Employing Criminals

Homeboy Industries
Criminal background check
The moment when an individual
serves time in prison or complies with
federal punishment, they are paying
dues for a specified conviction.
However, criminal records sentence
them forever. A lifelong burden is laid
across any opportunity of
employment through regularized
background checks revealing
criminal activity ("An Unfair Barrier to
Employment" ).
A willing work force nobody is willing to hire.
If you have applied to a job, you have came across the question Have you ever been convicted of a felony? For
Ayanna Spikes and Vance Webster, this one question has determined whether they would be considered for
employment or not (Goode, Walshe). In one occasion, Vance decided to answer no to the question and became
employed. Shortly after, the employer learned about a twenty-nine year old felony and through confrontation
dismissed him from the occupation (Walshe). Ayannas case was similar, she was fourteen-years-old when she was
convicted for robbery but, imprisonment changed her life. She decided to take her life in a different route and
earned a degree from UC Berkeley in psychology. However, once employees learned about her criminal record
they hesitated in employing her (Goode).
Discriminating criminals and Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964.
Once an employer refuses to employ an individual based on criminal history, they can be sued for discrimination
(Mandelbaum). It becomes illegal because of the way society is structured. The majority of convicts are African-
American or Hispanic, a fair legislative argument for racial and ethnic discrimination under the Civil Rights Act. Due
the inequalities and underestimation, a system was introduced called the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (Criminal Records and Employment, Goode). The commission set rules and regulations for the way
employers could use the records and could investigate denials. It is only reasonable to deny an occupation
because of criminal activity if the conviction relates to the position. Although there has been improvement, many
criminal job-seekers and citizens feel there is still inequality and hope to ban the question; Have you ever been
convicted of a felony? Today, about 20 cities and counties across the United States have ban the question until all
applicants have a passed the interview stage or have been offered fair consideration.
Escaping the Streets
As a preacher and resident of Boyle Heights, Father Greg Boyle
became a heroic figure to his congregation and neighbors beside
Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King J r., and Emiliano Zapata
(McGray). He discovered a missing influence of the low-class society
which led the youth into gang membership. Boyle Heights and
many other Los Angeles cities are home to countless immigrant and
unprevailed families that lack opportunism of employment and
influential figures (Choi). In order to reverse this lifestyle, Father Greg
Boyle known to many as Father G or G or G-dog helped
provide jobs to troubled, gang-related individuals (). In 1988, he
founded J obs for a Future (J FF) and due to a high amount of
applicants, he expanded and founded Homeboy Industries in 1992
(Choi, Newman).
Homeboy Industries
Services and Programs
Employment services
Tattoo removal
Case management
Mental health, substance abuse and domestic
violence services
Educational services
Solar panel installation training and certification
program
Social Enterprises
Homegirl Caf and Catering
Homeboy Farmers Market
Homeboy Bakery
Homeboy Diner
Homeboy and Homegirl Merchandise
Homeboy Grocery
Homeboy Silkscreen and Embroidery
http://www.homeboyindustries.org/what-we-do/
The out-group (Conflict theory)
They way our society is structured and recognized to behave, there is an in-group and the out-group those that
behave being good members of society and those that are not. In order to regulate and create order, the federal
government has created total institutions known as prisons were criminals are convicted for disobeying the law.
Based on the conviction, the individual serves time and is dismissed in other terms forgiven for misbehavior.
However, a criminal record is kept and available to employers. This log allows business owners to either consider an
employee with criminal history or one without, typically the criminal will not be considered because of potential
criminal activity in the workplace. From this regularized pattern, ex-convicts face a daily challenge to transform their
lives and fall back into gang affiliation. Homeboy Industries, a non-profit organization has been established with a
mission to break this pattern and transform lives offering ex-convicts a second opportunity (McGray). The
organization purpose seen from a conflict theorists point of view hopes to target those treated unequally by
offering them the resources the more fortunate are selfishly holding onto.
Social stratification
Once an individual, ex-convict is capable of obtaining a job they contribute to society and the economy. This
allows them to move from the bottom of the social categorization to a higher class. In the case of J ose Osuna, he
had served thirteen years in person and came across Homeboy Industries where his life was transformed. He learned
how to install solar panels and obtained a job that kept him off the streets. Like J ose, many ex-covets, criminals, and
former gang members are willing to work, transform their lives and be good members of society (Where Real
Homies Heal. Thanks to organizations to Homeboy Industries, they are offered a second opportunity. More
importantly, Homeboy Indistires helps them socially with educational programs and psychological support.
A balanced society (Functionalism)
It is ideal for organizations like Homeboy Industries to exist because of the balance is provides for the less privileged
and the unfortunate ex-convicts. Weather it helps a young thirteen-year-old find a job that will keep him off the
streets or help a thirty-six-year-old ex-convict get his life back on track and find psychological support. A functionalist
would argue whether the organization benefits all or some (ex-convicts) it is a necessary component of a society
because it diminishes inequality and helps the society throughout. We all benefit from having less troubled
individuals off the streets committing robbery or abusing substances.
It is also important for the youth to have equal opportunities for success. Father Greg noticed teenagers turned to
gang involvement because there was no other social occupation available and had no better example to follow.
Homeboy Industries does not attempt to employ vacant jobs that is not the purpose the purpose is to create jobs
for those in need. Nothing stops a bullet like a job, shares Father G, he hopes to help his homies plan their
futures [rather than] their funerals (Choi).
Works Cited
"An Unfair Barrier to Employment." New York Times, Late Edition (East Coast) ed.May06 2013. ProQuest. Web. 13 J uly
2014 <http://search.proquest.com/docview/1348494490?accountid=28371>.
Choi, David Y., and Fred Kiesner. "Homeboy Industries: An Incubator Of Hope AndBusinesses." Entrepreneurship:
Theory & Practice 31.5 (2007): 769-786. Business Source Elite. Web. 5 J uly 2014
Criminal Records and Employment, CQ Reseacher20 April. 2012: 349-376
Goode, Erica. "Internet Lets a Criminal Past Catch Up Quicker." New York Times, Late Edition (East Coast) ed.Apr 29
2011. ProQuest. Web. 13 J uly 2014 <http://search.proquest.com/docview/863873679?accountid=28371>.
Mandelbaum, Robb. "U.S. Push on Illegal Bias Against Hiring those with Criminal Records." New York Times, Late
Edition (East Coast) ed.J un 21 2012. ProQuest. Web. 13 J uly 2014
<http://search.proquest.com/docview/1021242341?accountid=28371>.
McGray, Douglas. "The House Of SECOND CHANCES." Fast Company 165 (2012): 116. MasterFILEPremier.Web. 5 J uly
2014.
Newman, Melinda. "Off The Streets & Into Business." Entrepreneur 41.11 (2013): 34-38. Business Source Elite.Web. 5
J uly 2014.
Smith, Doug. "J ob Seekers Hope to Erase Past Mistakes; the Few Who Attend a Fair for Ex-Offenders Learn that
Clearing their Criminal Records Isn't always Easy Or Possible." Los Angeles Times: 0. J ul 10 2005. ProQuest. Web. 13
J uly 2014 <http://search.proquest.com/docview/422028266?accountid=28371>.
Walshe, Sadhbh. "Served Your Time in Prison and Looking for a J ob? You're out of Luck."Theguardian.com.
Guardian News and Media, 25 J uly 2012. Web. 13 J uly 2014
"Where HomiesCan Heal."The Economist. N.p., 12 Feb. 2012. Web. 13 J uly 2014.