Letter for those with Ex-Offender Hire Policies

Dear Companies, Temp Agencies, and any other Corporation, Government Entity or Organization who has a policy against working with ex-offenders,

I am only one person in a sea of those who made mistakes in their lives as we grew up, but today I am speaking for the millions who are in the same or similar circumstances as mine. I do not think your policy is fair, just, open-minded or in the spirit of Equal Opportunity Employment.

This policy may have its merit in certain circumstances where the crime that was committed did harm to another person, either physically or by theft. However in cases like mine where the only person I truly hurt was myself (other than emotional damage to those who loved me) – this policy is unjustified.

Image (if you can) that you were in our situation. How would you feel when eight years later (or longer for some), after completing all sentencing and taking every opportunity provided to better yourself, you were able to find some who believed in you and made a successful career for those eight years. Then you were laid off.

You begin searching for work and almost a year later and you get a phone call saying that you are scheduled for a phone interview…Elation right? Then the call comes. You spend half an hour on the phone with all indications that you are in the running. Then they ask you about your criminal record. They ask you the charges, and you tell them they were drug related charges (and related types of charges for some women who end up homeless and addicted) and before you can tell them your story they cut you off with “oh, I am so sorry our company has a policy against representing clients with those kinds of charges.” “Good luck in your search”…

So…This policy should be mentioned FIRST..why give false hope?

Worse yet, let’s add the fact that your policy does not even allow for an “interview”, nor do you even bother to call the “references”.  You simply rule people out based on what is on paper…

How would you REALLY feel? Let’s not waste time by you telling me what you would want your “friends” or “co-workers” with the same mindset hear.

Every day we hear stories and commercials about helping people with Drug addictions get their lives back, but does that include helping them gain “WORTHWHILE” employment? Not in my opinion. Because working in fast food, or housekeeping, or any other various types of “Service” work- while they have their merits- is not enough to make a “LIVING WAGE”…

I know that at the bottom of every application it states that a criminal charge does not eliminate you from employment, but that some employer’s may have their own policies …unfortunately this is an out for you – so that you can rule out everyone who has made mistakes.

People change, and we work REALLY HARD to do so, to make ourselves and others proud of us, and when life throws us a curve ball, we try to keep going – but narrow minded policies such as these do not make it easy.

I know that I am responsible for my own mistakes in life, and I am not throwing that off on anyone, however I think there comes a time when people should be considered as “paid up”.

For those of you out there who face the same struggle everyday, I hope you can hear me when I say do not give up, to do so would only fan the flames of policies such as these.