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Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

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Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#411

Post by mobilefriendly »

losteverything wrote: post #408
rweba wrote: post #347

I just randomly came across this very relevant TED talk given by a prison inmate yesterday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F89eycANUrQ I definitely feel that American prison policy leans way too far on the side of moral judgement and retribution than rehabilitation. In my personal opinion, anyone who has served their term has already paid for their mistakes and we, as a society, should be more concerned with helping…

I can tell you with 100% certainty that there are felons that vote. I believe the system in our county is not perfect and thus mails out a voter registration to a convicted murderer that served his time and is now free.

It also depends on the state.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#412

Post by barrkel »

brooklyn_ashey wrote: post #385
civilian wrote: post #381

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry, I just don't see the evidence. I haven't seen it in my personal experience, and I already laid out my take on the demographics. Is there evidence I'm missing? Besides my willingness to ask for evidence? :]

so you aren't seeing evidence of institutional racism, sexism, and ageism in tech? Not in your personal experience? When was the last time you reached out to someone in a marginalized group where you work and asked them about it? You might start with that, in fact we could all start right there. And maybe open with empathy and the assumption that their experience of these is true, rather than demanding evidence. I wr…

FWIW getting into tech as a stereotypical white male is also an uphill struggle. Years of ostracism as a nerd, discrimination in school and early social life. It wasn't a pleasant experience for me and not I expect for many. If anything, computers were a respite from the unpleasantness of social life.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#413

Post by mgkimsal »

webninja wrote: post #340
will_brown wrote: post #251

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>In other words, don't tell them "give a criminal a second chance." Tell them that many people with criminal records simply shouldn't have them... That's a very interesting approach, but I believe a hard sell to potential employer. As true as it may be, an employer is more likely to appreciate the individual who says this is my background, this is what I learned and this is my vision of my own future...rather than, i…

You can become a registered sex offender in many states after a public urination citation. In my home state, you can get a DUI as a 100% sober driver if your alcoholic girlfriend or passenger brought an opened container of alcohol. It's possible that the violent crimes are overly broad as well and include things like "mean looks".

> In my home state, you can get a DUI as a 100% sober driver

That is insanely stupid, if they're calling it an actual DUI. If you're not Under the Influence... how can it possibly be a DUI?

Ugh... Make up another regulation about open containers, but don't call it a DUI, because it's not, if you're sober.

If someone opened a container, in the backseat, while you're driving, perhaps without even your knowledge, you can get a DUI. Insane.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#414

Post by jopsen »

dmoy wrote: post #286
chris_wot wrote: post #269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not everyone in prison is there because of violent crime.

Even stronger - the majority of people in prison are not there because of violent crime.

Be careful about making the incarceration debate a non-violent offender issue.

The issue is more complicated: plea bargains, additive sentencing, predatory prosecution, lack of public defense, and many issues..

You Americans have a lot of things to fix, there is no simple solution.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#415

Post by jmcdiesel »

aeorgnoieang wrote: post #246
jmcdiesel wrote: post #220

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which also undermines the usefulness of judging based on criminal record...

How is that? It seems reasonable to believe, all else being equal, that someone that's been convicted of a crime has committed more crimes than someone that hasn't been convicted.

Why? Being caught committing a crime is less a sign of committing a crime but in doing it in a way that got you caught. Serial committers often go years uncaught... from petty burglars to assaulters.. a lot of people get caught their first time, its the ones who dont get caught that are more dangerous...

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#416

Post by sathackr »

rweba wrote: post #347

I just randomly came across this very relevant TED talk given by a prison inmate yesterday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F89eycANUrQ I definitely feel that American prison policy leans way too far on the side of moral judgement and retribution than rehabilitation. In my personal opinion, anyone who has served their term has already paid for their mistakes and we, as a society, should be more concerned with helping…

I think much of the American sentiment is prejudicial -- if you broke the law once, you can't be trusted not to do it again. We love to grab our pitchforks and burn an 'evil-doing criminal' at the stake. It doesn't matter that they 'paid for what they did' -- they might do it again, so why ever let them see the light of the day? Inhumane? Yea sure, we can be nice to 'them' if you want, just NIMBY! I have CHILDREN for heavens sake!

Just look at the comments on any news article of anyone being arrested. As far as the general public is concerned, they're already guilty and are lucky we even let them keep breathing. Rarely will you read an article about the charges being dropped later, or the person acquitted. Nobody cares at that point.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#417

Post by sathackr »

mobilefriendly wrote: post #411
losteverything wrote: post #408

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can tell you with 100% certainty that there are felons that vote. I believe the system in our county is not perfect and thus mails out a voter registration to a convicted murderer that served his time and is now free.

It also depends on the state.

Florida has a process for felons convicted of certain crimes to have their civil rights restored -- right to vote, own a gun, etc...

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#418

Post by perryprog »

iandanforth wrote: post #137
RBBronson123 wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are so right on all your comments. Soon we'll be re-doing the entire site. Perhaps we can talk in several weeks?

I'd add that framing the hiring decision as charity ("giving someone a second chance") could be improved. I'd go for more of a "diamond in the rough" angle. "Find talent everyone else is missing."

Was that tagline from Hamilton, or no?

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#419

Post by thephyber »

brooklyn_ashey wrote: post #325
RBBronson123 wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you for sharing that. It's a common story. Attitudes are changing quickly, so I hold out hope. I very much appreciate your support.

It would be so great if attitudes were changing quickly in a positive direction. In tech, it is still impossible to get your first job after a career change as a woman, a person of color, or a person over say 35. Many of these people fall into one or all three of these categories. In addition to that, they have this ridiculous other hurdle to clear, and tech is still trying to figure out if women can do any technical…

> In tech, it is still impossible to get your first job after a career change as a woman, a person of color, or a person over say 35.

Nope. This is hyperbole (although not completely unfounded).

My department hired a junior female of color coder of color after she completed a coding bootcamp. She wasn't a diversity hire, she was simply the best person for the job at the time. We legitimately needed to fill the position and luckily the company was willing to take a risk on a junior dev. In her previous short career, she was a public school teacher. She's not a "rockstar", a "ninja", or a 100x programmer (neither am I), but she's reasonably good at programming and is curious and driven enough to teach herself whatever she doesn't know.

BTW, we are an early-stage, funded cybersecurity company with a fantastic product in San Jose, CA.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#420

Post by brooklyn_ashey »

barrkel wrote: post #412
brooklyn_ashey wrote: post #385

Earlier quoted context omitted.

so you aren't seeing evidence of institutional racism, sexism, and ageism in tech? Not in your personal experience? When was the last time you reached out to someone in a marginalized group where you work and asked them about it? You might start with that, in fact we could all start right there. And maybe open with empathy and the assumption that their experience of these is true, rather than demanding evidence. I wr…

FWIW getting into tech as a stereotypical white male is also an uphill struggle. Years of ostracism as a nerd, discrimination in school and early social life. It wasn't a pleasant experience for me and not I expect for many. If anything, computers were a respite from the unpleasantness of social life.

That is a true insight into why there is so much bullying (of women, of other men, of people of color, etc) in tech. I can see how that could really be upsetting throughout a life, and how it could engender a kind of constant (justified) anger. But then one would hope we could all realize this and move toward empathy and support the marginalized, each of us having had these experiences ourselves.
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