Employing Someone With A Criminal Record?

[Jamie26]

Jamie, i'm sorry if i missed it, but i can't see, what is the line of work you do?
If it's any consolation 4 of my mates are ex prisoners (all drug dealing related) now run succesfull companies. Two in roofing, one in haulage and a bricklayer. It seams in the building trade conviction is no barrier.

good luck

steve

Actually I didn't mention it. What we're thinking of doing is setting up a landscaping/gardening business. That's what my mate does and I've done a bit of it before. It's something I like doing and think we could make a go off as it seems to be a pretty popular thing now.

I don't have any trade as such and in the last job was working in a sales job and I am still deciding about trying for a few more interviews before I give up on that.

A good friend of mine was being interviewed for a job. He'd dont some very serious time. He came clean about it and he didn't get the job. They told him off the record it was only becuase of his conviction.

At the next interview, for a different company, he didn't admit to it and got the job. He's still working there and on a bloody good salary. But they could sack him tomorrow if they find out.

It's a joke really. Have you managed to get home contents insurance yet Jamie? It seems virtually impossible if you have a record.

I think you're going in the right direction in setting up on your own - you then have noone to answer to.

Pretty much what I'm thinking right now. Haven't had to get home insurance yet as I had been living at home and am now sharing with some others and they had taken care of all that.

 

[dal]

Jamie,
Good luck mate, I think you'll do well on your own business. You're obviously keen and it's clear you've got a decent brain. I'd really give it a go with your own firm.
I must say I do agree with Steve Cool, I'm in the construction game and most of the employers all have c records/had records. It doesn't seem to be too much of a barrier in our game. The guys I know are very successful too. Go for it mate, we all make mistakes.

 

[Patocean]

I would never ever condone violence but good on you admitting you were wrong that takes a big person. Best of luck in the future you will go far. You have done your time. Now move on.As Sirearl says he who can cast the first stone has never sinned.

 

[Stu Wright]

I agree with the comments about depending on what the crime was and a lot of employers would give someone a chance with a single ABH. Previously I was a Commercial Director for a large security company in London. They purchased a company and took on all of the 'pre vetted staff'. When new vetting took place, one of the staff had done 8 years for manslaughter, after driving into man that had being having an affair with his wife. He was the best officer form that company and an absolute gentleman, but sadly had to be laid off to comply with policy. I do believe in giving someone a chance, especially as statistics show if we don't, most ex offenders end up back in prison. Best of luck with your new business.

 

[Jamie26]

Hey thanks again. You know I've got more encouaragement on here than in alot of other ways. Good to know there are alot of people out there who think the way you guys do. I was told that applying to smaller companies might be better as they might not be as fixed on certain stuff. Still keeping my options open at the moment and have got a bit of work to keep things going right now.

 

[Write My Site]

In most cases I would be prepared to employ someone with a criminal record, as I believe people deserve to be given a chance. The only exceptions I would make would be in cases where the crime was directly related to the job, e.g. I wouldn't employ a child sex attacker to work in a nursery.

 

[YMW]

Like others have said it would depend on the crime as there are some crimes I would just not be able to get past. However such as your case you seem to be a very driven, focussed person and I am sure that will go in your favour, regardless of what you decide to do in the future. Best of luck!

Having said that I wouldn't have a problem employing someone who had a criminal record assuming it didn't fall into one of those serious crimes that are internet or it based.

What sort of crimes would they be, do you mean like hacking and fraud? Sorry, I am genuinely intrigued.

 

[jamie1964]

listen to you mat quinn, i bet you got some secrets in the closet too, people like you should be watched too.

you talk as if jamie26 is an animal, there was a fight, so what, we have sports that indulge in fighting thats what we are human beings, when kids are involved then its a different story.

you matt quinn, i would say that you are the bad one and afraid that jamie26 would find out about you, and slap you up the ear.

 

[jamie1964]

Almost forgot, criminal records checks are here now, anyone heard of the doctor who punched a woman in the face and is still employed as a doctor, also the other dr who kept things quiet about dr shipman, he is still a doctor.

Those who listen to gossip are the dangerous ones 100%.

 

[ken_uk]

Sounds like your the dangerous one Jamie1964, first off I cant see anywhere where Jamie26 is talked about like an animal, so your spreading gossip there.. Mat has not said anything I can see that makes him the 'bad one' nor has he implied that what you said -

afraid that jamie26 would find out about you, and slap you up the ear.

