[DaisyBumbleroot]

Originally Posted by RedOctopus

I know someone who has been out of jail for eighteen months. Now because he's been in and out so often, he has only worked once in his life for a few months. At 38 he has now decided he wants to give working within the law a real try. He has accommodation and gets benefits but can not get work. He's applied to agencies but they all reject him. He admitted he's not prepared to take anything and is waiting for help from the back to work programme. I'm not sure how helpful that will be for him and have tried to get him to take anything just for now just so he has some history. He won't. Perhaps he's subconsciously given up.

Does anyone else have any views/ideas? Any advice on how to help this guy out would also be appreciated.

As far as prisoners who TRY and get a job I think there should be help for them, but they shouldnt be bumped up the queue because they are at a disadvantage (as its part of the punishment for committing a crime IMO) but they should get help with advice on which companies are happy to give ex-offenders a chance etc and help wording their CVs

Your mate needs to realise there are people out there with a clean sheet who can't get any job, never mind their perfect job, so he isnt exactly going to be top of an employers priority list. He needs to realise that life will not be handed to him on a plate, he needs to go out there and work his arse off, first at getting a job and then keeping it. No doubt he will find this twice as hard as a non-offender but boohoo, thats life really.

[RedOctopus]

Originally Posted by MadMoo40

So, getting on my high horse again Are you basically saying that he's happy to survive on benefits and doesn't want to earn money if it means he has to start paying for himself? That's how I read it, I could be wrong. The more we earn, the more we pay out - that is how it works. My son is just 18 and paying out over £300 a month in tax at the moment. He's not happy that he has to work about 40 hours a month for "free" as he sees it - so I find it hard to have sympathy for anyone refusing to work because it means they have to contribute to paying their own expenses.

Yes its a big achievement not to be returning to crime, but really at some point he should be expecting to put into society a little bit more than that.

I understand what you're saying and, to be honest, he has annoyed me at times. But I do believe that he is lost in the view that he is a waste of space. He's not being given a fair go. His worry is that taking a low paid job will result in him having even less disposable cash than the very little he has at the moment.

[Kate-]

Originally Posted by DianaFire

I hope it was an actual time-travelling DeLorean.

OP, there's an environmental company called Groundwork that actively takes on ex-offenders. Might be worth your friend's while getting in touch with them.

Hi

Many thanks for that, but he just lies on his CV. I have sympathy with him as in the past he was just rejected as soon as declared. He does not even have a parking ticket or road traiffic offence to his name - one slip up and it's worse than murder is what he says. Presently he is working for a private organsation, but almost everywhere has the full CRB check - I will tell him about the org you referred to next time we meet - cheers

[DaisyBumbleroot]

Originally Posted by RedOctopus

I understand what you're saying and, to be honest, he has annoyed me at times. But I do believe that he is lost in the view that he is a waste of space. He's not being given a fair go. His worry is that taking a low paid job will result in him having even less disposable cash than the very little he has at the moment.

Does he not realise though that having a job gives him opportunity in the future to get a better paid job and that sitting on his arse feeling sorry for himself will do bugger all? Surely...? The brilliant paid salary will not come to him right away, most of us have had to work our way from the bottom, or at least graduate entry level jobs for people lucky enough to secure a job related to their degrees. So unless he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth or knows anyone (clearly not) he has to do it the same way as the rest of us.

[DianaFire]

Originally Posted by Kate-

Hi

Many thanks for that, but he just lies on his CV. I have sympathy with him as in the past he was just rejected as soon as declared. He does not even have a parking ticket or road traiffic offence to his name - one slip up and it's worse than murder is what he says. Presently he is working for a private organsation, but almost everywhere has the full CRB check - I will tell him about the org you referred to next time we meet - cheers

It was directed at the OP, but feel free to tell your imaginary distant cousin who once owned a £660k car all about it.

