Having a record sucks! Advice?

Should ex-offenders be employed by EMS?

  • Total voters
    9
  • Poll closed .
M

Medicbob

Forum Probie
Messages
28
Reaction score
9
Points
3
**No bashing! This is a serious thread! Close-minded people that don't know what it's like, don't need to be commenting negatively.**


Now...

I have an old credit card abuse state jail felony from 2008. I an EMT now, currently in paramedic school hoping that will up my chances of getting hired with a record. Has anyone gone through this or seen this as a supervisor/employer? I love EMS so much! It's my passion. I would move anywhere just for a 911 job. Any positive advice would be helpful. Thanks!
 
As for your poll I can not answer it one way or the other. It will depend on what the crime was the person committed.

DUI, sure after some time has passed and the person corrects their problem.

Rape, kidnapping, murder, etc, no. IMO those kinds of crimes should make someone ineligible for EMS for life.
 
Yeah, I hear you. I definitely don't think any violent, sex offenders, or drug related crimes should be excused. But I used someone's gas card when I was like 22. Young and dumb. Haven't even got a speeding ticket since then. Hopefully someone gives me a shot.
 
Medicbob said:
Yeah, I hear you. I definitely don't think any violent, sex offenders, or drug related crimes should be excused. But I used someone's gas card when I was like 22. Young and dumb. Haven't even got a speeding ticket since then. Hopefully someone gives me a shot.
Click to expand...
Here in NM felony theft would make you ineligible to even be a licensed EMT for the most part. But rules vary state by state
 
Medicbob said:
**No bashing! This is a serious thread! Close-minded people that don't know what it's like, don't need to be commenting negatively.**


Now...

I have an old credit card abuse state jail felony from 2008. I an EMT now, currently in paramedic school hoping that will up my chances of getting hired with a record. Has anyone gone through this or seen this as a supervisor/employer? I love EMS so much! It's my passion. I would move anywhere just for a 911 job. Any positive advice would be helpful. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I would not be so picky about landing a 911 job. I think getting any EMS job (or being on a well-respected volunteer agency) should be your first priority. If you can show your "dream" employer a positive work history there will be less risk associated with your hiring.

As for the poll, it all depends. I don't necessarily think that non-violent offenders should never be able to work EMS, but realistically there is a fair-to large amount of responsibility associated with this job. I can certainly understand why employers are leery of theft charges.
 
I'm not bashing you here, but I do have to caution you about something... With a Felony on your record, you may or may not be able to be licensed as a Paramedic. Some states may allow this for non-violent Felonies with a conviction over a certain number of years ago, but just know that this is a possibility. You will also likely have difficulty getting an employer to trust you given the specific nature of the crime, even if their "lookback" doesn't go far enough back to officially "see" the conviction.

I've met quite a few people over the years that have made mistakes over the years... some were "lucky" enough to have done it as a juvenile... while others hadn't quite figured things out and got dinged as an adult and only later had it come back to bite them. I've even had a partner or two that had felonies on their record and while they were great EMTs, they just couldn't become a Paramedic.

I truly wish all the best and hope you're able to eventually find your way to your dreams!
 
Here's the problem. You've shown through action that you can't keep your hands off of someone else's credit cards. Why should the State (licensing authority) or individual companies trust you to behave yourself when in a position to futz with someone's credit cards, considering that you've been out of jail and off of parole for less than 5 years. In California, you'd be unlicensable for 10 years (any felony offense). http://www2.swccd.edu/Pdfs/EMSAuthority.pdf
 
It sounds like you haven't had any luck landing a job as a basic because of the offense and are hoping a medic cert will give more hiring opportunities, am I correct?

While medics are more desirable, you are going to be going up against a lot of other candidates without felonies, and a large number of those without any criminal history, and while it could be done, with the history so recent, what motivation does a HR rep have to take the chance?

As many have said, you may not be eligible for licensing for some years yet, but that doesn't mean to just sit on the sidelines. Get up, start volunteering (some volunteer departments will do very minimal if any background checks) and bury that negative under a pile of positive things.
You are going to be in a position where you are handing people's wallets, insurance information, and making judgment calls on their well-being. You need to make it so that the hiring managers comfortable enough with you that he/she would trust you with their own information if it came down to it.

Tl;dr
You may have a wait ahead of you, but use the time to fill out you life/work experiences with enough positive to outweigh the negative.
 
I have a record, although I don't have any felonies, and have a job as a paramedic. Your biggest battle, like others have said, is going to be the nature of the charge. Integrity is a huge part of EMS and previous theft offenses don't scream integrity, I won't parrot the good advice that's already been given. Good luck!
 
Honestly?
Before you actually go through paramedic training? I would check with your certifying agency to see if they'll even certify you as a paramedic. I am actually rather surprised they certified you as an Basic as most EMS agencies will say no to this offense.

If you can't find a job as a basic anywhere? I wouldn't get your hopes up as a medic.
Your best chance in landing a job is bringing it up in your interview and having a heart to heart.
Show them what you've been doing since, what you;ve learned, what's changed, etc.
Maybe they'll look at it as a young and dumb situation.

If they can't/won't trust you with the responsibilties of a basic, what makes you think they'll trust you with even more responsibilities such as Advanced?

Just think of it that way.
I would try volunteering/getting your hands dirty. Maybe then they will see that they can trust you in a uniform.
 
Sheesh. This should be a sticky.

It's asked 1-2 times a week.
 
I have a paramedic friend who was convicted of statutory rape for being 18 and having sex with a 16 year old girl.

He has been all but barred from paid EMS. He's 45 now, hasn't had any problems since.

More of a societal problem that this guy was ridiculously charged way back when, but it's unreasonable in my opinion that he can't find paid work because of this.
 
medicaustik said:
I have a paramedic friend who was convicted of statutory rape for being 18 and having sex with a 16 year old girl.

He has been all but barred from paid EMS. He's 45 now, hasn't had any problems since.

More of a societal problem that this guy was ridiculously charged way back when, but it's unreasonable in my opinion that he can't find paid work because of this.
Click to expand...


Right, wrong, or indifferent, you friend is a "sex offender" and good luck getting a job, and in many places even licensed, with that on your record.
 
Frankly, there are enough qualified candidates who have NO criminal record. Why would any employer think about hiring a felon? More liability then I would be comfortable taking on.

As a paramedic you'll be expected to handle and be responsible for controlled substances. Felony conviction for theft? Even if you had nothing to do with it, everyone will look at you first. Good luck in your job hunt. I fear you may have very little success, if any. If you do manage to get licensed and hired it'll be with a bottom feeding EMS agency that has very low standards.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top