Here at Coalition Recovery, we go beyond helping you get sober – we set your life up for success post-treatment. One common hurdle we usually have to tackle is finding a job. This can be difficult because often times, due to the nature of drug addiction, people are often charged with felonious crimes. Learn how Coalition Recovery can help you obtain your dream job or education while in treatment.
The Problem with Felonies
Felonies consist of:
- Murder
- Rape
- Arson
- Grand theft
- Kidnapping
- Sale of illegal drugs
The problem is that if you are charged with the sale of illegal drugs, you are labeled a felon (not the best company to be in…). You might agree that if someone is selling drugs, they should be charged heavily because they are adding to the problems of addiction and crime; but in many cases, these dealers are selling to support their own habits. Additionally, if you do have a felony on your record, your options for finding a respectable job are pretty limited, leaving you with selling drugs as one of your only options. Like an addiction, the act of selling drugs is an easy system to get into but a hard one to break. To go further, the “intent to sell” charge is up to the discretion of the officer and can be arbitrary. Because there is no definite way to prove intent, the prosecutor uses surrounding evidence to make his case. This could be anything from a scale, plastic bags, large amounts of cash, or texts. Typically, the individual is charged for intent to sell by possessing more than what is normal for personal use. For instance, in Florida, carrying more than .7 ounces of Marijuana will constitute as a felony. So, someone with possession of marijuana could be categorized on the same level as someone with a murder charge!* **They will not get the same sentencing charge – but nonetheless, they are both felons.** Now, it has even been argued that the prohibition of drugs actually causes more harm than good – but we’re not going to open that can of worms right now. The point is, addiction is a disease and because of this debilitating disease, individual’s cannot control their actions. To charge someone with a felony creates a barricade to obtain a job and contribute to society. This ultimately restricts their chances of ever getting better. Do you know that line on a job application that says, “Have you ever been convicted of a felony? (Yes or No)” Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you’ll get an, “If yes, please explain”, but most of the time a felony is an automatic denial. Felonies are misleading, but many employers simply see a label. Getting the chance to explain your situation can even prove to be difficult. The good news is that there are certain companies and industries who are more willing to hire individuals with felonies. They understand the only way to contribute to society and start a new life is through a job – without it, people will be tossed back into the vicious cycle of addiction or crime.
Job Search Resources
If you have been charged with a felony and are currently seeking employment, there are some resources out there to help you find companies in your area are more willing to hire you. It is important to know that while some are more willing to hire you, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will; but you will save time and energy focusing on these companies and industries.
HireFelons.org
If you are just starting your job search, here is the first place you should look. They offer a wide range of tools and resources for you to use. The articles on this site give you insight to not only which companies and industries offer jobs to offenders, but also strategies on how to best obtain these jobs. For instance, Uber and Lyft are very popular jobs for those actively looking for a long-term career. Generally, their background checks are pretty thorough and you will not qualify for having a felony, but did you know if your felony is older than 7 years you are eligable? Check out some other articles to learn more about specific companies like UPS as well as freelance options.
JobsforFelonsHub
JobsForFelonsHub.com is a great tool to use because they provide a list of popular companies to choose from. Along with this list, they also offer a search tool. Just input your location and a list of local jobs available will appear.
FelonsGetHired
FelonsGetHired us a new resource which offers an extensive resource for anyone with a felony – whether you need a job or not. They offer additional resources such as housing, voting rights, and education.
Exoffenders.net
This site offers a relatively accurate and extensive list of companies who will most likely hire offenders and felons.
JailtoJob
The website JailtoJob.com comes from a man named Eric Mayo who created a book for people coming out of jail and looking for employment. Here he offers a list of companies as well. According to him, the best industries are trucking jobs, restaurant jobs, and hospitality jobs.
Optional Job Paths
During your time here at Coalition Recovery, we help guide you to your goals – and many of the times that means a new and better job. Having a felony on your record might restrict your job pool a little bit, but there are other paths you can choose.
Higher Education
For instance, obtaining a degree from a higher education like a university or a vocational school can dramatically increase your chances of finding a job. Due to Pell Grants and student loans, almost anyone is able to attend college! While it might be a financial cost at first, it will pay itself off and more!
Self-Employment
If you have the drive and dedication, you can be your own boss! Self-employment and freelance jobs have become widely popular in recent years; they give people the freedom to work where and when they like. A drawback though is that without the right motivation, people can lose focus and fall behind in their work. Freelance work generally requires more time and effort than a 9-5 without some of the benefits of a full-time job. But, if you have a niche skill and are willing to put in the time and effort, you could end up performing a job you truly enjoy without traditional work environments.
Learn a New Valuable Skill
Developing skills and traits will help set yourself apart from the rest. There are countless resources out there (many on the internet) that for just a couple dollars a month, you can participate in classes and tutorials on anything from coding to history. If you find something you’re passionate about and can apply it to a specific job then build that skill! Learning these skills can take about as much time and effort as a typical college course (maybe even more) but if you have the self-determination you can save some expenses along the way. Some of these courses also offer assessment tests which enable you to provide certain badges to show you have mastered a skill. This way, you are able to visibly prove to employers of your expert skill level.
Lynda.com is the most popular learning sites out there. It is partnered (or owned) by LinkedIn and offers just about any course you can think of. They have over 3,500 high-quality courses for around $35/month. This may seem like a lot, but if you are trying to lean many different skills in a short period of time, it could be worth your while. The courses are very well done and easy to follow.
Knowledge city offers over 7,000 courses on business, computers, and safety compliance. To become a member of Knowledge City you’ll have to pay a monthly fee of 14.99/month. This price is pretty good compared to the other popular sites like Lynda.
Udemy offers over 30,000 courses in a variety of different subjects. Unlike the monthly plans like Lynda and Knowledge City, professionals sell their own courses – so you pay for each course separately. They generally are around $10 per course. So, if you plan on only taking one course or would like the course for a long period of time, Udemy might be the choice for you.
Learning to stay sober can be just as hard as getting sober – especially once out of treatment and into the real world. Finding a job is hard for most people but having a felony can stack the odds against you. That is why at Coalition Recovery, we help facilitate these resources and tools and encourage you to utilize them all while in treatment. Our goal is to set you up to be working when you leave our facility. This way there will be one less stressor for you to worry about and you can focus your energy on your sobriety rather than finding a job. Our mission is to eliminate any variable that can potentially lead to relapse.
We hope this resource helps you find your way. If you are currently struggling with addiction, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of our representatives. Even if you feel you are unable to attend treatment financially, we are still able to assist you – whether it be finding you the right facility or giving you resources to help you. Getting sober is half the battle – staying sober is the greater half. Here at Coalition Recovery in Tampa, we have adapted a program to give every individual their greatest chance for success. Call Today (888) 707-2873
