After prison, convicted felons can have trouble finding work in Virginia.
A felony is a criminal punishment category that involves imprisonment of at least one year. Certain crimes require a felony punishment. In Virginia, there are no laws that prohibit a specific type of employment for a convicted felon. However, the loss of civil rights may impede certain types of employment.
Loss of Rights
In Virginia, conviction for a felony comes with serious consequences. Felons lose several civil rights, most notably the right to vote and the right to possess a firearm. There are, however, procedures to follow, such as a request to the governor or a court, to restore those rights.
Employment
Because of the loss of civil rights, a Virginia felon may have trouble procuring certain types of jobs. For example, because a felon cannot possess a firearm, he would be ineligible for law enforcement positions. Those seeking public licensure, such as teachers, may also have problems getting a license. However, the ultimate decision to hire a convicted felon resides in the prospective employer and its policies.
Incentives
The social stigma attached to a felony conviction can make it difficult for a recovering felon to find employment. Therefore, the federal government has created tax incentives to entice private employers to consider felons as employee candidates.
Tags: civil rights, certain types, convicted felon, have trouble, loss civil, loss civil rights, possess firearm
