29 April 2010

Wanna hire an ex-con?

| johnboy
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Simon Corbell has been talking to the Canberra Times about his efforts to convince Canberra’s employers to give good jobs the departing guests of the Hume Hilton.

The ACT Government wants to hear from employers willing to take on workers who are rebuilding their lives after a prison stint.

Attorney-General Simon Corbell says the scheme could be a way to beat the skills crisis while giving someone a second chance at a law-abiding life.

One supposes that if a business has no exposure to children then the kiddy fiddlers and child picture enthusiasts might offer some value.

But the mind boggles when it comes to the serial thieves. It’s hard enough to build positive workplaces without that kind of baggage.

Maybe the ACT Public Service and Legislative Assembly would like to hire them?

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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.

Rawhide Kid No 210:52 am 29 Apr 10

“Hume Hilton” I love the name.

Over the past week, I have spoken to a number of people who provide care for family members with disability. They have all expressed frustration about their inability to gain employment outside the home for their own sanity as well as to generate some income. These people are often well educated and with skills which I expect are in demand. However, the lack of flexibility (including in the public service) to support part time hours is preventing them from achieving this. The ACT government would do well to consider helping this sector of the community, too. Do I think they are more worthy of support than former residents of AMC? Hell, yes.

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