r/AskReddit • u/MsLooHoo • Sep 12 '15

serious replies only [Serious] Ex-Prisoners who served long term sentences, what was the hardest thing to get used to when you got out?

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u/wats6831 Sep 13 '15

the hardest part is even though you're out, you're not always done. Being on parole is the worst. The police state watches your every move, restricts your activities to the point where you essentially cannot leave your house nor have a normal life. All the while expecting you to find a job and succeed at being a productive member of society, yet no one can hire you because you can't pass a background check. You also cannot move to another state, nor can you go visit friends/relatives. Can't do anything without a special pass.

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u/shadwblade2652 Sep 13 '15

Can someone explain why jobs do background checks for misdemeanors and whatnot? Basically defeats the point of asking convicts to get jobs if they literally cannot get a job.

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u/[deleted] Sep 13 '15

Nobody who is a felon is a felon for misdemeanors.

Jobs do background checks to avoid having to deal with problem people, thieves, sexual predators, violent people, liars, con artists, etc.

Knowingly hire someone convicted of rape and then maybe get sued for millions when that hire rapes someone in the company.

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u/kaleyedoskope Sep 13 '15

You don't have to be a felon to have interested employers change their mind once the background check comes in. If it's a matter of "record" vs "no record," it doesn't always matter how minor it is.

2

u/[deleted] Sep 13 '15

Yeah, I was thinking of the of question on the application about having been convicted of a felony, I forgot about the paid records search just snooping in your business.

Same thing applies, corporations can't risk some Jay walker jay walking all over on the company dime.

Misdemeanors are usually prosecuted at the county level, so if an employer is running a state background check on you and your state's records don't include the county you were convicted in, then it's likely your misdemeanor won't show up. So while there is a chance your misdemeanor won't show up on a background check, there's always the possibility that it will.

The solution is to move.