Admin with a criminal background

I am quite impressed not only a decent answer to his querry but that you have a clearence!!! I to possesed a TSBI and the cost was approx. 64,000 dollars but if you could get one at a level lower then this then I am a bit disgruntteled becaused the goverment harrassed all my family and friends in europe without as much as a "I beg your pardon" kind of sends a shiver down my spine to think that the goverment can had them out without inpunity nowerdays. (no offence to you.)

What a load of horsepuckiee. (look up that word!}

That's How Online Discussions Are, for that reason I don't participate in many online discussions. Here you see the good the bad and the ugly. When you see how some persons reason, it makes you think doesn't it? Some people who have posted here obviously have half the brain of a half witted Goldfish. AND THEY WORK IN IT!!!! Aaahh!!!!
Stay with the company you work for, and do work on the side (with the approval of your boss if it clashes in any way with your regualar job). As you build a reputation, people will recommend you to other companies, and after a while you will reach the point where you can become a consultant.
Not only will you have your regular job, but you'll be responsible for designing and setting up lots of companies. Each company will present different challenges and you will learn a whole lot. After reading some of the posts of some of these so called IT professionals, it's scary thinking that you may have to report to or be supervised by some of these people. They wouldn't know the meaning of the words 'compassion' or 'forgiveness' unless Microsoft released them in a Service Pack (assuming they patch their systems).
I work as a consultant and I love it. It's always business, you get to manage your time better, and you avoid the stupid "SUPER VISORS" who know less than you and are insecure because of that.

Some of the most moral and upstanding people I know do not espouse any particular religion. Sometimes choosing your own morality and standing by it means more than accepting a predetermined morality. "First do no harm." Considering how many of my personal rights some upstanding Christians want to curtail, I'd say I have the upper hand on morality despite being areligious.

Warrior,

I would like you to understand that I did not say anything about your opinion of not hiring Sid. I couldn't say that I would either, it would depend on the situation and it's circumstances. What I was disagreeing with was your statement that murder was the 'ultimate sin' and unforgivable, that's all. Your response to my post was very anger filled. It really appeared to be pointed to me, you called me a fool, freak, goofball, insinuated that I had been institutionalized, talked about not hiring me (which is certainly not relevant), but if you did hire me you said,? your ass would be polishing the pavement". You also called me an 'old man' and told me to 'chill out'. I did not accuse you of anything, I simply read your response to me and pointed out the way you represented yourself in it. So it seems that your comments to me in your first response were, "unacceptable, intolerable, asinine, and totally bovine manure", as you have said. You seem to be a very intolerant person; you call me a religious freak, Jesus freak, and intolerant; when all I did was to disagree with you, so who?s intolerant. I don't care, call me what you will, I am a Christian, it is a part of everything I am. I only shared the truth, and you became enraged (or at least it seemed that way), if that is true maybe you should search yourself, because that seems intolerant. In response to your statement,? I think the angry people are contortionists like you that get bent out of shape because nothing goes their way, or no one agrees with them." I have not 'contorted' anything, or gotten 'bent out of shape'. I enjoy debating, and listening to others views. I am not angry, things always go my way, I am very blessed, and as I said before, there are nearly 100 million people who agree with me. We live in a free country so that we can have different opinions, I served in the military to honor and protect my nation, and those rights. I was more decorated than anyone on my team. I am, and will be, constantly educating myself. I have studied much in our industry, and in other areas. It appears that I know more than you did, but I will still study, I just hope you will too. I would also like to point out your 'wet behind the ears' insult (before I was an old man, and now that I tell you I am young you shoot another insult) I have been in the industry for some time, and do very well for myself. I have a great position, but there?s no need to continue with that. The whole 'ball peen hammer' story you picture, I will only say that it sounds like you to say that, I will not speculate on something I have no knowledge of, instead I choose to educate myself with all the facts and make an informed decision. God Bless.

Let us not forget, though, that when each and every application asks if you have been convicted of a felony, you can't just leave it as "none of their business" and "not advertise the fact that [you] are a convicted felon." I am a convicted felon also (for forging prescriptions), and I refuse to lie on an application when they ask me that. However, if I don't get to speak with management as I turn in that application to explain my situation right then, and rely on someone thumbing through the stack and picking apps by virtue of the information contained on that app, the likelyhood of my ever getting a phone call to come in for an interview for further consideration is almost nil. But I must add that I did have it happen at my current job. They called me in and spoke with me, asking first thing what the felony was, and then decided to give me a chance. Unfortunately, I am not working in IT at the moment. I am working while attending school for IT. I have already done some IT work, and am simply going for a degree and certification, but I can definitely empathize with the person that wrote this question, and those who've answered it that have been in these shoes. No one ever forgets what you have done. It's only hopefull that you find a job where they are willing to give you a shot at having integrity and character now. My last job was in IT, and they eventually (against the advice of a one or two people in the company) gave me full access to everything on the system. The people that opposed were worried about my having access to credit card numbers from our database of mail orders. The funny thing was, the thought of using someone else's credit card had never entered my mind. And until the day that I left that company it never did. I am not a thief. I just had a problem with pain killers, made my own script pad on the computer, and filled them out. You can find the job you're looking for, but it will be difficult. I wish you well as you attempt to rise to the occasion and make it happen for you. I know it's easier said than done, but just keep trying, and eventually you will make it happen.

