8 Best Jobs for Sex Offenders

Have you ever been convicted for a sex offense? Do you feel difficulty in finding a proper job? It is a fact that your life is changed with negative consequences after you face a criminal conviction. It becomes a challenge for you to find a job after sex conviction.

In this article, you will get an insight into job challenges for sex offenders and how to get a job after you are convicted as a sex offender.

What is a Sex Offense?

You are termed as a sex offender if you have been convicted in any of the following criminal offenses:

Having sex with a minor.
Assault someone sexually.
Child molestation.
Showing indecent.
Sexual intercourse with a minor.
Incest.
Kidnapping for sex, murder involving sexual assault, imprisonment for sex and burglary with a sexual motif.

Sexual Crimes under Federal Jurisdiction

Though state laws govern most of the sexual offenses, yet some sexual crimes fall under federal laws. Such criminal offenses include:

Child sexual trafficking.
Sexual assault on minors.
Pornography involving children.

Most offenses involving criminal sexual conduct fall under the jurisdiction of state law.

Federal sexual offenses include:

Selling or buying children.
Sexual exploitation of minors.
Interstate or foreign trade of individuals for illegal sexual motives.
Minor transportation for sexual activities to another state or foreign country.

Any person who is indulged in the following activities must be declared as a sex offender.

Kidnapping forcefully for sex.
Sexual attack.
The sexual attack during a burglary.
Selling sex.
Abusing minors for sex.
Indecency affair with children.
Exposing yourself indecently many times.
If you sell and display prohibited sexual content.
A sexual performance involving a child.

Consequences of a Sexual Felony

If you are involved in the above-mentioned activities, you will face imprisonment depending on the seriousness of the crime. This conviction may result in dire consequences. You may have the following convictions:

Have to remain imprisoned, punishable by up to life imprisonment.
Have to pay fines.
May be held under probation or parole.
May lose your job.
Are devoid of civil rights such as voting or buying a gun.
Your reputation is damaged to a great extent.

After you have completed your jail term and you are freed, but you are still on the criminal list and the list of sex offenders for a longer period. A criminal act conviction may result in placing this offense on your record and open to the public for three years. It may be erased after the stipulated time.

If you are convicted of a felony, your record will be up for the public for five years. After that, you can erase it. It means your prospective employer may view this offense if he checks your background and criminal record.

Sex Offense and Your Career Prospects

Now, what is the consequence of sex conviction after you are freed? This conviction will hover over you when you go for a job. It will prevent you from getting a job. Recruiters will neglect you. It is a fact that an employer does not wants to see you as his employee. And if you are a convicted sex offender, there will be no way. Your criminal record will turn the employer against you.

An employer gives equal weight to all types of convictions. He does not look for the background of a criminal act. He only sees criminal conviction is on your record. A felon is considered much dangerous regardless of the severity of the crime. A sex crime is more offending phenomena.

A sex offense is considered an attack on an individual’s rights and a break into another’s privacy. You lose your respect and self-esteem. Also, you are not trusted, and others feel fear from you. There usually is no job up for you. Employers will most likely reject you as soon as you know you’re a sex offender. This makes it difficult for a sex offender to find job opportunities.

What Happens When You Apply for a Job?

An employer, as a general rule, prefers a candidate with a clean record. The employer wants you to be his trusted fellow. He asks about your criminal record and goes for your background check.

If there is something adverse on your documents, your employer will determine whether this conviction has any contradictory impact on the position he wants you to fill.

A sex offense is a serious crime. It has more restrictions you have to face than a common crime, and you have to lose some of your rights. You are restricted from entering some particular areas and public places.

There are child safety zones, and you cannot go within 500 feet of such space, which is declared as a child safety zone. A child safety zone may be:

Schools and parks for children.
Youth centers and clubs.
Athletics places.
Nursing home and daycare centers.

More Restrictions

You are prohibited from entering the above-mentioned place if you are a sex convict. Hence, you cannot be employed in such sites and cannot go to business centers in such areas. You will have a lot of hurdles to face for your career pursuit. Besides, there are a few other restrictions that you have to handle.

Your access to the internet is limited, or you are barred absolutely from accessing the internet.
There are certain areas you cannot enter.
You cannot buy guns.
You have to go for drug and alcohol screening tests.

Employers suspect that you may harm his customers and other employees. So they keep you away from their firms if you are a sex offender.

The death of a child in the hands of a sex offender resulted in the imposition of Megan’s law in 1996. It is made compulsory for states to shape legislation and have a record of sex offenders. People must be kept aware of a sex offender’s crime. So the offender cannot harm other people. \

There are some states which do not allow employers to use this information for employment and health insurance. However, Megan’s law will be upheld if the specific job is related to children or other vulnerable communities.