.
Second, there is a big difference between organised, legal sport, and assault or fights that lead to criminal convictions, and if you cant see that difference then that is very worrying.

As for those that listen to gossip being dangerous, I agree with that, after all you said yourself that if you found out someone had abused some kids, you would

i would sack her too, and i would escort her out of the place of work take her round the corner and have a fag with her, then i would stub my fag out on her forehead and kick her in the stomach.

Then what if you found out the gossip about her abusing the kids was untrue? What if it was just lies and you did all that to someone who was innocent? I'm not condoning abuse, but I'm not condoning vigilantee justice dispensed immediately just because you feel that you are better placed to serve it than the justice and legal system.

 

[Gill]

Yeah in 10 years for most jobs - I'll be 36 then - seems like forever from now though.

Oh but it will fly by 36 - still young - and it is what you do with the time between that matters. We all make mistakes - we probably all commit crime, knowingly or otherwise, some crimes are more easily forgiven.
Your attitude and obvious intelligence stand you in good stead - whatever you decide - best of luck to you. I would have no problem recruiting you or someone in a similar situation.
I do wish you well.
Gill

 

[Jamie26]

Just checked back on here for the first time in ages. I went ahead with the business with my mate - landscaping/gardening work and it has gone well eventhough it's not the best time of year for it and we're doing well.

Funny thing was we got a job and it turned out to be for a prison officer from the nick I was in and he remembered me. He was pretty sound about it and didn't give me a hard time but it was strange doing the job for him and calling him by his first name. Felt he was keeping an eye on me though!

Again thanks for the encouragement though - things have worked out well for me.

 

[Cornish Steve]

Congratulations and well done. The more time passes and you demonstrate your ability to succeed, the less your past should matter.

It is rather ironic that one of your early customers was a prison officer. His response, though, should bode well for the future.

 

I would ditto what Steve said - well done.

Hopefully people will take you at face value and you can grow your business. The odd one who causes a problem, just dust yourself down and move on - they will be in a minority.

 

Just checked back on here for the first time in ages. I went ahead with the business with my mate - landscaping/gardening work and it has gone well eventhough it's not the best time of year for it and we're doing well.

Funny thing was we got a job and it turned out to be for a prison officer from the nick I was in and he remembered me. He was pretty sound about it and didn't give me a hard time but it was strange doing the job for him and calling him by his first name. Felt he was keeping an eye on me though!

.

Word of advice Stop thinking of yourself as an ex-con.

Stop making it the focal point of your life.

You cocked up once as I am sure most of us have and did time for it,End of story.

Forget it I am sure there are more people outside of prison who should be there than those in it.

Have a good life and stop apologising.

Earl

 

[matt4]

Word of advice Stop thinking of yourself as an ex-con.

Stop making it the focal point of your life.

You cocked up once as I am sure most of us have and did time for it,End of story.

Forget it I am sure there are more people outside of prison who should be there than those in it.

Have a good life and stop apologising.

Earl

How very true!... You can't change the past.

In regards to hiring someone with a conviction... I might just hire someone with a criminal conviction (depending on the crime of course and if they are upfront and honest from the beginning).

Matt

 

[Matt1959]

interesting subject - I'm pretty openminded really but I think the big question is whether the person concerned is a serial offender or a one off case. If the former, I'd be very careful. Blantantly, placing an ex child absuser in the proximity of kids is a big no no.

 

I think you will find if you read the early posts,He relieves a guy of his teeth and maybe a few other bits without the guys permission.

Earl

 

[Stephen Berry]

I realise that this is quite an old post - and that Jamie has successfully started in business (tell us how it is going Jamie - presumably this is the toughest time of year for landscaping type of work - so go heavy on the marketing).

however - I've just come across something which may be relevant. A customer has given me some material to turn into a training course for them - and a small part of it is on discrimination.

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 it is unlawful to discriminate against anyone with spent convictions due to the conviction unless the job is exempted (e.g. working with vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly or the mentally ill).

A few days later I got called in to see my boss and he told me that certain information had come to light and that as I was still on the probation period with the job that they would be letting me go.

