Mobile App Gives Felons a Fresh Start

castaneda-800x1067.jpg

Junior Castañeda is taking advantage of a phone app to help clean up his criminal past. Photo by Junior Castaneda/KQED

By Allen Young, KQED News Fix

Junior Castañeda spent most of the past decade addicted to methamphetamines and suffering through stints of homelessness. After racking up five misdemeanors, including three DUIs, he cleaned up a couple of years ago and entered community college with dreams of attaining an advanced degree in business.

To finance his education, Castañeda sought part-time employment this spring as a ticket-taker for the Oakland A’s. He thought the job interview went well, but a few weeks later Castañeda received a rejection letter denying him employment based on his prior criminal convictions.

Read the complete story at KQED News Fix.

Don't miss out on our newest articles, episodes and events!
Sign up for our newsletter