Out of Prison, Out of a Job, Out of Luck

If you think it's tough getting a job during a recession, imagine what it's like for an ex-convict.

Gregory Headley, 29, knows exactly what it's like. The Harlem resident was released from prison in July after serving two years and eight months for the criminal sale of a firearm. Now that he's out, he said, the conviction is dogging his attempts to land a full-time job.

"There's no nice way of saying, 'I sold a gun,' " Headley said recently as he headed to his part-time job cleaning sidewalks.

Headley was placed in the temporary, minimum-wage job by the Center for Employment Opportunities, a nonprofit organization in Manhattan that helps ex-convicts transition into law-abiding lifestyles.

"I'm not going to lie: $40 a day hurts," said Headley, feeling the squeeze of the $28,000 in child support debt that he accumulated in prison. "But what I need to do is stay on the path I'm on, try to get used to the struggle instead of trying to beat the odds."

Terrence Mason, assistant director of participant services at the employment center, described Headley as a "good guy" and a "go-getter." But he acknowledged that many employers will look no further than his rap sheet.

"His conviction is a tough sell to employers," said Mason.

At the back of the line

For everyone right now, the job market is tough. The U.S. unemployment rate jumped to 10.2% in October, its highest level in more than 26 years, according to the Labor Department. Nationwide, 15.7 million people are out of work.

That is really bad news for the hundreds of thousands of ex-convicts who are released from prison every year.

"They're always at the back of the line, and the line just got a lot longer," said Glenn Martin, vice president of the Fortune Society in Queens, a nonprofit that trains ex-convicts in job hunting skills. "On top of that, our folks are losing jobs just like anyone else, but it's more difficult to replace those jobs, because of the stigma of criminal conviction. Our folks can't get through the door these days."

In the most recent available figures from the U.S. Department of Justice, 713,473 prisoners were released from incarceration in 2006. There are no nationwide numbers reflecting unemployment rates among ex-convicts.
But up to 60% of the formerly incarcerated in New York state are unemployed after one year of their release, according to a study from the Independent Committee on Reentry and Employment, of which Martin is a member. The number is even higher for parole violators, at 89%.




The temptations of the street can be overwhelming during a recession, said Martin, who was released from prison in 2000 after a six-year sentence for armed robbery. He said that his first post-prison job paid $16,000 a year, which paled compared to his ill-gotten gains.

"I used to make $16,000 a day when I was on the street," Martin said. "I used to rob jewelry stores for a living. Obviously, it would have been a lot easier for me to go back to the street to do what I was doing. But the idea is to move away from instant gratification."

Michael B. Jackson, an ex-convict and author of "How to Do Good After Prison: A Handbook for Successful Reentry," said the risks of recidivism during a recession cannot be overstated.

"Formerly incarcerated people and drug addicts, we don't need a lot of excuse to go back to what we were doing before," he said. "In these hard times, when ex-offenders can't get jobs ... they're going to be robbing people."


The conviction question
During a two-week job-hunting class at the Fortune Society in Queens, employment specialist Mitchell McClinton grilled 19 ex-convicts in a series of mock interviews. After coaching his students on how to present themselves, market their job skills and answer the dreaded "conviction question," he posed as an employer and put them in the hot seat.

"I noticed that you checked 'yes' on the conviction," he said to one of the ex-convicts. "Explain."

"Basically, I learned from the mistakes of my past, [that they] jeopardize my present and my future," replied the interviewee.

McClinton moved on to the next ex-convict, but she mumbled through the interview and wouldn't speak up until he threatened to skip over her. When she finally opened her mouth to speak, McClinton saw something he didn't like.

"Is that a tongue ring in your mouth?" he said. "You can't wear a tongue ring to an interview."

Many of the ex-convicts are seeking cleaning jobs, based on the skills they outlined in the interviews, and some of them are working towards their high school equivalency degrees.

Headley, during his citywide clean-up rounds, said his heart is set on college and eventually an office job at the Center for Employment Opportunities, where he could help other ex-convicts transition into the job market.

But for the short term, he said he's gratified to be a sidewalk sweeper.

"I'll take making minimum wage any day over prison or death," said Headley. "Now I can walk the streets more freely, without having to watch my back. Now, I consider myself a productive member of society. I'm not contributing to the city's downfall."

