The trap of the criminal background question that all Returning Citizens have to deal with.
“Have You Ever Been Convicted of a Felony?” To answer yes or to answer no that is the question, right?
Every returning citizens want to be gainfully employed. To be a contributing member of society. To stand on their own two-feet and earn their keeps. For most that have been incarcerated they are expected to get a job as part of their probation/parole with little exceptions of illness or elderly.
But- the system has in place a TRAP! That– have you been convicted of a crime trap. That question that keeps you forever trapped by a previous unfortunate situation. That trap that will go back as far as fifty or more decades and raise it ugly head to smack you down again. The question that can break your moving forward in your life. That question that brings the shame of your past front and center. That question that tells of a negative character flaw, a youthful bad decision or a situation that was out of your control. Yea, that invisible Scarlett “F” on your forehead.
In our modern times there has been some movement which the system claim to have given the returning citizens [Whether you served time behind the walls or not- You are still considered a Returning Citizens] a SECOND CHANCE. However, even that concept is and can be limited depending on what level of trust and security the job entails.
Seeing the question on an application can cause a traumatic response within you. That nervousness of exposing the past. The fear that your answer will limit you moving forward. The fact that you feel as if you are still paying for a crime in which you have satisfied the sentencing penalty.
We feel we have to rationalize how we are going to answer the question. You have been rejected from being hired due to your criminal history. For some jobs the company has a policy to not hire any felons. If I don’t disclose the information they will hire me. We tell ourselves. You need a job to put a roof over your family’s head and to to feed them. The probation/parole requires employment or you could end up in jail. You don’t want anyone to know you have committed a crime because they will think you are a bad person. All of these scenarios are and can be true and they can influence how you want to answer the question. But should they?
You maybe someone who has had the good fortune of having a safety net that is: family, friends or other connections that have or will provide you with a job without you every having to reveal. You may not understand the stress and challenge of the trap, yet.
The trap challenges your integrity to tell the truth. Is it really designed to test to see if you have grown in character or is it the system’s way of keeping you handcuffed to your past? I cannot answer the question as to what you should do. I can suggest that you consider the consequences of your answer.
With today’s technology there is no information that is hidden. Your answer can and will have bearing on whether or not you will secure a job. Don’t be afraid to disclose your truth, your honesty can make a different. Keep in mind if you lie and say no, but get the job the future does not guarantee that your truth will not come out and you lose the job.
They claim that they do not count any history that is older than seven years. For certain crimes that is not true. Crimes of violent, sexual assault and certain fraud they can go back indefinite.
Put yourself in a better position by getting a degree, starting your own business and networking. Live a life that shows others you are worthy to have a Second Chance. More importantly vote and make those you vote for put forward legislation that will help make a change in how the system keep returning citizens TRAPPED. By LC DeVine