Ex-Offender Ministry Channel

A criminal record is not the end of the world. There are legal ways to have criminal convictions removed from your record.

When looking for employment,  the message that our bodies send is just as important as the words we use.

At times looking for a job as an ex-offender seems like one dead end after another.  There are things that can be done until that dream job comes along.

Temporary Agencies

Consider working as a temporary as a way of getting a permanent job.  Temporary agencies are a great way to quickly get back into the working world.  Many employers use agencies to try out new employees before hiring them.  Good workers are hard to find.  If an employer sees that you are hard working, punctual and fit in well, he may offer the job permanently.  Some other advantages to using a temporary employment service:

1 You can try different types of work and develop new skills which can be used later.

2 You can make new contacts.

Have You Ever Been Convicted of a Crime?

Recently I was reading a few articles about pending legislation on both the state a federal level that would make it illegal to discriminate against ex-offenders with regard to employment, housing and public services.  This legislation would be a seemingly powerful step in helping ex-offenders reintegrate into society.  It would great if the law dictated that legally no one could be denied employment for being an ex-offender.  Being a product of the Civil Rights movement, I hold little faith in legislation.  Laws do not change attitudes.

One of the most important elements of a successful job search and the subsequent interview is making the all important positive first impression.  You will never get a second chance to make a first impression. 

You have been recently released and need a job to get on with the rest of your life.  Hopefully you have learned that life is all about choices.  The choices you continue to make will shape your life.  The job search is all about choices too. 
 

Finding a job with a criminal record is a very tough job. It will take hard work, planning and dedication. No one knows when all of your hard work will pay off. It may be next week, next month, or three months form now. The reality is, you probably have financial demands that must be met. Starting a business may be the perfect choice to earn some money. With a little creativity and hard work, you can start your own business. There are many ways aggressive people can get started in the business world. There are many self-employment options that have low start-up or investment costs. Your criminal record won’t matter running your own enterprise. Here are a few ideas:

A Painting Service

I’m new to this, so why don’t we start with introductions. My name is Mark Hemenway. I’m President of New England Prison Ministries. We bring the Gospel inside state and county facilities in Massachusetts, mentor discharged prisoners, pastor the chaplains and whatever else comes up in the course of a day. Our web site is www.nepm.org . 

My name is Minister Diona Chandler and I represent the Florida General Baptist Convention State Prison Ministry.  I am the Chairperson and need not tell you how vast the responsibility is to service our state.  I created this blog to share with the family members of those who are incarcerated and or have been formerly incarcerated.  The vision is create a state network to empower, encourage and inspire the families and the victims.  I will check my blog everyday.  The hand has been extended, don't leave me hanging.  Diona

More than 60% of all former convicts will be rearrested, according to a 1994 Department of Justice study. The Prison Entrepreneurship Program provides job training to help current inmates break the cycle.

A recent ACLU report claims Massachusetts youth accused of minor offenses are locked up at higher rates than necessary. "Massachusetts should create effective alternatives to pre-trial lockup and reserve secure detention for the relatively small number of children who truly need it," said the ACLU's state director.

Last week, President Bush signed the Second Chance Act of 2007, intended to strengthen programs that aid prisoner reentry.

For the first time in history, more than one in every 100 Americans is imprisoned. This high incarceration rate hits state budgets hard without delivering a clear public safety benefit, according to a recent Pew Center report.