Wanna hire an ex-con?

The question is not whether ex-cons should be given preference over other applicants. That’s neither fair, nor likely to succeed.

The question is whether we can overcome community perceptions about ex-cons. Pretending that all prisoners are the worst sort – murderers, child-molesters etc. – isn’t helping.

We should encourage EVERYONE who wants a job to get one. People who are gainfully employed, feeling that they are playing a useful part in society, are less likely to turn to drugs and crime.

And just what crimes are people locked up for, anyway? The most obvious crime is failing to find a good lawyer.

Anna Key said :

Or maybe they should be unemployed, return to crime and then back to the Ally Mac. That way everybody wins

The question is should they be given preference over other people who are looking for work? If it makes it harder for honest people to get jobs, will that encourage them to resort to crime and increase the number of convicted crims?

Maybe the ACT Public Service and Legislative Assembly would like to hire them?
Maybe Simon Corbell should lead by example.

Bundyjack27 Yep and they would all be volunteering for Afghanistan.

Or maybe they should be unemployed, return to crime and then back to the Ally Mac. That way everybody wins

BimboGeek said :

Maybe if you let drug dealers get an engineering degree while they are in jail

In which field – mining? aeronautics? demolition? security?

Somehow I don’t think people become junkies just because they weren’t allowed to become engineers.

bundyjack27 said :

One idea could be to force them into military life…

Yeah because I’ll be able to sleep soundly at night knowing I’m being kept safe by a battalion of ex-junkies.

The “full version” of the crimes that they like to try and force us to buy states that some prisoners (I’m guessing they mean ex-prisoners) were working in the ACT Government in places like Yarralumla Nursery and Parks and Gardens.

I’d say that if they want to make a proper go of their lives, then they should be given the help they need, there will however be some people who should just remain in the big house. Releasing them is always temporary.

The so called good guys that go to jail will always find a job once released. The junkies on the otherhand will never end up working nor should the government find them a job.

One idea could be to force them into military life…

As much as many work places claim the support flexibility, for one reason or another you find in reality this is not the case.

The only people I won’t work with are psychopaths, and the smart ones are actually very careful to not commit actual crimes.

So the answer is yes, but obviously it depends on the individual. Remember, some people go to jail for stuff that wouldn’t be relevant in your workplace. Maybe if you let drug dealers get an engineering degree while they are in jail, they would make enough money as an engineer that dealing drugs seems like a risk rather than a meal ticket.

I know people who have been in jail, and others who should have been. They’re fine in positive contexts and they’re rotten in wrong contexts.