Black Friday Now deals, making our lists - Sears & Kmart

Sears and Kmart are taking holiday promotions to a whole new level, starting Black Friday Now with door buster quality deals each weekend through Christmas.

And, they are leaking each week's deals to Walletpop.

This Saturday, Nov. 14 from 7 a.m. to noon, Sears Black Friday Now items include:
$119.99 Kodak 12mp Digital Camera 3X zoom 3.0 (reg. price $149.99)
$99.99 Eviant 7-inch Handheld LCD HDTV (reg. price $129.99)
$499.99 Kenmore dishwaher 2/Turbo Zone (reg. price $612.99)
$129.99 Countertop Microwave (reg. price $199.99)
$29.99 4pc Embroidered/Jacquard Comforter Sets (reg. price $79.99)
50% off on Craftsman 302-pc Mechanics Tool Set
$99.99 Craftsman 1/2HP Chain Drive GDO (reg. price $139.99)
$39.99 DieHard Battery Charger (reg. price $64.99)
$39.99 /49.99 Misses Wool coats (reg. price $99.99 /$150)
$9.99 Canyon river Blue and ToughSkins (reg. price $15.99-$17.99)
$49.99 Mens Covington suit Separates (reg. price $120-$150)
60% off 30 3 pc cold weather access sets for her
various Up to 75% off entire stock of Gold Jewelry
$349.99 Kingsman 7.5 Pool Table (reg. price $499.99)



Kmart's deals start Friday (6 a.m. to 11 p.m.) and go through Saturday
On Friday (6 a.m.-11 p.m.), Nov. 13 and Saturday (7 a.m.-11 p.m.), Nov. 14 Kmart's Better Than Black Friday Deals include:
$74.99 Guitar Hero 5 Bundle for Xbox, PS3 and Wii (reg. price $99.99)
$21.49 Little Einstein's Pat Pat Rocket (reg. price $42.99)
$99.99 7.5-inch Pre-lit Bristol Tree (reg. price $199.99)
$14.99 20 Piece Banded Dinnerware Set - Gold and Platinum and 10-Pc Banded wine set - gold and platinum (reg. price $39.99)
$7.99 Kids Puffer Jackets (reg. price $9.99)
$89.99 Craftsman 154 piece tool set
15-40% off Jaclyn Smith Collection
$99.99 Pre-lit Bristol Tree (reg. price $199.99)
$9.99 48-inch Holgraphic Lighted Bows
$14.99 Licensed Xmas Porch Greeters
50% off on all Aquadoodle
$10.00 All kids character athletic styles
$15.00 All athletech athletics
7pc Dining Set $149.99
25% off on all Infant/Toddler Licensed Cups
Sears and Kmart are rolling out new deals each week. Plan accordingly.

Black Friday: Kohl's and Staples offer sales on clothing, toys and tech

More Black Friday ads have surfaced, this time for Kohl's and Staples, showing additional deals to be had on clothing and technology.

The Kohl's Black Friday ad weighs in at more than 60 pages of deals and Staples' doorbuster deals include some good computer deals and plenty of digital cameras.

Kohl's kicks off its Black Friday with a collection of bargains on toys and clothing to lure in shoppers when the stores open at 4 a.m. on Black Friday. Many of these deals will also be available online, possibly starting on Thanksgiving.

50% off off the entire stock of Fisher Price, PlaySkool, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Tonka, Little Tikes and more.
3.5-inch GPS unit with text to speech for $69.99 (after $20 Visa card MIR).
Big discounts on jewelry including extra cuts on sterling silver.
50-60% off of slippers, socks, bras and panties.
Savings on home and kitchen items including many accessories starting at $9.99.
Too many coats, sweaters, shirts and clothing to list at discounts of 33-60% off.
Following what appears to be the standard low price at for Black Friday laptop deals, Staples is rumored to be offering an HP laptop with Windows 7. In all likelihood it will be a Staples specific version of the HP Pavilion G60 which was part of Walmart's pre Black Friday sale last weekend. More details will be available closer to Black Friday, but you can expect a Celeron processor, 2-3 GB of RAM, a 250 GB hard drive and a DVD burner.

Another Black Friday doorbuster at Staples is rumored to be a 21.5-inch monitor for $90 which is a pretty god deal, but not as good as the $145 24-inch monitor Black Friday prediction from Dealnews. Staples is also offering a Garmin GPS unit and an 8GB thumb drive, but the discounts aren't worth standing in line for.

