The Indiana Department of Labor has a program to assist persons with criminal histories. First of all, unemployment compensation is given to individuals who cannot find a job even if they are willing and able to work. To submit an initial claim, you have to register for work at one of the Indiana Workforce Development offices. Secondly, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit is given to employers who are willing to hire ex-felons, among other groups. Lastly, the Federal Bonding Program offers fidelity bonding insurance for those who cannot take advantage of regular commercial bonding.

If the felony is several years old, you may try to clean up your record at the Indiana State Police Central Repository. You can ask for a copy of your criminal record and learn the procedure for cleaning or sealing your record.

An ex-felon can also ask for job placement assistance from the Community Action Program (CAP), which helps individuals with criminal records by identifying companies that are willing to accept them. Meanwhile, the Next Step Programs of the Fletcher Place Ministry also offers job placement assistance after completion of a series of seminars. There are also community agencies that offer information on organizations and government agencies that help with vocational training and employment.

• Be Honest – If you try to lie on your application, you may get caught. Even if you don’t, you will always wonder if it will come up. If you are honest about your felony upfront you lessen your chances of losing the job once the employer finds out you lied on the application.
• Petition – If you think it’s unfair for felons trying to get a job in Indiana, there is a Petition for Indiana Felons looking for work. Will it be successful? Who knows. If nothing else, you can hear stories about looking for work in Indiana from other felons. You might pick up some good tips for finding a job.
• Goodwill Placement Programs – As can be expected, your local Goodwill Industries may have something in place to help felons locate and keep good jobs.

• http://www.goodwillindy.org/jobs/default…
• http://www.fwgoodwill.org/JobPlacement.h…
• http://www.goodwill-ni.org/job_seekers.p…
• http://www.evvgoodwill.org/

Do you have tips for a felon looking for work in Indiana? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and let us know what you think about felons trying to find work – anywhere in Indiana. Whether you’ve had trouble or not, sharing your story with others can help … more than you could ever know.