topic Re: Another question re: prison in Community Chat

Another question re: prison

YorkieonmyPillow — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 22:43:48 GMT

Do you think once a felon has served their time, that their criminal record should be erased?

I'm thinking perhaps it should, with the exception of child abuse or domestic violence.

Re: Another question re: prison

Hooty — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 22:50:29 GMT

@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:
Do you think once a felon has served their time, that their criminal record should be erased?

I'm thinking perhaps it should, with the exception of child abuse or domestic violence.

OMG, what about murder, not all murder cases are life sentences! No they should not be erased!!!

Re: Another question re: prison

Venezia — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 22:55:48 GMT

No, I don't think a felon's criminal record should be erased. What about someone who has a DUI? Many of those are repeat offenders and the history is important in sentencing.

If someone commits a crime he/she knows the consequences. That person should be given the chance to rebuild his life after serving his time, but on the other side, people who will interact with him (employer, future partner), have a right to know his history.

(Seems to be a lot of interest in prison topics lately. Any particular reason?)

Re: Another question re: prison

SilleeMee — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 22:58:02 GMT

No, because then there would be no way to track repeat offenders and this is a problem all in itself.

Re: Another question re: prison

Scooby Doo — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 22:59:28 GMT

Never! There's a reason that they are a felon.

Re: Another question re: prison

Natasha218 — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 23:01:28 GMT

Erased? Definitely not. But I do think we as a society need to accept that once a person competed their prison sentance, they should not be further punished by depriving them of their rights to work or go to school or just re-enter society. I've read that many of go back to crime because when they get out, they can't find work and they can't support themselves any other way. The son of an friend is in that position now. He served 6 years for burglaries but he's locked out of anything that can help him rebuild his life. No one will hire the guy and he couldn't even get into a trade school because he had a record. No 26 year old wants to live in his mother's house and receive an allowance from her. She worries that he'll go back to his old ways out of desperation.

Re: Another question re: prison

KathyM23 — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 23:07:38 GMT

Absolutely not! Many are repeat offenders. Just because they served the time given for a particular crime obviously does not mean they have been rehabilitated. We need to know who we are dealing with - hiding criminal history can be very dangerous to all of us. I'm sure our law enforcement people who put their lives on the line daily need to know the background of those they come across in their daily activities. Employers certainly need to know if they are hiring felons for the safety of their employees or because of workplace theft. What about people you meet and date and possibly marry or those you be-friend - certainly need to know what you are getting in to. Makes no sense to me.

Re: Another question re: prison

YorkieonmyPillow — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 23:08:17 GMT

@Venezia wrote:
No, I don't think a felon's criminal record should be erased. What about someone who has a DUI? Many of those are repeat offenders and the history is important in sentencing.

If someone commits a crime he/she knows the consequences. That person should be given the chance to rebuild his life after serving his time, but on the other side, people who will interact with him (employer, future partner), have a right to know his history.

(Seems to be a lot of interest in prison topics lately. Any particular reason?)

"A lot?"

This is the second thread I've started about prison!

LOL

Really, I can't tell you THE REAL REASON....it's very mysterious, and terrifying!!!!

Re: Another question re: prison

SahmIam — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 23:32:16 GMT

A true story for you to consider:

A very good friend lives with 2 other people. This friend must wear a gun at his job. He has a very elaborate safe that costs thousands and his weapons are secure. He rents the lower part of a single family home from a couple; also employed. Last year a 3rd person moved in; she's an old friend of the couple. No issues. 6 months ago, the couple informed my friend and the other roommate that an OLD friend of the wifes' (childhood) was going to move in with them. There's one thing that everyone had to know: she was getting out of prison after 12 years for theft/embezzlement. Yes, she is a convicted felon.

My good friend was concerned due to the state laws regarding weapons and convicted felons (they can not own or use a gun). In some states, they can not live in a home with weapons- would he have to move out? Was that fair for him? What exactly did she do?

Long story short, she stole 10 million from her company: a company that works specifically with the elderly and disabled. She stole from people she had known for more than 30 years; from people who TRUSTED her; from people who gave her gift cards, homemade goodies, cash,etc, because she was a bookkeeper and well, they don't make a lot of money.

They do when the steal.

She took that money and bought a luxury 3 bedroom condo with every upgrade you can imagine. She had a professional decorator travel the world to find her pieces to decorate her condo. Her chandelier alone cost $35,000. She took money and invested it so she could make MORE money for herself. She bought 2 cars; 1 was a junker- she drove that to work. The other, a Mercedes S class that cost over $125,000. She traveled first class everywhere when she went on vacation, bought CHANEL bags, jewelry from Tiffany's and Van Cleef (to name just 2) and lived a very nice life... for many, many years.

