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The problem with 'misdemeanors' is they sound innocent enough when you take the plea, but we have a family member who got an undeserved misdemeanor back when he

The problem with 'misdemeanors' is they sound innocent enough when you take the plea, but we have a family member who got an undeserved misdemeanor back when he was 18 and after applying to job after job, no one will hire him because he simply has a misdemeanor. Even things like doordash or instacart - they told him no because he had a misdemeanor. Talking to the lawyer and all they said is to try to get a pardon in 10 years. So for 10 years because he was told a misdemeanor is nothing 'big' he won't be able to work unless he gets a job from a family friend or something. Then he can pay a lawyer to get a possible pardon? The system doesn't care about people like him.

istjohn 6y ago
Here in Ohio, a first time misdemeanor can generally be expunged after 2 years.
lupire 6y ago
Note that this is a problem because there are more people than jobs, so the "least favored people" can be an unemployable underclass. It wouldn't be so bad if we had a more robust work economy (fewer hours per worker, more workers) or a solid "employer of last resort".
throwaway0a5e 6y ago
Tons of people who plea bargained on domestic violence charges and DUIs they could have fought back when those were no big deal (because why spend $500 on a lawyer to beat a $200 fine nobody cares about) wound up getting screwed out of their established careers decades later when those charges became big deals.
artificialLimbs 6y ago
There may be a free (non-profit) legal clinic that can help him get the charges expunged (or sealed, whatever they're calling it these days). Here's one from my state: https://arlegalaid.org/ https://arlegalaid.org/ Might also look into getting a governor's pardon. I think it's called executive clemency. I also spoke with one of my local congresscritters and he was a great help in getting some of my ridiculous small charges sealed. This is another reason to NOT raise the minimum wage, and instead consider abolishing it. If people can work for a little bit of money instead of nothing while they build their reputations, it can go far.

istjohn 6y ago

Here in Ohio, a first time misdemeanor can generally be expunged after 2 years.

lupire 6y ago

Note that this is a problem because there are more people than jobs, so the "least favored people" can be an unemployable underclass. It wouldn't be so bad if we had a more robust work economy (fewer hours per worker, more workers) or a solid "employer of last resort".

throwaway0a5e 6y ago

Tons of people who plea bargained on domestic violence charges and DUIs they could have fought back when those were no big deal (because why spend $500 on a lawyer to beat a $200 fine nobody cares about) wound up getting screwed out of their established careers decades later when those charges became big deals.

artificialLimbs 6y ago

There may be a free (non-profit) legal clinic that can help him get the charges expunged (or sealed, whatever they're calling it these days). Here's one from my state: https://arlegalaid.org/ https://arlegalaid.org/ Might also look into getting a governor's pardon. I think it's called executive clemency. I also spoke with one of my local congresscritters and he was a great help in getting some of my ridiculous small charges sealed. This is another reason to NOT raise the minimum wage, and instead consider abolishing it. If people can work for a little bit of money instead of nothing while they build their reputations, it can go far.