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Is there a list of employers who will employ a parolee convicted of a felony? Where /how can I find potential employment for my son who is slated to go before the parole board in April 2011? He is serving two concurrent sentences, 1) flat 5 years, marijuana w/ gun in close proximity (locked in glove compartment) and 2) 5-6 years for attempted aggravated assault of a police officer. He offended in Montgomery County, PA and is seving in PA. He just turned 20 years old prior to his offense August 4, 2006. He only had one offense during his 5 year incarceration, he took four college classes with good grades. He has matured greatly in this time and has become quite insightful. He is an intelligent young man who made a stupid mistake trying to make "easy money" at the urging of his "best friend" who set eveything up and turned states evidence on him. He sent home forms for place of residece and employment hoping to have both prior to parole board hearing in hopes to help get his rel
Optional Information: State/Country relating to question: Pennsylvania Already Tried: Called a few local companys to no avail so far.
I hope this message finds you well. There are no publications that I am aware of that specifically list employers that are willing to hire conficted felons. I would suggest contacting the US Department of Labor or the Pennsylvania State Personnel Board, but I am not too sure that it would be overly fruitful.
I would suggest simply beating the streets in an effort to find a job. I would recommend having your son write a detailed letter about his crimes, his time served, his rehabilitation, his work ethic and his desire to set things right through hard work. If you can get any letters of recommendation from people who know him and know that he has changed for the better through this experience, I would attach those letters to his letter. You should give this letter to all potential employers.
At this stage in the game, I would recommend trying to start out in common labor (construction). When he gets a job, it will be time to put his head down and work hard. Hard work is noticed and will not go unrewarded. I personally worked a job in college on a construction crew that was comprised of almost exclusively former convicts. Some lasted and some didn't, but the ones that worked hard were rewarded, promoted, etc.
Other food for thought may be to enroll your son in some type of vocational school to acquire a skill set such as carpentry or welding. He is not only getting a leg up in the employment field, he has the opportunity to make more money on an hourly or salary basis and he will eventually have the ability to be his own boss. Once he is settled in a particular field, he will then have the ability to potentially take correspondence classes from a college and get his degree.
In summary, I think he needs to write a letter to give all potential employers that explains candidly what his circumstances are and how he has grown as a result. Letters of recommendation are always beneficial. Don't be picky, this is a tough job market. Try to get in with a construction outfit, or the like, and work your way up. It would also be advisable to try to pick up a particular trade such as welding, carpentry or engine mechanic. There is no replacement for hard work once he gets started either. He will be fine as long as he works hard.
Best wishes...
Experience: In-House Counsel for State's Largest Agency