4 ms·

I remember reading this story on here before, and I'm glad to see everything worked out for you! Personally I think its terrible the treatment we give convicted

I remember reading this story on here before, and I'm glad to see everything worked out for you! Personally I think its terrible the treatment we give convicted felons, they're supposed to have paid their debt to society, right? So why are we denying them the very means to keep themselves on the right course and productive? It's absurd. Society should not be in the business of handing out life sentences outside of the judicial process.

jsmthrowaway 13y ago
The day I was sentenced and began probation was the same day Mike Tyson began his probation for the cocaine charges in 2007. I sat across from him in the probation office. While his lawyers talked to the probation people, I made eye contact with him and realized that while we both were convicted of felonies, I was going to have a much harder time going forward than he was. (Granted, he has a pretty tough life with addiction.) If you're famous, felonies are just an inconvenience. If you're middle or upper class, felonies are a big roadblock to a career that require great perseverance and stress. If you're lower class, a felony is a death sentence unless you turn to crime. 83% of offenders who violate probation or parole were unemployed at the time, and only 13% of companies surveyed in one study said they'd even consider applications from felons. I'd wager if our attitudes about felony convictions changed, a lot of crime in the inner city would disappear in the long term. What a lot of companies don't know is that under certain circumstances, employment of felons can be a tax benefit. UPS famously uses this.
- csfelon 13y ago
  jsmthrowaway - I'd be very interested in corresponding with you on a personal basis because of your experience - given I can't verify your identity from this - post your source address here if you'd like, and I'll get back to you. Otherwise thanks a million for taking the time. Bitmessage: BM-NBeSoXNvHgqXKXVNykt51LayfXEJz1Yz
  - jsmthrowaway 13y ago
    You didn't look very carefully at an attachment, then, which includes my name and e-mail address. I only created a throwaway because my (very) old HN account is set to be usable again in 2055.
    - csfelon 13y ago
      emailed.

jsmthrowaway 13y ago

The day I was sentenced and began probation was the same day Mike Tyson began his probation for the cocaine charges in 2007. I sat across from him in the probation office. While his lawyers talked to the probation people, I made eye contact with him and realized that while we both were convicted of felonies, I was going to have a much harder time going forward than he was. (Granted, he has a pretty tough life with addiction.) If you're famous, felonies are just an inconvenience. If you're middle or upper class, felonies are a big roadblock to a career that require great perseverance and stress. If you're lower class, a felony is a death sentence unless you turn to crime. 83% of offenders who violate probation or parole were unemployed at the time, and only 13% of companies surveyed in one study said they'd even consider applications from felons. I'd wager if our attitudes about felony convictions changed, a lot of crime in the inner city would disappear in the long term. What a lot of companies don't know is that under certain circumstances, employment of felons can be a tax benefit. UPS famously uses this.

csfelon 13y ago
jsmthrowaway - I'd be very interested in corresponding with you on a personal basis because of your experience - given I can't verify your identity from this - post your source address here if you'd like, and I'll get back to you. Otherwise thanks a million for taking the time. Bitmessage: BM-NBeSoXNvHgqXKXVNykt51LayfXEJz1Yz
- jsmthrowaway 13y ago
  You didn't look very carefully at an attachment, then, which includes my name and e-mail address. I only created a throwaway because my (very) old HN account is set to be usable again in 2055.
  - csfelon 13y ago
    emailed.