Can I get a job and/or and apartment if I have a felony?

Question

I got a felony when I was 17 for hitting my brother, stupid mistake I made when I was young. It has been 4 years since that happened and I can't get a decent job. I've been trying to get an apartment and I have been denied. How long will this go on for? Will I ever be able to start back with a decent life after all of this?

Answer 1

Usually after 10 years employers dismiss any felon charges placed against a person if they are perfectly eligible for employment. Most apartments only check your records for things like repossesion and previous evictions, and they check your credit report, of course.

Answer 2

.   It is not fair that this is being held against you. Dont give up.  You deserve a good job and a good apartment.

Answer 3

You're not telling the full story.  Since Apartments and businesses are not forced to take in convicted felons I guess you're stuck having to pay for your actions.  I'm not asking for the full story and since you were still a minor and you got nailed as an adult you did more than just "hit" your brother.

Answer 4

The record is for life.  

If you were prosecuted as a juvenile then get the record sealed. otherwise you are screwed, you cannot even vote or own a firearm.

You file a petition with the court that sentenced you to seal the juvenile record , pay the fee and set a hearing date , If the state has no problem with this the judge may seal the record . The only ones that can retrieve it is Homeland security and a few others after they get all the proper court orders or permission from you.

If every one who has a felony charge couldn't get a job there would be a lot of people without work, I saw an article about something that touched on this subject and the statistics are higher than most realize at how many people have a charge or two and they still do well. even a few CEO's of large corporations. like Wall-Mart (what a shocker )

Answer 5

ouch, you got the bad end of the stick, sorry buddy

Answer 6

Yes of course you can. My advice would to be go into a line of work where there are men and women who have made similar mistakes.

I did Payroll for an Electrical contractor for a year. The joke in that place was to make Journeyman you had to have at least 2 felonies and 4 ex wives.  

Go into construction and you will make friends and an extended family. Put it behind you. Stuff happens.