Keith Phelps

Let us not forget, though, that when each and every application asks if you have been convicted of a felony, you can't "not advertise the fact that [you] are a convicted felon," as avickery stated. Regardless, I wish you well as you attempt to rise to the occasion and make it happen for you. I know it's easier said than done, but just keep trying, and eventually you will make it happen.

I haven't read the 300+ responses you've gotten, so perhaps this is already covered.

You've paid your debt to society, so while I might be a little squeamish about having you unattended around my family, I think a business environment may be a comfortablle location for interaction. People just have to get to know you. Unfortunately, though some of the posts seem to say it doesn't matter since you are dealing with computers...it does matter, because you are dealing with people. We're all in the people business.

By focussing on your certs, it seems you may not be taking the "people" side into account. Focus on people, not your certs. Here's why:

I own a successful tech support/network solutions company, and have for 8 1/2 years. I have no certifications and, in fact, have only taken one course...for MS Access(!).

Like yourself, I was self-taught, and I hire contractors to fulfill those areas that my partner and I cannot handle...which are few and far between. And I go onsite with these contractors to learn what they know.

We do SLAs for most clients, so they get to know us over the course of time. They've never asked for certifications (they do not know what they are or what they mean) and they never have asked my background...education (nine years, triple degree in Liberal Arts) or criminal (nothing felonious). They just want to know we can do a good job at a fair price.

We only work from referrals, which bolsters our reputation for the new client, opening doors we could not have opened ourselves. The trust is implied because of the relationship between the referrer and the referree.

Start your own company. You know more than you give yourself credit for, because of the systems and network you work with. You can do it part-time, on lunch hours, after work, and on weekends. People are already asking you at work and social gatherings "what do you think is wrong with my computer?", now your answer just needs to be "I can come over and look at it. I only charge X/hour, and it should only take X hour(s) to get you back up to speed."

That's how we got started.

Running your own business means you have no qualifications you have to meet, since the customer wants to know you, not what's hanging on your wall or over your head.

if you want to give an even better impression, take your first few checks you get from being your own boss and get yourself bonded and insured. CYA...take digital pictures of before and after you were ate a job site, especially if you were there after hours.

You can write your own ticket. Don't waste time on the opinions of others who can or cannot give you a job. Blaze your own trail, and keep every penny of your income, instead of doing 100% of the work and only getting 10% of the pay.

I don't know if this thing posts an eddress of mine for a reply, but I'd be glad to answer off-list if you have any questions about the entrepreneurial side of things. This TechRepublic seems more geared towards people who want a J.O.B. (at least over the last year I've been subscribed) and this is my first post because of that. Don't be afraid to step out on your own. You can do it, espacially in a ripe market like Alaska, where everything is growing and experts are a rare commodity!

Cheers!

Duckman

Sorry for your loss. Were they MURDERED or killed in some other way? Having an accident in a vehicle which takes someones life is not the same thing as MURDERING someone. MURDER implies intent. How you came up with that conclusion is beyond me.

You won't believe this, but I was a former cadet at USAFA.

I don't envy you the Attica experience. You must be one heck of a survivor to have come through that! My admiration.

Good Luck in All Things

Tom

Dear ITDupe,

You are truly a real piece of work. Apparently you think that by castigating people (you DO know a few polysyllabic words don't you) from the safety of anonymity, you are a better person.

You are not. You are exactly the type of idiot who perpetuate stereotypes, extend animosities, and otherwise cause trouble throughout the world. History is full of people like you and will doubtless continue to have losers like you in the future.

Make no mistake about it. You are part of the problem. Your warped sense of your place in the hierarchy of merit spreads hate and speaks volumes as to your own self-dislike. You haven't the slightest idea of the truth behind what you criticise and yet you presume to judge others. Your type doesn't even count and I only write this to you so that others can enjoy your discomfort.

You see, Dude, we already know you.

May you be endowed with all you deserve,

Sincerely

me

This discussion has degenerated a bit to individual agendas and I am one of the sinners.

However, I hope it has not escaped your notice that there ARE a goodly number of people who wish you well. I wish you the same from my glass house, knowing what it really means to put yourself out there-especially after being a victim of our vicious legal system.

I would say that there will always be a problem of trust in regards to an IT Administrator position. Security is the paramount thing there.