Ready, set ... Best Buy started Black Friday 2009 prep in August

Think your ever-prepared colleague who's already bought and wrapped all her gifts has an impressive jump on the holidays? Consider this: electronics mega-chain Best Buy started prepping for Black Friday, the official, chaotic start to the holiday shopping season, in August.

That's when the company sends out a Black Friday "Toolkit" to each of its stores, summarizing the company's ticketing and security procedures, according to company spokesperson Scott Morris. The Toolkit is followed by several autumn "rehearsals," which simulate the day's events, he said.

And now, with the big day just weeks away, the company is tanned, rested and ready, and looking forward to what it hopes is a bright spot in a dark retail year


(Best Buy shares have been up, near its 52-week highs of late. Although the company did recently decide to lease part of their Minnesota headquarters).

And because it's prepared, Best Buy is turning up the hype as well. Today it announced its second annual Black Friday VIP contest, which invites shoppers in 25 markets to submit essays on why they love Black Friday. Win the contest in your area, and the store will issue you a $1,000 gift card, send a limo to your house before dawn on Black Friday and grant you early access to the goods.

The recession, says Morris, doesn't negatively affect Black Friday, because die-hard customers look forward to it every year -- and justify their purchases as bargains.

"Our customers who love Black Friday view it as a family tradition," says Morris. "It's such a unique day that it doesn't really fit into the context of the normal sales cycle. It's not immune [to the recession], but in the current economy, it's a great chance to look at great deals, and I think that stimulates people to participate even more."

Morris expects laptops and mobile devices to be especially sought-after this Black Friday -- not surprising, since the store will likely still be experiencing huge demand for the splashy new Droid and HTC Hero phones.

For the company, the main benefit of Black Friday is obvious -- it's a sales bonanza -- but there's also less-obvious bonuses. "We know that it's a day we get to interact with our customers in an intimate, meaningful way," says Morris, who will visit several stores on Black Friday. "At our stores in colder climates, we hand out scarves and hot cocoa. At our Minnesota store, we had someone actually propose to his wife. There's always a lot of excitement, and we try to ensure that they have a great experience."

So what should you do if you'd like to take part in this great experience? Keep an eye out for the store's Black Friday circular, out the week of Thanksgiving. And make sure to check out Best Buy's official Black Friday tip sheet for pointers on pre-shopping prep and smart wardrobe choices (long johns encouraged!).

Toys R Us Big Toy Book on Facebook and iPhone

Watch out kids -- and adults who love toys: the Toys R Us Big Toy Book, which is billed as the "Biggest Big Book Ever!" is on its way to your front door and, for the first time, you'll be able to browse it on the iPhone and Facebook.

In addition to its new online presence the Big Toy Book is packed with more than $5,500 in savings on toys of all varieties, and features a two-page spread complete with FAO Schwarz deals that will be available in Toys R Us stores.

Toys R Us provided WalletPop with a sneak peak at the 2009 Toys R Us Big Toy Book, where we found the following deals for the kid inside of everyone.

$10 Toys R Us gift card with any purchase of $75 or more.
$10 Toys R Us gift card with the purchase of any iPod valued at $100 or more.
$5 Toys R Us gift card with the purchase of any iTunes gift card of $30 or more.
$10 Toys R Us gift card with the purchase of any Disney movies valued at $40 or more.
Free SpongeBob SquarePants Ants in the Pants board game with the purchase of select SpongeBob SquarePants board games.
Free Cars Backpack with any Cars purchase of $25 or more.
Save $100 on the Big Backyard Crestwood Lodge Gym Set or the Peg Perego Polaris Ranger RZR.
25% off all Schwinn bikes, trailers and helmets.

There are numerous other deals to be had and many hours of fun for kids who want to look through the Big Toy Book to create their wish lists for the holiday season. Give them a red pen and watch them spend a good couple of hours pouring over this catalog.

Indeed, the most frequent question we received last year when the Toys R Us Big Toy Book released was, "Where can I get one for my kids?"

This year it's easier than ever to get your hands on the new Toys R US Big Toy Book. In addition to arriving in newspapers on Nov. 1, it is available online. Starting Friday, before it's available anywhere else, you can visit Toys R Us on Facebook and browse through all 80 pages of savings.

