4 ms·

Right, lets take violent criminals and place them in upper management. I can see it now: "I used to be a drug dealer; now I'm your boss. Now get to work bitch

by astine 19y ago

Right, lets take violent criminals and place them in upper management. I can see it now: "I used to be a drug dealer; now I'm your boss. Now get to work bitch before I cap, I mean, fire your ass!" ... In all seriousness, I see a danger in using people who have a demonstrated disregard for the lives and property of others. At least with the current individuals we have reasonable doubt as to whether they would kill or steal to get their way. In highering ex-conns we know.

dgabriel 19y ago
There is such a thing as rehabilitation. Former criminals can lead decent, productive lives. I think the whole "once a criminal, always a criminal," view is generally unhelpful to society. There are exceptions, of course. You might want to stay away from serial recidivists.
- astine 19y ago
  I despise it when people use the term rehabilitation with regards to criminals. They are not generally sick or disabled people. They are individuals who have made choices about their lives and others. True, criminals can reform, but it is up to them to demonstrate that they have done so. We should be seeking out the best and the brightest of the criminal population and rewarding their behavior with cushy white collar jobs.
  - jazj 19y ago
    "True, criminals can reform, but it is up to them to demonstrate that they have done so." And it seems you're in favour of denying them the opportunity to demonstrate this.
  - strey 19y ago
    Missed a 'not' I've talked with a couple parole officers and they say the same thing. The people they deal with really have to decide for themselves to change, it isn't a matter of changing their environment.
inovica 19y ago
Is it nature or nurture that makes people this way? The debate on that will go on forever, however it has been demonstrated that through good education people (not all I agree) can discover that they have a true worth and can make money whilst giving back to society. Its bringing these people back into society that they probably felt outside of. According to the story, the people who have been on the program have a very low potential for re-offending. This, combined with criminal -> entrepreneur I think is a positive step. Breaking the cycle and giving people a purpose in life, embracing them, can make a difference
- Shooter 19y ago
  "Breaking the cycle and giving people a purpose in life, embracing them, can make a difference" This article doesn't remind me of the gang stuff in Freakonomics so much as it reminds me of a bonus feature on the "Sicko" DVD. Michael Moore goes to a prison in Norway that allows everyone, including murderers and rapists, the opportunity to work amongst the general population doing fulfilling work. [They mention a prisoner, for example, that killed two people with a chainsaw. He was allowed to finish his sentence by working in the forest freely with a chainsaw!] Norway doesn't have a death sentence, nor even a life sentence. The maximum prison sentence is 21 years. And, by the way, Norway usually has the lowest murder rate in the world.

by astine 19y ago

dgabriel 19y ago

There is such a thing as rehabilitation. Former criminals can lead decent, productive lives. I think the whole "once a criminal, always a criminal," view is generally unhelpful to society. There are exceptions, of course. You might want to stay away from serial recidivists.

astine 19y ago
I despise it when people use the term rehabilitation with regards to criminals. They are not generally sick or disabled people. They are individuals who have made choices about their lives and others. True, criminals can reform, but it is up to them to demonstrate that they have done so. We should be seeking out the best and the brightest of the criminal population and rewarding their behavior with cushy white collar jobs.
- jazj 19y ago
  "True, criminals can reform, but it is up to them to demonstrate that they have done so." And it seems you're in favour of denying them the opportunity to demonstrate this.
- strey 19y ago
  Missed a 'not' I've talked with a couple parole officers and they say the same thing. The people they deal with really have to decide for themselves to change, it isn't a matter of changing their environment.

inovica 19y ago

Is it nature or nurture that makes people this way? The debate on that will go on forever, however it has been demonstrated that through good education people (not all I agree) can discover that they have a true worth and can make money whilst giving back to society. Its bringing these people back into society that they probably felt outside of. According to the story, the people who have been on the program have a very low potential for re-offending. This, combined with criminal -> entrepreneur I think is a positive step. Breaking the cycle and giving people a purpose in life, embracing them, can make a difference

Shooter 19y ago
"Breaking the cycle and giving people a purpose in life, embracing them, can make a difference" This article doesn't remind me of the gang stuff in Freakonomics so much as it reminds me of a bonus feature on the "Sicko" DVD. Michael Moore goes to a prison in Norway that allows everyone, including murderers and rapists, the opportunity to work amongst the general population doing fulfilling work. [They mention a prisoner, for example, that killed two people with a chainsaw. He was allowed to finish his sentence by working in the forest freely with a chainsaw!] Norway doesn't have a death sentence, nor even a life sentence. The maximum prison sentence is 21 years. And, by the way, Norway usually has the lowest murder rate in the world.