They would argue that you withheld information - but cannot dismiss you on the basis of having a conviction, nor for witholding information which is not relevant (they cannot dismiss you for it therefore it is not relevant). You may have a case if you wanted to take it forward (I am not a lawyer - I'm just working on material for a training course!). I would also want a lawyer to define 'spent conviction'.

A good friend of mine was being interviewed for a job. He'd dont some very serious time. He came clean about it and he didn't get the job. They told him off the record it was only becuase of his conviction.

They have committed an offence and are liable to prosecution. The onus is on them to prove that they have other reasons for not appointing him (e.g. that someone else was demonstrably a better candidate) - but with an 'off the record comment' a solicitor would love to hear from your friend - pound signs will be alight in their beady little legal eyes. Few companies keep adequate records of reasons for non-appointment - and this could cost them dearly if your friend chose to proceed.

 

[Jamie26]

I realise that this is quite an old post - and that Jamie has successfully started in business (tell us how it is going Jamie - presumably this is the toughest time of year for landscaping type of work - so go heavy on the marketing).

however - I've just come across something which may be relevant. A customer has given me some material to turn into a training course for them - and a small part of it is on discrimination.

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 it is unlawful to discriminate against anyone with spent convictions due to the conviction unless the job is exempted (e.g. working with vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly or the mentally ill).


They would argue that you withheld information - but cannot dismiss you on the basis of having a conviction, nor for witholding information which is not relevant (they cannot dismiss you for it therefore it is not relevant). You may have a case if you wanted to take it forward (I am not a lawyer - I'm just working on material for a training course!). I would also want a lawyer to define 'spent conviction'.


They have committed an offence and are liable to prosecution. The onus is on them to prove that they have other reasons for not appointing him (e.g. that someone else was demonstrably a better candidate) - but with an 'off the record comment' a solicitor would love to hear from your friend - pound signs will be alight in their beady little legal eyes. Few companies keep adequate records of reasons for non-appointment - and this could cost them dearly if your friend chose to proceed.

Thanks for posting all that but the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act only wipes the slate clean after 10 years for sentences like mine so it's there for 9 more years! Because I was on probation in the job I think they culd have just let me go so I decided to go without making a big deal of it and got a week's extra pay for it. In a way it was probably a good thing because now I am getting to do something for myself eventhough it didn't seem like that at the time.

Overall things are going good with the business although it's more general maintenance right now. I'm going to college in the evenings too to work up on the business side of things. I think the fact that I can look back 12 months and remember being locked up on New Years Eve and thinking about how **** things seemed then makes me appreciate what I have right now.

Biggest challenge for this year is to give up smoking - only started in prison - so I can do better at the football! Not all bad so

 

[INDIZINE]

There is a guy called Michael Fraser from the Midlands who did petty crime when he was a teenager, and he ended up starting his own business in his early twenties. went on to become a millionaire. He gives talks at business seminars and hes really down to earth and honest about his background and growing up, which wasnt nice, but he came through it. He had not a bean when he came out of prison, so he had no leg up from anyone. Its good to read those stories, so maybe you will have your own story to tell.

 

[DuaneJackson]

As per my PM - it's not something I scream and shout about (other than when fund raising for the Princes Trust), but I also did some time (2.5 of a 5 year sentence). I got out 5 years (and 22 days) ago with absolutely nothing (I mean nothing - no family, no money, no home). Now business is going very well.

I'm sure it's more common than any of us would think - it's not something people tend to advertise.

So keep at it, and good luck

 

[Apple]

I think everyone will have made some mistake in their life ...No matter the mistake is big or small . If the person gets into the crime with accident not on purpose, we need to give some chance to him/her to start from the very beginning. Right?

 

[Steve2507]

I think everyone will have made some mistake in their life ...No matter the mistake is big or small . If the person gets into the crime with accident not on purpose, we need to give some chance to him/her to start from the very beginning. Right?

I agree to some extent.

I would expect the employee to be honest (I value this quite highly in my staff - by saying what they think when I ask an opinion and by mentioning things I should know about) and say they had been sent down. I would then look into that person more deeply, asking more questions about the reason they had gone to prison etc and I would probably request that their contract had a longer than normal probationary period.

However I would initially give them a lot of respect if they told me about it straight away.

Like others (and bearing in mind what we sell) there are some criminal acts that I wouldn't trust afterwards.

