Ex-offenders struggle to find work, overcome employers' doubts

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Ex-offenders struggle to find work, overcome employers' doubts

Ex-offenders struggle to find work, overcome employers' doubts

By Michelle Singletary
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, November 6, 2010; 5:18 PM

Kelly D. Brown left prison with one overriding mission - to never again let her hot temper lead to another stint behind bars.
....

She got a job as a stylist at a Hair Cuttery in Baltimore. Brown was upfront about her criminal past - hoping, praying, someone would give her a chance. The manager of the salon decided to give Brown an opportunity to prove herself.

Brown started March 26. But then . . .

. . . But then I decided to profile Brown as part of the latest installment of a series I began earlier this year in which I looked at the difficulties ex-offenders have managing their personal finances.
....

Brown's story was supposed to be positive. She asked someone up the chain of command at Hair Cuttery, a division of Vienna, Va.-based Ratner Companies, if it would be okay for her to be photographed working on her customers.

The corporate office had her fired.

The salon leader said Brown was "honest about everything" concerning her criminal history. The regional field recruiter for Hair Cuttery was also aware of Brown's felony conviction.
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Readers can write to Michelle Singletary c/o The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071. Her e-mail address is [e-mail]. Comments and questions are welcome, but due to the volume of mail, personal responses may not be possible.