world where everyone does a background check because they are now so easy to do.
I am virtually un-employable even though I have proven myself to be a reliable and trust-worthy employee.
Should I receive the death penalty or a life sentence when I have proven that I am no longer a threat to society?
And what about my voting rights? I can't vote but I can pay taxes.
The world we live in now provides no reason what so ever for any felon not to be a repeat offender.
Before you judge, ask yourself what lengths you would go through to protect your family, to provide for your family if you found yourself unemployed through no fault of your own and on the verge of losing your home.
It's attitudes like these here that basically make any felony a life sentence.

I AGREE !!!

happy medium wrote:

There are plenty of non criminals looking for jobs why would anyone hire a felon?

It would seem to me that you have never done a wrong thing in your life. Humm, you must be GOD. Or a complete idiot who hides behind thier computer.

Great! My brother needs a job!

Ex-cons are in no way employable. They are mostly high school dropouts, can't read past the 5th grade level, they have no skills to provide for themselves, and are better criminals than when they were imprisoned. These are all facts from the federal BOP (bureau of prisons)

It's all about who has the least amount of baggage. Ex-cons have simply overpacked

I understand where you are coming from, but NOT understand my point...What about those who just plea bargined since the DA didn't want to take it to court, after all the system can hold you for as long as they want even with out evidence! What about those who are on probation for murder and assault with a deadly weapon? Does that seem fair to you that they are trying their best to become productive citizens and the system has screwed them over!

the good old days wrote:

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Well, if you think they are such good and deserving people and "WANT to work", tell me this, why doesn't the TxDCJ hire them. God knows, the prisons need a lot more CO's to watch the ones that are still incarcerated.
I certainly would not want a child molester or rapist working in the same building with my wife or daughter.
I would not hire a thief to run my cash register or someone who has assaulted and/or killed someone to work with my customers or my other employees

Maybe they should try something a little outside the box for Ex Cons. How about teaching them to run a business and providing a service to the community. Here is an example.

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How about my husband? His felony was from when he was younger. After his dad died he got 3 DWIs. Never hurt anyone luckily. He did his time in prison, went to AA meetings, and is now a wonderful husband and father of our 8 month old girl. He got a degree in HVAC and got EPA certified and we are still forced to live with my uncle in a 60 yr old house because the only jobs he can get are in restaurants. While that used to be ok money, times have changed and most servers can't make enough money to save any back. He just wants to work. He is a hard worker and can't catch a break. It is really hard.

Every one has broken the law. Whether its Malum prohibidum or Malum in se. No one is spotless, no one. I received a felony charge as a kid. Served in the military, got out. And since then I can't get a job at a gas station or McDonald's because of my charge. No one will hire me. I've never hurt anyone in my life, and i served in the military but people look at my resume and say" you committed a crime one?" No way. Am I not good enough to work? To survive? I guess not.

lol thats funny they have so many criminals with in there company's that just have not been caught and dont have a rap sheet yet but lets not hire some of these people that have learned there lesson and are ready to get on with life. every one does see black and white.how the people see things and do things its just crazy sometimes

Mike wrote:

Wow, hopefully you guys aren't as callous as you seem. I am considered a felon. I allowed myself to be talked into helping a "friend" get rid of some stolen items. I'm not gonna lie, I knew they were stolen and chose to do it anyway. It was considered a felony because of the dollar amount. I got caught, fessed up and accepted everything that I had coming. It wasn't right. It was against everything I was taught and I knew better. I was put on probation and ordered to pay back everything that was taken. I'm fine with that. What i don't understand is this "Felon" blanket punishment. I can't have a gun at the moment or vote. What does either of those have to do with what I did. I've NEVER been in trouble with the police other than traffic tickets before this in my life. I'm in college making good grades and have always done well in school. I don't consider myself a criminal, just a human who made a horrible mistake in life. I really hope when you guys say felon you are talking about the murderers/rapist/child molesters/habitual offenders, etc. I'm nowhere close to the felon stereotype. I'm not a threat to society, never have been and never will be. No one should be punished the rest of their lives for making a stupid mistake like that. The only thing I have proven to society is that i'm capable of making a mistake! But like I said, hopefully you guys are referring to the types of people who bring society down not the ones like me who are good people that just did something stupid. Feel free to shed some light on it because it's really worrisome that people would be so harsh on others for being human...

some things they do make no sense. I had been caught with drugs one time at a house and after everything was all said and done they suspended my license?? why is my license suspended? what does my car have and driving have to do with anything. I was not in a car by a car had nothing to do with one but they want to say your license is suspended now until you get insurance even tho I have NOOO car now but I need insurance for two years and to take a drug course for driving. I'm confused. I have had ONE ticket the last 17 years of my life and has nothing to do with any of this. just another way for them to stick it in you and take your money.some real pieces of trash out there.

krista wrote:

I AGREE !!!

ya they might as well put all us one time felons YEARSSS ago in a mass ghetto or let us work broke ass jobs and let us be known as pieces of trash the rest of are lifes. god dam McDonalds back-round checks. who the hell wants to work at McDonald's and be looked down to like that. I understand some people say o well I don't give a shit what others think about me? but you no what I do. I don't like being known as a low life that cant do anything with his life. I was raised better then that and just made a dumb choice at one point and was one of those unlucky and caught and I have paid for those crimes for my self and 5 other people. how are society does somethings really makes u think. are we being led by a big group of people with Microcephaly with a mixture of Cerebral palsy what the fuck is wrong with people today.

STOP COMPLAININ wrote:

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ITS SOOO MANY JOBS OUT HERE FOR PEOPLE W/O BACKGROUNGDS. ALL THESE CALL CENTER AND BANK JOBS AND YOU COMPLAINING BECAUSE A COMPANY FOR OONNNNEEE DAY HELPED FELONS FIND A JOB? SERIOUSLY IF YOU DONT HAVE A JOB DONT BLAME THE FELON BLAME YOURSELF CUS THE FELON WISHES THEY CAN JUST GET ONE DAY IN A NON CRIMINAL POSITION. SMH

are you dumb?? you dont have a crime in your late background do you?? There are not plenty of jobs for people with backgrounds. some people do not want to work fast food/store jobs the rest of there life. and no one is complaining you dumbass, how are government and the people set things in order should have people wondering and questioning how things are put in place and done. Not everyone should be punished like this. O and yes just about ANY job that background checks will turn you down. I understand its hard for you to wrap your tiny little brain around this but yes some people HAVE got caught and been unlucky and YES some of us are smart and should have another chance and shouldn't suffer from a charge at 17 years old. A SINGE CHARGE. you are one of those dumbass we need to question. I'm sorry for your mother how she raised you to think. white trash is what that is. you give us a bad name. get a life.

happy medium wrote:

There are plenty of non criminals looking for jobs why would anyone hire a felon?

Because they