Employer’s Considerations

Indeed, an employer has to consider risk factors while evaluating you for a job. He may have the following factors in his mind, so understanding the employer’s mind will be very beneficial for you.

What is the state policy for the employment of sex offenders? Whether it encourages them or not?
What are the duties and responsibilities of a particular post?
Whether a sex offender is capable of working in that position or not?
When you committed the crime?
What was your age when you committed the offense?
How severe was the crime?
What are your rehabilitation and conduct reports?

Careers that May Prove Challenging for You

If you want to join a federal department or agency, you must fulfill specific requirements. You may be disqualified if you are a criminal, whether it is sex crime or not. If you are convicted, you cannot join a federal position.

Some states do not bar sex offenders from working on individual posts in some occupations. However, licensing authorities may refuse to give you a license. Thus, you may be denied a permit and may not work on specific jobs.

You may not work in daycare centers as an operator.
Becoming a teacher is impossible.
You may not become a coach.
You may be denied physician license or other healthcare-related positions.

8 Good Jobs for Sex Offenders

You cannot get a job as quickly as if you have a clean record. The job-hunting efforts make you frustrated and discouraged. With this, if you are a sex offender, can you get a job? You are even more offended with fruitless ventures’ efforts.

But don’t worry. There are still a few areas where you may work. You can work if you meet the specific job requirements, qualifications, and experience. Here are some of the jobs that hire sex offenders:

1. Study in College

A lot of colleges have degree programs that allow sex offenders to pursue research and find a career after getting a degree. So are you ready? You may get admission in criminal justice and engineering subjects. Complete your degree and find a placement. You may find such a college and start your studies.

2. Truck Driving

The demand for freight is always high, so companies in this area are always in need of personnel. This gives you advantages. You may work as a truck driver. Some companies may recruit sex offenders for driving purposes. Your requirement now is to obtain a commercial driver’s license for the job.

3. Construction Industry

You may make your career in the construction industry. Some smaller companies are lenient on sex offenders if you have expertise in a trade related to the industry. There are different construction-related trades such as electrician, plumbing, welding, and roofing. You may also work as a carpenter, HVAC, etc.

4. Restaurant Chains

Some fast-food chains like McDonald’s and Subway hire sex offenders, in their restaurants. Why not try there? You may surely get a job if you have some expertise. If you can cook, apply for a job related to cooking. Otherwise, start with the entry-level jobs.

5. Livestock

The livestock sector requires a lot of labor for basic jobs and does not need a lot of skills from you. You may be hired in animal shelters because there is lesser public dealing. Livestock farms often hire sex offenders. If you show skills, you may become a livestock worker.

6. Temp agencies

Another option for you to make your career is joining a temp agency. They may hire you because they hire sex offenders for temporary jobs. They have to work with different clients so they may induct you. If you are bright, you may grab a job in a permanent position.

7. Starting Your Own Business

If you find a job nowhere as a sex offender, you may become a self-employed small business owner. You may start a business as an independent contractor, and with your skills and experiences, make your livelihood. Here you are, your boss.

8. Work online

There is a lot of online market place where you may work as a freelancer. It is the best option for a sex offender with a skill. You need not go for any background check and start as a freelancer. Working online gives you different opportunities to show your expertise. You may write, design, and develop websites.

Applying for a Job with a Sex Conviction

If you are living in a state which allows sex conviction to be discharged from records, it may be easy for you. You may clean up your history after a certain period. You need to get a report from the relevant court for the purpose and check the county, state, and federal court also.

Besides, you have to answer about your criminal sex record honestly and truthfully, when you apply for a job and answer the questionnaire. If you tell a lie which is proved later, you may be disqualified. So don’t hide the truth.

In criminal history questions, you need to give information about your sex offense. If there is no question about conviction, then disclose nothing. If you are explicitly asked about it, you must clearly state the situation. Don’t hide anything. Here are some suggestions:

You must accept the responsibility for what happened and describe the real circumstances.
Tell the current situation and your moves after conviction.
You should tell what you have learned from that mistake.

Be Honest and Make Your Case

You should honestly describe the real situation to your future employer. Don’t try to hide the truth. All your record is before your employer. Tell him what you have learned from that offense. What have you done to change yourself? Show repentance. Answer all the questions adequately and to the point. Don’t try to be unaware. It will make you dishonest. Tell directly what you know. Your sex conviction is a fact, and fact cannot be hidden.

You made an offense and got punished. It is part of life. If you are skilled and honest, companies that hire sex offenders will appear.

Can Sex Offenders Get Jobs?