However, people will give you a try, as the numerous postings would suggest. I applaud your gutsy effort to enlist the advice and consent of our IT community. Good Luck in all things.

tom

Whether or not the question can be asked, and under what circumstances, and during what time period, is a matter of state law, and varies greatly.

Well, it is certainly the case that very few individuals have experienced the extremes that we have. And, quite frankly, given the unique perspective that I've gained, I cannot say with any degree of certainty that I would have changed any of it even if I could.

Scary? You bet. But, after having 'been to the wall,' what once may have seemed to be major obstacles, problems, or fears suddenly become greatly diminished, and therefore much more manageable.

In short, it has instilled a new sense of self confidence.

I suspect that you may have experienced a similar transition.

May the future be kind.

As we say in the Navy, "The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little bit longer."

Glad to see you're catching on.

What's for supper?

Even an un-schooled gentleman speaks with greater civility.

As we say in the Navy, "An officer by act of Congress; a gentlemen by the grace of God."

There was a man who was convicted of a serious felony by way of the federal government. This man went on to create and build what became one of the most revered companies of all time. Today this company is still recognized as the world leader in what they do. Anyone of us would love to have a chunk of their stock. This man proved that a felony conviction ain't all bad. That man was Thomas Watson. The company IBM. That's right International Business Machines founder Thomas J. Watson was a convicted felon before founding the company which became the IBM of today. He seemed to do alright so you fight the fight sidvail.

I myself have had a brush with the law about 12 years ago. I moved to California and got hooked on drugs pretty bad (crack cocaine. That in itself was stupid. I was extremely out of my mind and I robbed a fastfood restaurant. I was caught and prosectued. I spent 3 years in a correctional facility and had my rights stripped of me I could not even vote. When I got off of parole, I still felt like everyone and I mean everyone would still always see me as a criminal. I have spent unfortunately I do not have the option for an expungement because I was of legal age at the time so you are actually lucky to have gotten that. I deal with the pain of having done something that may have permanently traumatized any of the people I hurt during my addiction and the crime I committed. I have nothing but remorse for those and sometimes I feel like I am scum. Over the past 4 years I have gone to college and recieved my A.A. in computer networking and am in the process of completeing my B.S. Information Systems Security and I am a Highest Honors student and have a good shot at Valedictorian of my class and I maintain a job at my school so pardon me if my spelling is off I am extremely tired. I often wonder if it will be possible for me due to my record to actually get a job that will meet my needs and help me to provide a better life for myself and help me to support a family and continue to be an asset to the community I live and the world. I know what you are going through I want my cert's as well, and I know not a day goes by when you think of the steps that led up to your unfortunate incident. In truth we all have made our mistakes and to tell you the truth I believe you are very sorry and shouldn't have to pay for it forever. I have one comment to make: "How can we break this chain for whatever reason crime exists, if I can do the same job as someone else, shouldn't I get the chance to!" I don't understand how America can sit by and see someone or a whole family suffer because a parent or an indvidual can not work becuase of a past criminal background. This in itself is a crime. I hope CEO's will read this it is so important how can we deny someone based on their past? I really do feel that this is prejudice and I feel that applications themselves shouldn't even have the question of past criminal history on them. That is what I would bet would get your application canned real fast. Ex-felons have a right to eat, sleep, work, love, raise a famliy, contribute to communities and to move on to a better life too. Let's all think a little bit more about what we can do to make things better not worse, Please.

Head deep in the sand,

Obviously you have missed your calling. I think being a politician would have suited you to a tee.

You think it could have been racing those little bubbles to the surface that did it? Nitrogen does strange things to ones inner cranium, irrevocably dislodging a few brain cells.

Putting everything back in its proper perspective I think you should read response "North is up". Basically I think you are a decent person, just a little wacky.

When was the last time you chased those minuscule, hemispherical, mesmerizing, almost translucent bubbles to the water's surface?

Oh, by the way we are having navy beans as our main staple tonight.

Nothing beats a big bowl of thick Navy beans & ham soup, preferably with oyster crackers.

I'll bring the brew. Your preference?

As I noted in another post, some states have addressed this issue by statutarily stipulating the circumstances under which information re. criminal history can be requested, the time period which may be reviewed, the scope of offenses which may be reviewed, etc..

While this will of course in no way affect individual personal prejudices, it is a small step toward ensuring that such prejudices canot be excercised.

Way to go DC. I feel exactly the same as you do. I would ask a lot of questions and more that likely request permission to review the case, but since he has held a job for four years, that would definately carry a lot of wait.

I would probally put him on probation for 180 days, letting him know the circumstances of the probation and once that was over, that would be it, over. The job would be his with advancement as he qualified. There would be one restriction to his employment though, he would not be allowed to tell anyone in the company about his past. Absolutely no one, regardless of who ask.