How was she caught? It's a SMALL world, folks. While on a vacation in Paris, she met 2 lovely women. They dined together, shopped and then said good bye. One day, one of these women walked in with her grand-daughter into the office and saw the woman working; she looked VERY different then she did in Paris. Something made her suspicious. You see, she was there to find out why her disabled sister had FAR less money in her account than she should. In the end, she did some digging, hired a private investigator and well.... the truth came out.

To say she is hated is an understatement by those who worked with her, under her and trusted her with their money. Her condo, cars,... ALL assets were seized. She MUST pay back the remaining balance. Her rules to live by as per the court:

*can not handle money, ever

*can not work where a vault is involved, ever

*can not be bonded

*no credit cards

*can not OWN property of ANY kind, not eve a car.

*can not have any savings.

The last 2 are in place UNTIL the balance is paid off of what she stole.

What job can she have? Pretty limited if you think about it. That said, the jobs she CAN have are "beneath her". She expects the people in the house to drive her everywhere and pay for her needs.

Dear friends is looking for a new place.

So, tell me, should her record be erased after serving her time? Should these limits be placed on her? Is it fair to her?

Re: Another question re: prison

MarieIG — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 23:49:02 GMT

No.

Re: Another question re: prison

GCR18 — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 23:51:48 GMT

No.

Re: Another question re: prison

Marp — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 00:08:43 GMT

Erased no but on a case by case basis perhaps a chance to have the record sealed.

Re: Another question re: prison

Cats3000 — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 00:10:07 GMT

NO!!!!!!!!

Re: Another question re: prison

Irshgrl31201 — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 00:35:57 GMT

In most cases I would say no. However there may be certain types of crimes that I would be willing to consider that but only when a certain period of time has gone by not only without reoffending but not getting in any type of trouble at all. When I say a certain amount of time, I mean years.

Re: Another question re: prison

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 01:01:05 GMT

@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:
Do you think once a felon has served their time, that their criminal record should be erased?

I'm thinking perhaps it should, with the exception of child abuse or domestic violence.

@YorkieonmyPillow

Um .... maybe.

Definitely NOT if the crime were drug or violence related. But say the person was a shoplifter or something like that .... definitely maybe.

If a person leaving prison cannot find a job anywhere, what chance do they have of being rehabilitated and living an honest life?

People should pay for their crimes, but we should NOT set them up to fail afterwards! That's just stupid, IMO.

Re: Another question re: prison

SahmIam — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 01:08:37 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:
Do you think once a felon has served their time, that their criminal record should be erased?

I'm thinking perhaps it should, with the exception of child abuse or domestic violence.
@YorkieonmyPillow

Um .... maybe.

Definitely NOT if the crime were drug or violence related. But say the person was a shoplifter or something like that .... definitely maybe.

If a person leaving prison cannot find a job anywhere, what chance do they have of being rehabilitated and living an honest life?

People should pay for their crimes, but we should NOT set them up to fail afterwards! That's just stupid, IMO.

Good points but....

What I discovered due to my friends situation (see my post if interested) is there ARE jobs available- this issue comes down to 2 things: 1) the employer simply doesn't want the person as an employee and/or 2) the person doesn't want to do "that" kind of job.

Not all felons have the same restrictions. In the case involving the roommate, because her crime involved stealing millions of dollars (she was a bookkeeper), she has proven she can not be trusted around money or anything of high value that could be sold. So she can't ring register but she can work in CS, data entry, stocking, cleaning (office not in homes because she can't be bonded), fast food (but not working a register), hospitals, nursing homes, schools, etc.... anywhere money isn't involved.

A felon convicted of a crime not involving theft/money wouldn't necessarily have the same restrictions; you really have to look at the crime and what the sentencing includes AFTER they have served their time and are now free. Being honest, I had not idea of so many things until this situation. It's been an education, let me tell ya.

Re: Another question re: prison

HappyDaze — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 01:13:40 GMT

Absolutely not.

Re: Another question re: prison

stuyvesant — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 01:49:33 GMT

I remember the Central Park Five. I remember seeing a map in the newspaper detailing all the violent crimes that happened the night that jogger was assaulted. This was the crime that put the term "Wolf Pack" into common usage.

That night, the Central Park Jogger was assaulted. And then five young men were assaulted. They are victims together. Except the five young men were assaulted by our representatives, the government. They were brutalized to the point of confessing to a crime they didn't do.

So, I think we have a stinking way of dealing with criminals. I especially think parole is a stinking process. If you did the crime, you do the time, and that is that. But we hound and harass these people for their whole life.

Re: Another question re: prison

SurferWife — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 01:57:39 GMT

Absolutely NOT!

Re: Another question re: prison

Drythe — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 04:26:52 GMT

Nope.