That's not the only place to score a digital copy. On Nov. 1 you can also download the "Big Book Favorites" App from iTunes, which not only lets you browse the list of big book deals, but also read reviews from ToysRUs.com and create lists to share with your family and friends.

Black Friday: Kmart's 40 page ad leaked -- toys and video games on sale

Another day, another Black Friday ad leaked and viewable online for your Black Friday planning pleasure.

This time Kmart's 40 page Black Friday ad has leaked, revealing exactly which toys, electronics and other goods will be getting special Black Friday pricing.

Invoking their famous Blue Light Specials, Kmart is celebrating the day of shopping with "Blue Friday" deals from 6-11 a.m.
As expected there are many deals on toys and video games this year. Here are some of the deals Kmart is offering:
$20 off of popular video games for the Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 including, Brutal Legend, Left for Dead 2, Dragon Age, Forza Motorsport 3 and more.
$169.99 for a Nintendo DSI with five games
50% off Handy Manny fix-it motorcycle
$379.99 for a 32-inch Sony Bravia 720P LCD HDTV
$84.99 for a Magellan Roadmate GPS
Buy-two-get-one free on all Lego sets
In addition to these toy and electronic discounts Kmart's Black Friday ad is packed with deals including clothing, down comforters and a five-drawer Craftsman tool center.

I wouldn't be surprised to see cheaper HDTVs and GPS units at other retailers. You should also avoid the Windows CE netbook that is being sold at Kmart on Black Friday because it runs a version of windows designed for phones and isn't compatible with many programs you expect a netbook to run. You're better off buying a netbook running a newer operating system like Windows XP or Windows 7 which will be on sale from other retailers at similar prices, like Office Max, on Black Friday.

Still, in all, Kmart looks to have a pretty good selection of deals and several not to be missed discounts on toys and video games.

Walmart Black Friday: Discount giant to keep stores open 24-hours on Black Friday

News crews everywhere must be very disappointed. In an effort to avoid the stampeding crowds on Black Friday, Walmart will keep most stores open for 24 hours, beginning Thanksgiving through the end of the following day.

Sales begin at 5 a.m. on Black Friday, but lining up and rushing the doors won't be part of this year's festivities.

Walmart is busily implementing safety precautions after last year, when a store employee was trampled to death in Valley Stream, N.Y. Walletpop has been providing some fun tips on how to handle Black Friday, but not getting killed is certainly top of that list. With bargain hunting at a fevered pitch, Black Friday safety is more important than ever.

Walmart hasn't yet identified which stores will be open for those Black Friday hours, but those normally open for 24 hours will not have any changes. The retailer announced it is developing a plan with safety experts in the sports and entertainment fields to develop better ways for shoppers to get into, and navigate the store, including around promotional displays.

Maybe this Black Friday will more closely resemble a shopping event than the running of the bulls.

Black Friday: Target offers $3 appliances and gift card bonuses

Target's Black Friday ad has leaked, and there's definitely a reason that its ad is one of the most anticipated each year. This year there are several great door-buster deals, including $3 kitchen appliances and some of the closest prices to our Black Friday predictions we've seen so far.

Even though HDTV's, toys and computers are some of the biggest Black Friday draws, Target is making a bid to take over the kitchens of frugal shoppers with a selection of $3 kitchen appliances from Chefmate. The rumored $3 appliances include a 12-cup coffeemaker, sandwich maker, toaster and slow cooker.

But just because Target is cutting the culinary costs doesn't mean you won't see other great deals like:
$97 Tom Tom GPS ($40 off lowest online price as of Nov. 11)
$449 40" 1080P Apex HDTV and $246 30" Westinghouse 720P HDTV
$69 1 TB Western Digital external hard drive
$10 toys and board games
Numerous discounts on clothing, including 50% off select sweaters, scarves and vests
While many of these prices are already good deals, Target is also offering a $10 gift card for every $100 spent from 5 a.m. to noon on Black Friday. If you have other shopping to do at Target this can cut the cost of the 40" HDTV to just over $400 and add up on many other purchases. There are also specific gift card bonuses of up to $30 for purchasing iPods, a Nintendo DS bundle and other video games.

Will you be heading to Target for cheap kitchen appliances and gift card bonuses on Black Friday?