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Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

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Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#61

Post by JshWright »

zer00eyz wrote: post #59
JshWright wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with 99% of this. I don't think there's any value in publicly naming the companies that have rejected you, and there is a potential that it would be detrimental (how would a potential employer view that?). I just don't think the risk (however slight) outweighs the (practically nonexistent) reward.

Your dead wrong. For years there was "no value" in discussing salary... but companies were allowed to ask you "how much did you make at your last job". So we have/had a system that is "pro company" and "anti-worker" that took a LONG time to change and let a lot of things that we probably always would have been upset about go on. There is value in publicly naming the company that didn't hire him. It stops someone else…

I agree with your position when taking a global scope. When looking at it in the narrow scope of the OP's position and goals, I don't see any benefit for them.

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#62

Post by varcharlie »

garrettgrimsley wrote: post #48

Hi OP, another felon looking for a job here, I got out this January after serving 11 months. I would encourage you to apply for whatever government benefits you qualify for, if you haven't already. Just like you I've had offers rescinded after the background check. Doesn't feel great, but you have to keep at it. As someone else said: Get a job. Get any job. Right now I'm working at a commercial fish market doing manu…

This is a time consuming process that requires going to court and being accepted/coordinated by the receiving party. That makes it near impossible if you've already received an offer, since many offers are time-limited.

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#63

Post by zer00eyz »

JshWright wrote: post #61
zer00eyz wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your dead wrong. For years there was "no value" in discussing salary... but companies were allowed to ask you "how much did you make at your last job". So we have/had a system that is "pro company" and "anti-worker" that took a LONG time to change and let a lot of things that we probably always would have been upset about go on. There is value in publicly naming the company that didn't hire him. It stops someone else…

I agree with your position when taking a global scope. When looking at it in the narrow scope of the OP's position and goals, I don't see any benefit for them.

If everyone takes that stance then NOTHING changes - your suggesting apathy - this is how the status quo remains in place.

OP literally has nothing to loose and everything to gain by being honest about his situation - the knowledge is already public and working against him.

Also thank you for sharing - happy for the dialog!

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#64

Post by garrettgrimsley »

varcharlie wrote: post #62
garrettgrimsley wrote: post #48

Hi OP, another felon looking for a job here, I got out this January after serving 11 months. I would encourage you to apply for whatever government benefits you qualify for, if you haven't already. Just like you I've had offers rescinded after the background check. Doesn't feel great, but you have to keep at it. As someone else said: Get a job. Get any job. Right now I'm working at a commercial fish market doing manu…

This is a time consuming process that requires going to court and being accepted/coordinated by the receiving party. That makes it near impossible if you've already received an offer, since many offers are time-limited.

I'm on Federal probation, so transfers are based on court district. How it works is that I can get what is called "courtesy supervision" from the receiving district. Both the US Probation Officer in the receiving district and my home district must agree. While I'm under "courtesy supervision" my case is still in my home district, but I can live and travel in the receiving district under the supervision of a PO in the receiving district.

During my currently fruitless job search I've kept my PO in the loop about jobs/locations that could prove fruitful. He and his supervisor have both communicated to me that getting courtesy supervision and then a transfer should not be an issue in my case. They both said that already having a job in the receiving district goes a long way to getting a transfer, since you'll be stable there.

OP is on state probation though, so his situation is different. I would advise him to speak with his probation officer about what his options are in terms of "courtesy supervision". I looked up what the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision says about sex offender transfers [0] and it seems that sex offenders have it worse than other offenders. While non-sex offender transfers are on a "shall issue" basis provided some easily fulfilled prerequisites [1] the sex-offenders are subject to a review period of a maximum of 5 days after which time the receiving state may accept/reject their transfer.

OP, talk to your probation officer about what your options are. A move out-of-state may not be out of the question.

[0] https://www.interstatecompact.org/step-by-step/chapter/3/rul...

[1] https://www.interstatecompact.org/step-by-step/chapter/3/rul...

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#65

Post by threatofrain »

zer00eyz wrote: post #63
JshWright wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with your position when taking a global scope. When looking at it in the narrow scope of the OP's position and goals, I don't see any benefit for them.

If everyone takes that stance then NOTHING changes - your suggesting apathy - this is how the status quo remains in place. OP literally has nothing to loose and everything to gain by being honest about his situation - the knowledge is already public and working against him. Also thank you for sharing - happy for the dialog!

