The phrase "former felons" refers to individuals who have been convicted of a crime in the past but have completed their punishment or have had their criminal record cleared. They are no longer serving time in prison or on parole. Full definition
Occasionally the company hires people who aren't ready to settle into steady work; other times it has hired too many former felons at once. (entrepreneur.com)
«A prison celebration of Mothers» Day Main Will pro-gun commentators assail politicians who dis the Second Amendment rights of former felons?» (sentencing.typepad.com)
Mr. Cuomo has pushed his own progressive record, including raising the minimum wage and creating a paid family leave program, as he has pressed forward on new liberal initiatives, most notably promising to restore voting rights to former felons on parole by simultaneously granting 35,000 pardons. (nytimes.com)