College for Criminals

[Devanna]

I really like the idea of doing something along these lines for inmates. If you stick someone in a cell for 10 years and they just watch TV and wallow we shouldn't be surprised when they get out and commit more crimes. On the other hand, if you give them something productive to do that could help them build a better life that makes them more likely to become productive citizens. Just think what might happen in L.A. if all those gang members studied, got degrees and job skills, and got released. o.O

[defscarlett]

Our focus should be on working with high risk demographics prior to them being incarcerated.

[soliloquy]

True, but that doesn't do anything for the ones already incarcerated. Should we just pretend they don't exist and focus on the next generation?

[sanantone]

True, but that doesn't do anything for the ones already incarcerated. Should we just pretend they don't exist and focus on the next generation?

Exactly. Most of them will eventually be released, so they are a public safety and cost concern.

[ironheadjack]

This is just wishful thinking. How many unemployed college graduates are there without a felony conviction on their records?

What good is a college degree when the only work a felon can get is blue collar? The truth is crime pays better.

[sanantone]

This is just wishful thinking. How many unemployed college graduates are there without a felony conviction on their records?

What good is a college degree when the only work a felon can get is blue collar? The truth is crime pays better.

There are blue collar jobs that pay well. Going to college doesn't have to consist of getting a BA in Social Science. Technical, junior, and community colleges do offer programs in the trades. Crime only pays until you get caught.

[dewisant]

I am very familiar with blue collar work that pays 6 figures...easy. The only qualification used to be military or a tech school/junior college, now it doesn't even take that. In fact, the tests to get in have nothing to do with technical ability, but are solely based on 'playing well with others.'

[defscarlett]

Blue collar work can definitely pay well, but just because you pass a test or go through training on a subject doesn't mean you'll get the well paying jobs. Employers have proven over and over again that they don't want to chance their money and reputation in the hands of a convicted felon. Most felony offenses are drug related offenses which mean no FAFSA as well as government grants for starting your own business. You are automatically excluded from many career fields (finance, healthcare, criminal justice, etc) just by having a conviction as well as working for the government or applying to be licensed and/or bonded by your state for a specific career field. I'm also not including the felons who would be considered "under employed." They may have a college degree, but are stuck working at Burger King as a fry cook.

Besides all these hurdles think of all the skills an individual has lost for being incarcerated. They have no recent work experience, have not demonstrated that they are responsible enough to even wake up on time to come in to work, normal interaction with other people has been limited at best. Besides all that, as an employer how can I justify the hire of someone who has already demonstrated that they don't do well under pressure, and have shown a serious lack of integrity and respect for themselves, others and the general public.

Most college campuses won't even allow a convicted felon on their campus until they have been individually investigated, complete with personal interview, multiple essays and reference letters from PO's, religious leaders etc. for the safety of the staff, students and employees of the college.

While I understand that the recidivism rate is ridiculously high for felons, specifically for theft, burglary and robbery, something needs to be done to integrate them back into society as valuable, law abiding economic resources. My vote has always been for prison work programs.

[sanantone]

Blue collar work can definitely pay well, but just because you pass a test or go through training on a subject doesn't mean you'll get the well paying jobs. Employers have proven over and over again that they don't want to chance their money and reputation in the hands of a convicted felon. Most felony offenses are drug related offenses which mean no FAFSA as well as government grants for starting your own business. You are automatically excluded from many career fields (finance, healthcare, criminal justice, etc) just by having a conviction as well as working for the government or applying to be licensed and/or bonded by your state for a specific career field. I'm also not including the felons who would be considered "under employed." They may have a college degree, but are stuck working at Burger King as a fry cook.

Besides all these hurdles think of all the skills an individual has lost for being incarcerated. They have no recent work experience, have not demonstrated that they are responsible enough to even wake up on time to come in to work, normal interaction with other people has been limited at best. Besides all that, as an employer how can I justify the hire of someone who has already demonstrated that they don't do well under pressure, and have shown a serious lack of integrity and respect for themselves, others and the general public.

Most college campuses won't even allow a convicted felon on their campus until they have been individually investigated, complete with personal interview, multiple essays and reference letters from PO's, religious leaders etc. for the safety of the staff, students and employees of the college.

While I understand that the recidivism rate is ridiculously high for felons, specifically for theft, burglary and robbery, something needs to be done to integrate them back into society as valuable, law abiding economic resources. My vote has always been for prison work programs.

Why would they need FAFSA if the state government is funding their education while they are in prison? They don't need to be on a college campus either. They will work on their degrees through correspondence. You're talking about integrating them back into society as law-abiding, economic resources, but then you say they can't get jobs. Why even advocate for prison work programs if you think they can't get jobs with those skills?

Most fast food restaurant managers started at the bottom.

[soliloquy]

I'm not a socialist but this quote came to mind when I read this thread.

“For if you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners to be corrupted from their infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded from this, but that you first make thieves and then punish them.” ― Thomas More, Utopia