Apparently Wisconsin protects felons in their Fair Employment Act.
Under current law, employers are not allowed to refuse employment or to terminate an employee based solely on criminal history unless the nature of the crime directly relates to the circumstances of a job. Convicted sex offenders may not be eligible to work with children; individuals with theft convictions may not work a cash till.
There are some state representatives in Wisconsin that feel the current law, which was formed in 1977, puts a burden on employers, and creates potential legal-grounds for individuals to sue companies if they are refused employment or fired.
It seems the best way to stop recidivism is to provide felons with gainful employment. There is already a severe stigma attached to those of us with a felony.
Read more about Wisconsin’s bill for felons here.
I’M WONDERING WHY FELONS HAVE NOT SUED THE GOVERNMENT FOR ALLOWING THIS DISCRIMINATION TO CONTINUE. I’VE BEEN TOLD SEVERAL TIMES BY SEVERAL EMPLOYERS THAT THEY CANNOT HIRE FELONS, NO EXCEPTIONS! THIS TO ME AMOUNTS TO DISCRIMINATION, ESPECIALLY IN MY CASE. IF ANYONE WANTS TO ENJOIN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PLEASE POST HERE. THANKS
I AGREE WITH THE FACT THAT IT IS DISCRIMINATION. THE ONLY WAY TO TRUELY EXPECT A FELON TO BE A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN IS BY (ALLOWING) THE FELON TO BE A “PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN.” BEING A FELON DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE PERSON IS UNCAPABLE OF DOING A GOOD JOB. IN FACT THEY ARE IN MOST CASES WILLING TO DO THE JOBS THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE UNWILLING TO DO. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS ATTENTION NATION WIDE. IF, IN FACT, THE CORRECTIONS DEPT. IS REALLY TRYING TO REHABILITATE FELONS, THEN FELONS NEED TO BE ALLOWED A CHANCE TO SHOW THERE TRANSFORMATION FROM CRIMINAL TO LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN. THE FACT THAT A FELONY STAYS ON YOUR RECORD FOR LIFE SHOULD AND IS CONSIDERED A CONDITION THAT IMPAIRS FELONS FROM WILLFULLY GAINING EMPLOYMENT. WHICH, IS ALSO IN THE 1973 Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination and requires employers with federal contracts or subcontracts that exceed $10,000 to take affirmative action to hire, retain, and promote qualified individuals with disabilities. All covered contractors and subcontractors must also include a specific equal opportunity clause in each of their nonexempt contracts and subcontracts.
This law is enforced by the Employment Standards Administration’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) within the U.S. Department of Labor.
I THINK THAT HAVING A FELONY QUALIFIES AS A “DISABILITY”
lets do it. i feel the same.see what we can do . im in n.c. shelby
i agree
Lets do it
This is a total croc. I leave in Ga, and unemployment is fairly high. Beyond that the ratio of civilian to convicted felon is extremely high as well. I have been hired by many jobs, only to be turned down after the background check. It bothers to me that employers can continue to do this. To me, if you go into an interview and the interview goes well and the employer decides to hire you, what would be the need to doing a background check. However, I understand the employer doing a check to confirm legal status, but to go back and check for background after being hired is only sending false hopes to those of us looking for a job….
I have not even been convicted, nor do I believe I will be, but my felony is pending (2 years now) and I cannot get a job based on that.
I agree and alot of times as in my case the person or persons were not given a clear choice and may be innocent of what they were convicted of IE railroaded into taking a deal that later they find was not what they were told
I have been applying for trucking jobs, with my CDL-A license from Washington, DC for awhile now and I’ve been told several time by several employers, ( Star Transportation, CRST, USA, WALMART, MELTON Truck lines,U.S .XPRESS, D.M.BOWMAM, INC and C.R. ENGLAND to name just a few that they cannot hire me because of my felon record. I only have one felon from 1987 and it still infraction my chance of get a trucking job.
Darrell J. Humbles
202/257-3342
darrellhumbles@gmail.com
3200 E Street SE Apt.2G
Washington, DC 20019
I think that this is another form of discrimination . Iam a felon i commited a crime when i was sixteen years old in New york,Newyork October 6,1992 and i will never forget that day because . it’s the most awful thing that i am soooooo sorry i was involved in. society makes me relive it every day when Iam turned down for employment and i just want to say when do we give aperson a chance to make a mins for their mistakes .
I think the plan of the law makers are for felons re offend so that can be done with us and have us all in the privatized prisons paying to eat etc.
I would be willing to sign any law suite against the state to help end discrimaination against people who need a second chance.