Would you hire an ex-con?

[Expidia]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

Wow, quite some varied responses. I like the poster that said you are not his savior. Because that's right along the lines of what I was thinking . . . Why do "you" feel the need to help a former drug addict out?

Other posters have also hit on that druggies are liars. You can't believe anything that comes out of their mouths.

You said you spoke to his Father. Well, my guess he was a good part of his Son's development and current problems.

Others have said there are plenty of good hard working people out there that would love to get a decent job to support their family.
Why not save one of them with the offer of a good job.

I'm sure your insurance deductibles are sure to go higher, when they find out you hired a convicted felon.

If all those other types of business's are barred from hiring him . . . why should you?

My biggest concern is he falls back into drugs and sticks a knife in you. Then the other posters that said give him a chance would say that Bubba was a nice guy, it must have been the drugs that made his employee go crazy and stick a Knife in him.

My opinion might be a hard line, but I would not hire a convict. And my guess is most of the others posters wouldn't either if they were in your situation. If you have a family, why would you want to subject them to a convicted felon?

My experience over the last 62 years is that druggies, alcoholics and gamblers lie through their teeth. I have rarely seen these types change for the better. It's a disease and is way beyond most of their control.

And as another poster has said . . . jails don't have a great track record of rehabilitating convicts, they probably make them even more hardened.

Just my two cents . . .

 

[ralphl]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

Try to think what you would want if it was your kid. He was a good kid, good in high school, drifted off the farm naive as a rock, and screwed up. I would lay down the law with him, and to borrow a phrase from Regan - trust but verify. Drug tests are available to anyone over the counter in any drugstore. If he objects to random drug testing, there's your answer. Then follow through with regular tests. Any screw up, he's gone. He may turn out to be the best worker you've ever hired - gratitude for a second chance can do that.

My nephew has two teenage kids. He started random drug testing when they were about thirteen. Now, these are great kids, always have been, never any trouble and excellent grades. They're in high school now. His plan from the get-go was to give them an easy way out when their friends pressured them to try drugs, as will inevitably happen in today's schools. They can say, in all honesty "No way. My dad is a pain in the axe who gives us drug tests all the time. If I do that, I'll be grounded until graduation!"

This will likely work as well for your parolee as it does for teenage kids. Pass it on.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

Thats not a sponsor.
A good sponsor doesn't direct anyone, they don't play God.
They DO say what they did and guide the newcomer through the steps.
And generally the gals don't sponsor guys.

You know what the more I think about it I think your right she may have been the guys PO not his sponsor.....

 

[mcgyver210]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

I have mixed feelings on this one. I have had many chances to pick the wrong path but instead I have worked my but off. I have been a business owner for most of my life now & I know with my current business I couldn't take a risk on a ex-con. I can say for sure I agree with your statement it just wouldn't seem right for this guy to get his second chance at the expense of someone that played by the rules. I also really agree with that statement made that this most likely isn't just his second chance.

Unfortunately without going in to much detail I don't have much sympathy for people that choose the wrong path knowingly since if statistics were correct I personally should have gone down the wrong path. We all have to make choices at some point in our lives & should be aware that the consequences could be life long. I have done all I can to be there for my son who is a GREAT kid at this point & since we are active not absentee parents we expect he will stay on the correct path.

 

[oops!]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

i just read the rest of the pages...... great thread......this is how we learn.....debate....present logical thought, facts.....and weigh the conclusiion.....i love it

this caught my eye

Not everyone who had a coke problem is an addict. Contrary to popular notion, coke is similar to alcohol in that some people can walk away and some can't.

coke isnt the same as coke yesterday.
today its called crack.....and it has a different method of purification......a few hits.....and wow......a few hits every day for 3 days and its give me your wallett and watch.
they have no right or wrong....just i need more crack.

a short story...
when i had my store going.....my ex gf had a brother that was mixed up with it.
he called us from jail (in calgary) late one night and said he needed money for bail and could we send him $225 bux for bail....or they wourd take him to the remand center. we needed to wire the money from money mart...(an all night transfer operation) i could hear someone yelling at him in the bacground.... it sounded like the cops
i called every police station, institution, jail detachment from red deer south to the states boarder. both rcmp and city.
the cops said "no problem...you can pay bail with a valid mastercard right over the phone......but we havent had him in our coustody fopr 6 months now"

druggies lie.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

I think this thread should have a more descriptive title, "Would you hire an ex-con drug addict?" There are literally thousands of ways to get the label "felon" and not all are created equal. Some felons are more likely to reoffend, some less likely. But what IS indisputable is this: If you do not give an ex-con a chance, then it is almost surely going to get him back in prison. All offenders need steady employment, a place to live and a strong family support network to stay out of trouble. If nobody hires these people, guess what? THEY REOFFEND. Is that what you want? Would you like to help society by ensuring that there will be future victims because you didn't help these people out?

I find it HILARIOUS when people ***** about re-offense rates for released offenders, yet go out of their way to NOT hire them. Making sure they have no money and no life will ensure another victim. Giving them a job doesn't guarantee they will stay out of trouble, but at least, as an employer, you have done what you could to help. THATS how I would want to feel as a business owner. It's well known that released offenders who really want to change can be some of the best employees, working way harder than someone who could get a job anywhere. They are less likely to quit, mess up, etc, if their PO, and ultimately their FREEDOM, is on the line.