[RedOctopus]

Originally Posted by DaisyBumbleroot

Does he not realise though that having a job gives him opportunity in the future to get a better paid job and that sitting on his arse feeling sorry for himself will do bugger all? Surely...? The brilliant paid salary will not come to him right away, most of us have had to work our way from the bottom, or at least graduate entry level jobs for people lucky enough to secure a job related to their degrees. So unless he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth or knows anyone (clearly not) he has to do it the same way as the rest of us.

I'm pretty sure he's very aware - it must be disheartening being knocked back so much. But yes, he does need to properly face this reality.

[m4rk1]

Yes. definitely

I have a mate who's done a stint in prison, learned his lesson but to be honest he might as well go back to crime for all the obstacles in the way of getting back on track. Plenty more will do just that.

On the flip side, why should crooks get priority over honest people? The systems a mess.

[Tiger Rich]

At this rate going to prison might be a lot of people's best chance of getting a job anyway.

[Muffintop]

I think some deserve to be given a chance depending on their crime i suppose...Sex offenders appear to be given a meal ticket in some cases..

[Citadel]

Originally Posted by Muffintop

Sex offenders appear to be given a meal ticket in some cases..

How utterly ridiculous.

[Pumping Iron]

Personally I think punishments should be harsher in general, but (within reason) once the time is served, the record should be wiped clean.

[Muffintop]

Why is it ridiculous ?..i'm genuinely interested in your opinion without any nastiness please.

[Citadel]

Originally Posted by Pumping Iron

Personally I think punishments should be harsher in general, but (within reason) once the time is served, the record should be wiped clean.

I agree, a sliding scale of some sort as I believe someone else mentioned. I mean let's be honest, what better imperative is their not to reoffend than knowing your record good be admonished if you stayed on the straight and narrow.

Originally Posted by Muffintop

Why is it ridiculous ?..i'm genuinely interested in your opinion without any nastiness please.

Fair enough. Give one or two examples of sex offenders being given a meal ticket?

[Rowdy]

There was a programme on radio the other day about this agency. They sounded pretty good.

[Pumping Iron]

Originally Posted by Citadel

I agree, a sliding scale of some sort as I believe someone else mentioned. I mean let's be honest, what better imperative is their not to reoffend than knowing your record good be admonished if you stayed on the straight and narrow.

Just because you have a criminal record, does not mean you are a bad person, or that you would be a bad worker. I think many people lead a life of crime as they see themselves as unemployable due to their record, given the opportunity to go on the 'straight and narrow' many could achieve a lot with their lives.

[Citadel]

Originally Posted by Pumping Iron

Just because you have a criminal record, does not mean you are a bad person, or that you would be a bad worker. I think many people lead a life of crime as they see themselves as unemployable due to their record, given the opportunity to go on the 'straight and narrow' many could achieve a lot with their lives.

I agree wholeheartedly. I don't see why a universal and rigorous sliding scale system could not be used in order to make this work. I mean some offenders were doctors, builders etc. These are useful skills simply being discarded.

[Muffintop]

I can quite see your point Citadel..but i've had training in my work field not not think like that..I've been told by the authorities how it works that's all. you wanted an example i gave you 1 ..We all entitled to our opinions

[Citadel]

Originally Posted by Muffintop

I can quite see your point Citadel..but i've had training in my work field not not think like that..I've been told by the authorities how it works that's all. you wanted an example i gave you 1 ..We all entitled to our opinions

Of course we are, but I'm afraid yours is not backed up by evidence. So I'll ask again, give one or two examples of sex offenders being given a meal ticket when it comes to finding work?

[DaisyBumbleroot]

Originally Posted by Pumping Iron

Personally I think punishments should be harsher in general, but (within reason) once the time is served, the record should be wiped clean.

I agree for non- violent first offences. Well, it should be kept on record only to the police, in case they reoffend as no one will ever know its not a first offence.

[SuperHet]

Originally Posted by johnnybgoode83

No more so than any other unemployed person.

This.