Written by: Raquel Torres
Cleveland Fashion & God
The state of Ohio has over 30 correctional institutions; housing men and women who have been sentenced for crimes as severe as aggravated murder to petty theft. Every day inmates are being released from prison and into society. Many enter society with not much to look forward to financially. Yes, indeed they have their freedom but when it comes to earning a necessary income that’s when an issue arises. Not just freshly released felons but also the numerous men and women who committed offenses, as far as 20 years ago, all endure a common struggle.
Having a record has made it extremely difficult for a felon to land a job- even a simple and basic job sweeping a baseball stadium after games! Felons are human being with the same basic necessities as everyone else! Shelter, meals, clothing and transportation are a mandate to possess as a living human being.
Being automatically rejected (which many employers do) from a job application solely because there is a check mark on the conviction box is completely inhuman and unfair. All Citizens should be familiar with the line of repercussions a felon has to endure. Paying their debt to society is obviously “not enough” of a debt in America. After felons are released from prison they are being denied necessary accommodations in living in basic housing and even a chance for employment! Being denied from a job will give an unconscious motivator to a felon to go back to their former lifestyle. What a discouragement it is for a person who is desperate to truly recover from their illegal deeds. If a person has been denied three jobs in a row, how on earth can they support themselves and move forward?
Being unemployed all lead to instability and inadequacy which then leads to recidivism! Earning a paycheck is not the only reason to be employed. A good job leads to having a purpose, building responsibility and staying occupied in a positive manner; which all can avoid recidivism!
The state of Ohio passed a great law last year in 2015. The law consisted of dropping the felony question from a state job application. Now, during the job interview the question of a conviction can be discussed. But this outcome gives a felon a good advantage. It gives him or her advantage in explaining himself face to face and selling himself for the position on a more personal level. This law avoids an employer to automatically disqualify an application based on a checkmark.
This particular law should have been applied decades ago. This law finally maximizes the chances of a convict to gain a job, which once again, prevents recidivism. A record has nothing to do with an individual’s work ethic. Yes, I understand that employers don’t want to take a chance by hiring a thief. But if a felon served time behind bars, why is rehabilitation impossible to believe?
I felt compelled to write this article because I am a convicted felon myself. I first hand experienced being rejected and looked down upon based on my young adult lifestyle. It was me who applied to clean the baseball stadium. My intentions were so genuine when I walked in that baseball stadium as a young adult. I even passed the drug test that was given to me by the company but based on a few actions in my immature young adult life, earning an income was refused.
Hiring felons is a overall controversial topic but there is a sense of liberation when it is being addressed.
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