So I say that ultimately it is up to you whether or not you hire felons, but I will say this, don't complain later when you hear that the person you refused a job to reoffended. Don't say, "Well, see, I'm glad I didn't hire him, because he ended up back in trouble." Little do you realize, you could have played a huge part in that, by denying him a second chance.

 

[oops!]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

i have hired addicts...convicts...people in re hab.....lots of times....gave them all a chance...they all left after a time...
i didnt get burned...got lucky....

i found my best people were the local football team....students

the point is to debate....and learn...thanks for your point

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

If nobody hires these people, guess what? THEY REOFFEND.

That is a bunch of BS and I am actually VERY surprised YOU responded to this thread.

If it were my business I would hire the most qualified and if two applicants were identical but one was convicted of a felony, the decision would be easy! These days it should be easier than most to find a law abiding citizen to fill a job.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

I keep looking at it, and looking at it and have come to a conclusion. At this point it's not really a business decision I am making. From a purely business stand point "Are You Nuts?!" comes to mind. The problem is I like to think of myself as more than a business man. However that's not always worked so well. :redface:

Much to think about.

Bubba three more items.......

First ...... The wife always has a 51% vote so, do not jeopardize your home life and give the lady any extra worry. Go give the wife a random hug!

Second........ Chances are there ARE previous offender's here that have "spent time" as a convicted felon here on iboats and in your daily contact.......... without first hand knowledge you may never know. Well, I will clarify that..... I have never been arrested or convicted of a crime so, I count as one and then there is yourself..... that's two. Look at how many iboats member's we have and consider the arrested/incarcerated rate in the USA alone. I can attest that there are victims of horrible and violent crimes here on iboats........... the anonymousness of the internet protects ALL.....the criminals, the victims, the rehabilitated and the ugly!

Third....... Just a personal question ........ what kind of business? We have every occupation here on iboats from retail owner's, Doctor's, retired people, OMG the list is as long as the membership list. Would I hire a person convicted of drugs for a job in a pharmacy? No I would not Would I hire a violent person for a job dealing one on one with the public? Hundreds of yes answer's and an equal amount of no answer's. Based on your business ALL the answer's are on you.

 

[CN Spots]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

"If it were my business I would hire the most qualified and if two applicants were identical but one was convicted of a felony, the decision would be easy! These days it should be easier than most to find a law abiding citizen to fill a job."

What he said.^

If part of your business plan is reforming ex-cons or there's no one else available then hire 'em. If not, you're setting yourself up for an unnecessary emotional quagmire. Let it go and move on.

 

[oops!]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

Well, I will clarify that..... I have never been arrested or convicted of a crime

Ayuh.............thats only cause you have an explosives licence

Third....... Just a personal question ........ what kind of business?

Bob.......Bubba runs a really big gro op in kansas

sorry bob.......good post.....i just could not resist !

 

[aspeck]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

Bob.......Bubba runs a really big gro op in kansas

sorry bob.......good post.....i just could not resist !

If Bubba is growing wacky weed or poppies, it might not be a good fit ...

just sayin' ....

 

[sasto]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

Take a kid from the country and place him in Chicago without any street guidence and usually something goes wrong. Maybe he made a mistake and won't make it again. Maybe he became an addict and may still has those tendencies for years to come. Hard to say without an interview with him, just as you would any employee, maybe a little more personal.

If me, I would hire the most qualified employee, and for what he has been thru, maybe it would be him. Attitude means alot. Have a fatherly conversation with him, Bubba. You have street smarts. Go with your instincts.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

My business? Thats a tough one to nail down. I have fingers in a lot of things. But in this case I am looking at having him work in the boat shop, roughly 70% project boats and 30% customer boats. (Other work would include chores around the farm.) Would be a very rare thing for him to interact with customers.

Ahh so the threats of "Swimming with the fishes" or "pushing up daisies" could become a reality if this young man screws up You have the resources to make either happen!!

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

Does this guy even have a clue about working on boats? Some people don't have mechanical abilities and would be and lost turning wrenches, fiberglass, paint, etc. Take something apart and can't figure out how to put it back together, intimidated by the project at hand.

I'd have reservation about hiring an ex-con too, but would be more concerned if the guy was right for the job. Forget to put oil in someone's engine/drive, burn through the gelcoat buffing, cause damage since he is not experienced. Seems like a tough call as you can't see this guy in person and feel him out.

What happens if you hire this guy and then find out he has no ability for the job? He does nothing wrong, but is clueless about working on boats and doesn't have the ability to learn?

 

[eaglejim]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

No comparison with addiction there.
Coke is an very insidious addiction.

I just answered the question

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

"Mercy" is a hard word to define and even harder to live by.....

 

[Chris-R]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

I just have to say something. I am VERY impressed with all the responses here and not one single attack against anyone and their opinion. I've been on lots of forums and this is very refreshing. What a great forum!

 

[642mx]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

I just have to say something. I am VERY impressed with all the responses here and not one single attack against anyone and their opinion. I've been on lots of forums and this is very refreshing. What a great forum!

I'm double impressed! Being that its winter (for most of us) and we're all missing our time on the water. Normally, most boating forums get pretty brutal near the end of winter. Once Spring gets here, we'll all love each other again....lol

 

[642mx]

Re: Would you hire an ex-con?

Business owners have enough problems to deal with, having an employee that could fall off the wagon at anytime is just another problem.