Reply to: prisoners to learn technology skills

[HairyArsedBloke]

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

More importantly, I think KP makes AndyW look smart.

[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.

[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.)

[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.

[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

[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.

[Churchill]

all the law in the world doesnt make a shiite of difference. If an employer gets a whif of a record they find a way not to take you on.

Yeah, I can imagine. But who would tell?

[The Lone Gunman]

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

all the law in the world doesnt make a shiite of difference. If an employer gets a whif of a record they find a way not to take you on.

[Tensai]

This was back in 97. 18 months HMP Lancaster.

Is this in any way related to the "Gunman" bit?!

[Churchill]

The courses available at my prison were all word/excel/other applications and could be done to a variety of levels. There was also an NVQ in business management.
This was back in 97. 18 months HMP Lancaster.

It makes sense in some ways and not in others. Recidivism rates drop dramaticaly if the offender can find gainful employment away from the usual crowd.
Not everyone in prison is thick so a range of courses from basic wiring to the full cisco networks engineer would be good. These qualifications would be in demand skills and would actualy give a bit of status if the offender got a job.

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

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

[The Lone Gunman]

The courses available at my prison were all word/excel/other applications and could be done to a variety of levels. There was also an NVQ in business management.
This was back in 97. 18 months HMP Lancaster.

It makes sense in some ways and not in others. Recidivism rates drop dramaticaly if the offender can find gainful employment away from the usual crowd.
Not everyone in prison is thick so a range of courses from basic wiring to the full cisco networks engineer would be good. These qualifications would be in demand skills and would actualy give a bit of status if the offender got a job.

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

[threaded]

How long before they start posting here, asking why they've been knocked back for SC?

Not a reason to fail.

[SizeZero]

I'm sure this scheme has been in place for years.

It has; a former colleague of mine left to start a vocational training course at a prison about 8 years ago (DBA, if I recall).

How long before they start posting here, asking why they've been knocked back for SC?

[DimPrawn]

I wondered who nicked my fooking code!

[threaded]

A few places I've worked I'm sure this scheme has been in place for years. .Net is crying out for more coders, and I'm sure they'll fit right in.