prisoners to learn technology skills

[Tensai]

The "rehabilitation of offenders act" not withstanding of course...

I worked as a bank clerk back in my late teens, at a branch right next to the local NACRO office and once a week the ex-cons would come piling in with their allowance cheques. Scared the tulip out of me at first (I was only 17), but they were an OK bunch after a bit of banter, just trying to stay out of trouble for the most part. Very illuminating.

[HairyArsedBloke]

... it is very difficult (if not impossible) to get a serious job with a criminal record.

Lie like everyone else. Worked for me.

A spell in chokey made me into the man I am today

[KentPhilip]

Some positions in IT have a fair bit of responsibility. If one of these ex-cons are employed in SysAdmin I could well see they might trash a major database and nick the backup tapes for a laugh, losing the client millions. They might even try to blackmail the client for a few 100 £k's for their return.

Criminals are scumbags, and should be kept out of positions of power.

[RichardCranium]

As a taxpayer with no criminal record, as a bolshie opinionated git, as an intolerant ratbag, can I just say:

if someone in the nick wants to knuckle down and do some qualifications in the hope of getting a job when outside, I am perfectly appy to have my tax money pay for that training.

(If you are going to write off anyone sent to prison then the only fair and sensible thing to do is the death penalty instead. I do NOT want my tax money wasted on keeping ex-prisoner in idle leisure for the rest of their lives, especially if they show an interest in becoming a tax payer.)

[JamieMoles]

Criminals are scumbags, and should be kept out of positions of power.

Not ALL criminal are scumbags, you should stop reading the red-tops.

[HairyArsedBloke]

I'm a criminal, I'm a scumbag and I read the red tops.

More importantly, I think KP makes AndyW look smart.