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My friend starts her job today, after learning to program in prison

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Re: My friend starts her job today, after learning to program in prison

#491

Post by dj_mc_merlin »

deathgrips wrote: post #477
LeifCarrotson wrote: post #287

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Surely not, if by "applicable" you mean to suggest that employers would never want to hire such a person for any job. Should a person convicted of theft, who's served their time, paid the fine, made the victims whole, and learned not to steal, be discarded from consideration as a useful member of society? In case it's not clear, I think they should have the same rights as any other human being. No one seriously advoc…

>and learned not to steal That's the issue at hand. Serving a prison sentence doesn't mean that you have learned not to steal. It's difficult for the company to verify that you have "learned your lesson".

What will satisfy you then? Should people who come out from prison for stealing sit around jobless since nobody trusts them? That's bound to get them back into prison.

Re: My friend starts her job today, after learning to program in prison

#492

Post by BlueGh0st »

yreg wrote: post #479
BlueGh0st wrote: post #472

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How? I read so many felon success stories but I'm a non-violent felon and I can't even get an entry-level interview in IT. I'm multiskilled with a huge focus on security but despite the demand, I've had so much trouble. In fact, in one very sad case, I showed up to my first day of work as a sys admin and was walked out after 2 hours because the HR department neglected to go over my application and see the felony chec…

In what situations do US employers/clients ask about criminal history? Can't you freelance or start as a contractor?

Unfortunately I have a very unique name and despite my crime being committed in 2013 my name wasn't publicized widely until 2017.

So I have no ability or desire to try to hide from my past, at this point. I'm just trying to own up to my mistakes and do better.

Re: My friend starts her job today, after learning to program in prison

#493

Post by qes »

hnracer wrote: post #158
rdimartino wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure your statements about prison time are accurate, at least in the US. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, 46.2% of inmates are in for drug offenses[1] and there is definitely disagreement about whether that should be a crime, let alone an extreme crime. Additionally, 78.6% of inmates are serving sentences longer than 5 years[2], which by necessity means that a large portion of those are for drug of…

What percentage of those drug offenses are usage vs distribution?

If I had, let's say, less than $1000 worth of drugs - enough for a few weeks of personal consumption, but on occasion I sell a bit to one of my buddies. Does that make me a "distributor"? It did according to the law.

You're unlikely to find any realistic statistics on usage vs "distribution" due to that.

Re: My friend starts her job today, after learning to program in prison

#494

Post by hevelvarik »

Teever wrote: post #478
hevelvarik wrote: post #463

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dunno, it takes a lot more than a fistfight to get put in prison for violent offense. Sure people can change but only a solid work history or trusted recommendation can give you any real confidence. You may have to fire this person, or they may have to report to an abusive manage for some period of time. Some offenses are difficult to walk away from untainted.

The summer after I graduated from HS a kid I knew got into a fist fight in the parking lot of a bar. He was punched once and he went down and cracked his skull on the curb and died. The person who hit him was charged with manslaughter.

Wow, that’s tragic

Re: My friend starts her job today, after learning to program in prison

#495

Post by sterkekoffie »

dahfizz wrote: post #429
tnorthcutt wrote: post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then... don't.

I agree. A lot of people in this comment section are arguing that "Then don't" shouldn't be an option.

People are acting like you shouldn't be allowed to quit your job because you don't like your coworkers?

Re: My friend starts her job today, after learning to program in prison

#496

Post by poorman »

I've heard of similar situations and I'm glad people with the power to help lift others up are taking the initiative.

George Taylor (previously President of Untappd) has been working with active gang members to start a brewery called TruColors. Turns out a lot of gang violence can be attributed to the economic situation of a community and providing employment opportunities to people who have been previously incarcerated can improve the economic situation of these communities. https://trucolors.co/

"In Your Shoes" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GdT_4gFuuw

Re: My friend starts her job today, after learning to program in prison

#497

Post by liversage »

Chernobog wrote: post #53

I was convicted for drugs and firearms in Norway. The only time it has ever come up during my many years as a programmer, was when a consulting company I worked for had the police IT service as a candidate for my next project. Since it was for the police, a background check would be required. I politely told my department head that I would not pass that, and a short summary of my case. At that time I had worked for a…

It's mostly the same in Denmark. However, there is one situation where background checks are mandatory and that is when you work with children below the age of 15. You have to pass this check not only for a proper job but also if you are doing volunteer work with children (e.g. sports association, scouts etc.)

The check is only for crimes against children so you can be convicted for violent crimes and pass this check.

Any entries in your criminal record will no longer appear in background checks after some time (depending on the severity of your offense). However, any offense against a child will always appear on this special background check no matter how long ago it was committed.

You have to approve that this background check is performed but if you can't produce a clean "child certificate" then you are prohibited from working with children by law.

Re: My friend starts her job today, after learning to program in prison

#499

Post by hnracer »

dfxm12 wrote: post #148
caseyscottmckay wrote: post #8

We need more of this. A criminal record in the US is a curse for life, leaving former criminals with little chance at success and little to live for. People without much to live for are dangerous. We should help our former criminals rather than condemn them for life--it benefits us all.

leaving former criminals with little chance at success It's worth noting that it also leaves their children a smaller chance at success as well[0], and then the cycle continues. When you add this to the fact that Black male offenders received sentences on average 19.1 percent longer than similarly situated White male offenders [1], this adds up to one aspect of systemic racism in America. 0 - https://projects.sfchron…

Is there any evidence that the sentences are longer after controlling for variables such as (1) differences in previous convictions which increase sentence duration, (2) severity of the crime?

If this evidence is provided, I am happy to agree with you that there is systematic racism in the justice system.

Re: My friend starts her job today, after learning to program in prison

#500

Post by saxonww »

yreg wrote: post #479
BlueGh0st wrote: post #472

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How? I read so many felon success stories but I'm a non-violent felon and I can't even get an entry-level interview in IT. I'm multiskilled with a huge focus on security but despite the demand, I've had so much trouble. In fact, in one very sad case, I showed up to my first day of work as a sys admin and was walked out after 2 hours because the HR department neglected to go over my application and see the felony chec…

In what situations do US employers/clients ask about criminal history? Can't you freelance or start as a contractor?

Every job application I have ever filled out asked whether I had been convicted of a felony. All the way back to my first job bagging groceries.
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