 

[Cornish Steve]

As per my PM - it's not something I scream and shout about (other than when fund raising for the Princes Trust), but I also did some time (2.5 of a 5 year sentence). I got out 5 years (and 22 days) ago with absolutely nothing (I mean nothing - no family, no money, no home). Now business is going very well.

I'm sure it's more common than any of us would think - it's not something people tend to advertise.

So keep at it, and good luck

Now that's what you call inspirational. If anyone's post can spur Jamie to success, this is it.

 

[Jamie26]

Now that's what you call inspirational. If anyone's post can spur Jamie to success, this is it.

Sure does. I have it much easier as I had my family and gf and encouragement to get on with things from them. I think 2008 is going to be good for me!

 

[Stephen Berry]

Keep us posted Jamie - I think everyone is 'rooting' for you!

 

[socomtactical]

yep good luck mate, i agree with the others certain convictions i would employee some one with but serious ones i would not have a 2nd thought about not employing ie kiddy fiddlers, rape etc. But some things just happen things do kick off and i know how easy that can happen some times other people are the cause but the innocent party end up with being the "guilty" ones.

 

[Simon-M]

I think it is normal to ask if someone has a criminal record but I think there are only certain businesses or jobs where it can actually be checked.

To digress slightly, when I went to the recruiting offfice to sign up for the Royal Navy 17 years ago it was an offence to be a homosexual in the Navy and I was asked the question if I had any homosexual tendencies. I proclaimed no .... but said I could learn if it was required.

Bad jokes apart, I would think twice about employing someone with a record but to be honest I don't even ask. I might well have an office full of lags ... but I doubt it. I take people on face value and it has worked well for me until now.

 

[Forensic Analyst]

Hi all

I have read this with interest as on chrimbo eve i went to pick my daughter up and 3 guys were giving her grief, when on said he was going to rape her thats is when i said something.

Next thing is i know, i have a broken cheek in 2 places and a broken jaw.

.....
Would I employ someone with a conviction, well I cant because of what I do, but if i needed a driver etc then yes.

If you are truly sorry for what you had done... Then I wish you all the best in finding some employment, or working for yourself..

Simon

 

Hi all

I have read this with interest as on chrimbo eve i went to pick my daughter up and 3 guys were giving her grief, when on said he was going to rape her thats is when i said something.

Next thing is i know, i have a broken cheek in 2 places and a broken jaw.

.....
Would I employ someone with a conviction, well I cant because of what I do, but if i needed a driver etc then yes.

If you are truly sorry for what you had done... Then I wish you all the best in finding some employment, or working for yourself..

Simon

Sorry to hear that Simon,but taking on 3 guys is not wise,you should have left and called the police as you well know.

Earl

 

[hilow]

Sorry to hear that Simon,but taking on 3 guys is not wise,you should have left and called the police as you well know.

In the USA, many states have recently passed laws called the "Castle Doctrine," which say that an innocent victim does not have to retreat before defending himself or other who are risk.

Currently, the limits of that law are being tested in Texas, where neighbor heard a break-in next door. He exited his house with a shotgun and yelled at the robbers. When two robbers charged him in his own yard, he killed them both. Both robbers were illegal aliens with criminal records.

In the USA, criminal records are considered public records which anyone can see. It is common news in the headlines today that an employee has become violent and people were injured or killed. A free public criminal record check can provide information about any crimes that the subject has committed in the past. Knowing this information can help you reduce any risks and take any necessary actions to help reduce workplace violence before it starts. A free public criminal record check will show things like assault, battery, and other violent crimes which indicate this individual is capable of violent behavior. Knowing this information makes you aware of the increased risks so that you can act to reduce them. A free public criminal record check will not stop workplace violence, but it can help you to minimize the risks by having all the facts

 

[Cornish Steve]

A free public criminal record check will show things like assault, battery, and other violent crimes which indicate this individual is capable of violent behavior. Knowing this information makes you aware of the increased risks so that you can act to reduce them. A free public criminal record check will not stop workplace violence, but it can help you to minimize the risks by having all the facts

But it's important that those people who have paid their dues for their crimes are not discriminated against. A public criminal record, in a sense, makes their sentence a lifetime one. For some crimes, it's important to know - for example, so an abuser is not given a job involving children. For others, it's less important. Let's give these guys the chance to make something of their lives.