Another interpretation is that we can achieve a moral victory even without asking more disadvantaged members of society to make a sacrifice for dubious gain.

If one believes that moral conduct ought to have a relationship with moral results, then one must also coldly ask what sort of results one truly expects from this.

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#66

Post by forapurpose »

ExcelSaga wrote: post #49
RightMillennial wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe the OP has a drinking problem that he's working on. Who knows? Regardless of the offense, there's no reason to ostracize him from society and employment after he's done his time.

He’s not being ostracized for his drinking problem, he’s being ostracized for his “exposing himself to minors” problem. I come from the school of thought that believes alcohol doesn’t turn you into something you’re not, it just erodes your ability to hide it. Fair enough that he did his time, but it’s also fair not to hire him. He’s looking for a job from a business, not a charity after all.

I'm from the school of thought that it's all none of our business, we shouldn't judge other people, and we should treat them with respect at all times. Also, my personal theory of Internet comments is that nothing is more ridiculous than speculating on the thoughts of people I know nothing about.

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#67

Post by ExcelSaga »

forapurpose wrote: post #66
ExcelSaga wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He’s not being ostracized for his drinking problem, he’s being ostracized for his “exposing himself to minors” problem. I come from the school of thought that believes alcohol doesn’t turn you into something you’re not, it just erodes your ability to hide it. Fair enough that he did his time, but it’s also fair not to hire him. He’s looking for a job from a business, not a charity after all.

I'm from the school of thought that it's all none of our business, we shouldn't judge other people, and we should treat them with respect at all times. Also, my personal theory of Internet comments is that nothing is more ridiculous than speculating on the thoughts of people I know nothing about.

It’s certainly the business of anyone hiring him, if only from a PR and liability perspective. As to our business, it would be hard to argue that submitting this question didn’t go some way to making it just that. Still, I respect your stance on the inscrutability of another’s thoughts, although I don’t understand what that has to do with anything.

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#68

Post by nickthemagicman »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #60
sexoffender wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh, also I should mention, my crime was in 4 major local newspapers, and those online news articles are the first 4 results of googling my name. So it's not really something I can hide, at all.

Most people don't check past the first page of results. If you can establish a robust online presence for your name, that may move those results down in the listings. I am not advocating that you lie, deceive or hide anything. I am suggesting you establish a positive internet presence so that ugly stuff is not the only information available about you. Vanessa Williams lost her Miss America crown to scandal over nude…

They made the name out of frustration and highlighting how reciculously easy it is to become a sex offender. Its not some.faulty social.signaling.

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#69

Post by nickthemagicman »

varcharlie wrote: post #36
sexoffender wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do have a small portfolio website (can't show it here because it'll give away my name and the harassment will start) and it was mentioned in a few interviews, but it's not really good enough to show off for independent consulting.

TBH I was able to find your name and portfolio website with just the information you provided and a couple google searches. I won't post it here, but you do have a good amount of experience and quite a few repos in your github. (I am from the Chicago area as well). Judging from the articles about you, I definitely understand why it's been hard for you to find a job.

Yeah I found him too. SD. His portfolio actually looks really good. Like seriously intermediate to senior level. I think if he kept applying someone would consider him at a discount thinking they were getting good deal for the money.

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#70

Post by zer00eyz »

threatofrain wrote: post #65
zer00eyz wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If everyone takes that stance then NOTHING changes - your suggesting apathy - this is how the status quo remains in place. OP literally has nothing to loose and everything to gain by being honest about his situation - the knowledge is already public and working against him. Also thank you for sharing - happy for the dialog!

Another interpretation is that we can achieve a moral victory even without asking more disadvantaged members of society to make a sacrifice for dubious gain. If one believes that moral conduct ought to have a relationship with moral results, then one must also coldly ask what sort of results one truly expects from this.

We continue to build technology without thoughts of consequences. OP's issue IS one of technology. What 20 years ago would have required actual WORK is now a service any one can utilize. Companies that never would have asked for criminal and financial history now do so as a matter of course, because it is cheep, because they can.

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

-- Martin Niemöller

If those who have these issues don't stand up and speak (and to a larger audience than HN) how are they going to get the attention for us to speak up for them? OP has been punished, he should speak out that he is CONTINUING to be punishes, he IS a sacrifice.

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