Once described as 'New Zealand's worst criminal' Adrian Pritchard hasn't committed a crime in 20 years - he is a qualified mental health and addictions support worker but still can't find a job.
Mr Pritchard says having previous criminal convictions isn't the only obstacle he has to face.
"I can also be a target of false allegations in the work place."
The Hastings man said he got a job in Hawkes Bay as a mental health worker, but because of a false complaint he was forced to resign.
"I was accused of picking on a client, a staff member forced one of my clients to make a complaint about me because they didn't want me working for them anymore," Mr Pritchard said.
He told 1 NEWS the company used his previous convictions against him.
"I'm a completely changed man, I'm married with three daughters."
He volunteers and speaks to church groups and support groups. Mr Pritchard even once joined Toni Street on Seven Sharp educating her and the rest of New Zealand on how to properly secure homes from criminals.
Ever since his release Mr Pritchard has been fighting for jobs and people to give him a second chance.
"You do the crime and pay the time, I understand that, but when does it stop?"
The Clean Slate policy lets people who have convictions have a 'clean slate' after seven years, however it doesn't apply if you've served a prison sentence, so Mr Pritchard doesn't qualify.
"My fight to the government is that even if you've been to prison, no one can see what you've done after seven years.
“I’m just trying to get the government to realise what is happening. They’re trying to get everyone in jail to be better people but when they come out they will continue to face these problems if the law does not change."
He says the law shouldn't still be able to pull you up on baggage from when you were a teenager.
"I would love to be a social worker or a security guard that'd be awesome."
But this goal is proving hard to achieve.
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says there is merit in looking at the policy.
"It is an issue that ex-prisoners can't get jobs, people go to prison and we hope they can turn their life around when they're outside, but unfortunately their record makes it very difficult."
He says corrections are trying to work with employers to say 'hey look can you give these people a second chance.'
Mr Davis says: "If people do tick the box yes they do have criminal convictions employers should ask them a few more questions.
"We've had employers stand up and say look I took a gamble on this person and they've actually done a really good job, I'm really glad I hired them."
He says many employers write them off straight away, but the fact they have applied for a job shows they are willing to make changes.
Director of Offender Employment and Reintegration for the Department of Corrections Steve Cunningham isn't surprised by Mr Pritchard's troubles.
"A social worker is dealing with typically vulnerble people and to hire someone with the history that he has got I’m not surprised to hear the industry are a little nervous about that match," Mr Cunningham said.
Mr Cunningham said he can see where employers are coming from when they hesitate to employ people with previous convictions.
However, he agrees with the Minister and says it is important to find out more about them before making a decision.
"I do really think the business community has stepped up to the plate, people are generally pretty good at giving second chances.
"More often than not they become a valued and productive worker."
Mr Pritchard says his dream would be to open up his own business and hire ex-criminals.
"A criteria would be that you have to have a criminal conviction.
"I would love to work with corrections to hire people that have just come out of jail. To be able to provide them with a job where they can feed their families would be awesome."
He's written a book called Second Chance about how he turned his life around. He has given thousands of copies out in prisons, to prostitutes, gangs and to at-risk youths.
He is currently writing a book called Freedom about how to protect your property.
Mr Pritchard was in jail for 9 years for armed robbery so knows how a burglar thinks and wants to use that knowledge to teach people how to secure their homes and belongings.
"It's about educating the community around the country about how burglars think and what to watch out for."
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