The Herald Bulletin

Morning Update

xIntolerance

April 23, 2008

INTOLERANCE: Life outside rough for felons

Felons are often the subject of discrimination after getting out of jail, regardless of their race, said Jeffery Cottrell, program director of the Urban League of Madison County.

Ex-convicts have trouble finding work. And they are constantly surrounded with a negative stigma, he said.

For example, Madison County is considering an ordinance that would prohibit convicted felons from working as tattoo artists. And many businesses have policies of not hiring convicted felons.

“They’re more worried about a person’s image than their identity,” said Kojak Fuller of Man 4 Man Ministries.

Organizations such as Man 4 Man and the Urban League work to help former prison inmates find jobs.

Jim Ott, a convicted felon who works with Man 4 Man, sees about three to six people a day who have served time in prison but can’t find work.

If a felon cannot find work, they often go back to breaking the same laws that got them sent to prison in the first place, Fuller said. Then the cycle repeats itself.

Many of these felons are not violent offenders, Ott said. Some are highly qualified in various fields, from technology to culinary arts, he said.

For instance, Cottrell had trouble finding work when he was released from prison. While in prison, he received a degree in educational psychology from Ball State, but no one would hire him because of his status as a convicted felon.

It was discouraging, he said. But he kept trying to find work because he did not want to disappoint his mother, as he did when he was first thrown in jail.

“I want to keep a smile on her face,” he said.

Text Only
xIntolerance
More from The Herald Bulletin
AP Video
Obama's Valentine's Advice: 'Go Big' San Francisco's Valentine's Gift to Tony Bennett Iranian Boats Shadow US Aircraft Carrier in Gulf Hundreds Rally Against Alabama Immigration Law Whitney Houston Funeral to Be Invitation Only New Details in Search for Missing Utah Mom Raw Video: Protesters, Security Clash in Bahrain Obama: Good US-China Ties Help the Whole World School Pays Students to Attend Class Raw Video: Biden Greets Chinese VP for Visit Raw Video: Heavy Shelling in Homs, Syria Raw Video: 5 People Injured in Bangkok Blasts Raw Video: Kim Jong Il Statue Unveiled Trial Opens for Ala. Man in Bride's Diving Death Baltimore's 'Crime Stopper' Is a Basketball Star Raw Video: Hearse Arrives at N.J. Funeral Home Authorities: Houston Found Underwater in Tub Arm Wrestler Not Guilty Plea in Wife's Death Raw Video: Houston Body Flown From L.A. to N.J. First Person: Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Helium debate
Helium
Front page
Poll

Are you concerned about measles in the community?

No, everyone I know has been vaccinated
Yes, this is a public health problem that affects us all
Are you kidding?
     View Results