General Discussion

Th1onein

(8,514 posts) Sun Jan 5, 2014, 03:55 AM Jan 2014

WHY do ex-offenders check the box "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?" [View all]

I don't get it. There is no law that you have to check the box, if you are a felon. None that I know of. It's not against the law to lie on an employment application. And, quite frankly, I don't think that employers have the right to ask, except in certain situations, and certainly it's none of their business if the offense has been over a certain number of years in the past.

WHY do ex-offenders check this box? It makes no sense to me. I understand if the employer does a background check, but many ask the question and then don't do the check, so what do you have to lose by lying?

72 replies

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WHY do ex-offenders check the box "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?" [View all] Th1onein Jan 2014 OP

You get fired when they find out and you get a bad reference. MADem Jan 2014 #1

you get fired and you lose your unemployment benefits Hamlette Jan 2014 #47

It's just not worth lying--better to try to charm one's way past the criminal record bit, and MADem Jan 2014 #48

I understand Jmaxfie1 Jan 2014 #2

Yup ... background check will turn it up 1000words Jan 2014 #3

Really, It's a moot point n/t Jmaxfie1 Jan 2014 #5

Not everybody does background checks. Th1onein Jan 2014 #12

It's never a good idea to lie on a job application. Blue_In_AK Jan 2014 #4

If it would keep you from getting the job in the first place..... Th1onein Jan 2014 #13

My grandfather had a different take on that Major Nikon Jan 2014 #40

Depending on the situation, one could lose a lot. morningfog Jan 2014 #6

It's not against the law to lie on an employment application. Th1onein Jan 2014 #10

Actually shanti Jan 2014 #15

Prove it. Unless they are governmental, they don't state that. Th1onein Jan 2014 #16

well, yeah shanti Jan 2014 #20

There you go. You proved my point. Thank you. Th1onein Jan 2014 #22

Please DO NOT GIVE OUT BAD LEGAL ADVICE. You most certainly CAN be VOP'd msanthrope Jan 2014 #17

but how often does that happen? Major Nikon Jan 2014 #42

In my state we have things called 'computers.' Some of these computers msanthrope Jan 2014 #51

So if a convicted child molester tries to get a job at a day care... Major Nikon Jan 2014 #53

It works like this...you are on parole. You lie, and get a job. Your PO msanthrope Jan 2014 #61

No ethical lawyer is going to advise a client to lie Major Nikon Jan 2014 #62

P.S. they sure as hell can revoke parole for lying. morningfog Jan 2014 #24

Waahahaha! That is not true at all. Th1onein Jan 2014 #29

Parole violation and revocation is not about breaking the law. morningfog Jan 2014 #31

YOU are uninformed friend. It's not a violation of parole, technical or otherwise. Th1onein Jan 2014 #32

I do know better. Much better than you. morningfog Jan 2014 #33

I'm sorry, but you are wrong. Th1onein Jan 2014 #35

Here's how it would go, because you don't understand: morningfog Jan 2014 #50

"If you just want to talk out of you ass, save it." Th1onein Jan 2014 #52

I tried to be civil. morningfog Jan 2014 #60

we dont always agree, but i think you handled yourself with integrity and decorum. loli phabay Jan 2014 #67

"Says something, not good, about their character..." Much as lying also illustrates. LanternWaste Jan 2014 #66

Emma Goldman once said that you should take bread Th1onein Jan 2014 #72

You got caught with a point you could not counter, so you resort to attacking the person joeglow3 Jan 2014 #69

Winner! Iggo Jan 2014 #70

It's fraud jberryhill Jan 2014 #28

Nah. Th1onein Jan 2014 #30

You've just had two attorneys tell you you are WRONG--Stop Giving Out Shitty Legal Advice. nt msanthrope Jan 2014 #34

the poster is clueless, i will even chime in and say ive seen pb revoked for for lying loli phabay Jan 2014 #59

You mean getting a job and working for money is fraud? Th1onein Jan 2014 #36

Obtaining something on false pretenses jberryhill Jan 2014 #44

A job is not necessarily a "thing of value." Th1onein Jan 2014 #49

The fraud statute for the state will answer your question Major Nikon Jan 2014 #55

Not in Wisconsin TheMightyFavog Jan 2014 #46

Lie on a municipal/county/state/federal application and see what happens... Blue_Tires Jan 2014 #57

"What do you have to lose by lying?" That's simple...the job! countryjake Jan 2014 #7

But you've lost it to begin with, if you tell the truth. Th1onein Jan 2014 #11

Not necessarily TexasBushwhacker Jan 2014 #43

But, it has to be said... Blue_Tires Jan 2014 #58

not true sweetapogee Jan 2014 #71

because any cube monkey with half a brain and an internet connection FatBuddy Jan 2014 #8

this ^ PeaceNikki Jan 2014 #9

Well, there is that. Th1onein Jan 2014 #14

Background checks are getting cheaper and easier FrodosPet Jan 2014 #54

As of January 1st, employers aren't allowed to ask that question on job apps anymore here in MN. Vashta Nerada Jan 2014 #18

I have a family member who got around it Holly_Hobby Jan 2014 #19

Employees should have the right to ask. RadleyJ Jan 2014 #21

Exactly. Blue_In_AK Jan 2014 #23

My understanding is that federal law prohibits companies in the financial services fields lastlib Jan 2014 #25

This question is of no help at all. Proof of this statement lies in the fact that in recent years, Cal33 Jan 2014 #26

True, but the key word was "convicted." lastlib Jan 2014 #27

I've actually seen people hired despite answering yes, but if they lied they were fired. JVS Jan 2014 #37

Good luck with that Glassunion Jan 2014 #38

defending woo to the hilt, now this... you're on a roll... dionysus Jan 2014 #39

If on parole it could cause trouble Bradical79 Jan 2014 #41

Why are you asking? ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jan 2014 #45

what do you have to lose by lying? OLDMDDEM Jan 2014 #56

not only that, but your po is going to list you as a liar and next time you get popped for something loli phabay Jan 2014 #68

It's that part at the bottom... Iggo Jan 2014 #63

"Well, it's not against the law" NCTraveler Jan 2014 #64

mayby because they are trying to be honest and show rehabilitation. loli phabay Jan 2014 #65