I do believe in giving a person a second chance. I am one that was given that chance. I am now second in command in the company that I work for. I have full trust of the owner, not the boss, but the owner. I can ask for anything and if it is in reason, it is no problem. Actually, I got a quite suprise earlier this year. A nice bonus, a new company car and a company credit card. It took ten years and now the owner is helping me expunge my record. It will be expensive, but I was told not to worry about it.

So keep on plodding, if I can do it, so can you.

Enough Said

Never say never, but I'm afraid you are in for a long hard road. Forget what the well wishers are saying about fresh starts and crap because it doesn't work that way. A lot will depend on the kind of homicide, a vehicular one while DUI isn't as bad as stabbing some sob that probably needed it, but keep in mind that you've shown that you can make some really bad decisions and you will resort to violence so most employers will fear you, (not good.) You'll have to start slow, work your ass off and prove you are good enough that that your assets outweigh the risks. That being the case, you'll get hired on. All that being said I know some IT kids that can't stay out of the can a year but they are very good IT Pro's and are snapped up by good jobs before they even hit the streets. Good luck to you.

Again, one must make the over-arching legal distinctions.

Murder is a legal definition which incorporates several and various aggrevating circumstances.

Lets go back to Logic 101:
1) All Murders are Homicides;
2) NOT all Homicides are Murder;
3) SOME Homicides are Murder.

Head deep in the sand, (Reference to your response: "Thanks for the compliment".

I know you mean well, but sometimes you have the tendency to vacillate from fabrication of ones own ideas to the main issue at hand. It is well worth it for you to read an educational tidbit that I have written especially for you.

Know your reader-Are you writing for engineers, managers, technicians? Make the technical dept of your writing compatible with the background of your reader for which you have a tendency to vacillate.

Write in a clear, conversational style-Naturally, a technical paper on sizing pumps shouldn?t have the same chatty tone as a personal letter. But most technical professionals, which you do seem to be, lean too much in the other direction, and their sharp thinking is obscured by windy, overly-formal prose.

The key to success in technical writing is to keep it simple. Write to express-not to impress. Your writing does not impress me a bit, chill out Deep. Shimmy down the totem pole a few notches. A relaxed, conversational style can add vigor and clarity to your prose.

Be concise- Technical professionals, especially those in our industry are busy people. Make your writing less time-consuming for others to read by telling the story in the fewest possible words. You have the tendency to over state your point thus interjecting a rancid taste in ones mouth. Chill out guy.

Deep, you can make your writing more concise, One way is to avoid redundancies-a needless form of wordiness in which a modifier repeats an idea already contained within the word being modified.

Deep, I am sorry if I am stoking your intelligence, but there are some of us out there that do not want to impress readers with useless rhetorical bovine manure.

Oh, by the way Deep, last night?s navy beans and ham hock was so scrumptious I had two helpings, Opps; I think I ate your share.

Sidvail, first off I have to congratulate you for being so honest, as well as ambitious. Unfortunately, you're dealing with an issue around which a lot of people have prejudices - once bitten, as they say, and you must admit that repeat offenders ARE a lot more common than people like you who break the cycle. I think the last set of stats I heard was that 80% of crime is committed by 20% of people, or thereabouts. There are also a lot of people out there that have been victimised by criminals, and so are hesitant to trust where trust hasn't been earned. You've got to see both sides of the story.
Fortunately, the issue you're facing prejudice about isn't nearly as visible as, say, race or sexual preference. People face issues like that in employment all the time, legislation be damned. But they also overcome these obstacles all the time, too. The stigma with criminality is, admittedly, seen as much more serious, as well as much more a matter of choice, and where people feel the same way about homosexuals, (it's personal choice) they are as violently opposed to living and working with them.

The point I'm trying to make here is that yes, you have a disadvantage, and I've no doubt that the road will be harder and steeper for you than it would be for most others, but if you broaden your scope, you can see that you're not alone. Anti-discrimination has made big inroads into 'the system' pushing certain groups out of consideration, and where you are is on the same rocky path - fighting discrimination and fighting 'the system', trying to keep it from pushing you down and out.

I seriously, seriously wish you all the best with it, and hope you find all the support you need. Most of all, I hope you DON'T GIVE UP! Fight the good fight, and win. I look forward to hearing back from you down the track with your success story.

Crystal

re:
They are not steeped in poverty, although they don't waste money like many corporations.
----- ----- ----- ----- -----

That's not my experience. While there's a lot of big, corporate-style churches around - the VAST majority here in North Texas (the buckle of the bible-belt) have only about a hundred members and rarely more than a PC or two.

re:
You probably meant well, but I found your comment un-informed and condecending.
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
I often find people get offended when I discuss the "business" of religion. Get over it.

Churches are, unquestionably, a fine possible source for employment for ex-cons with tech skills in older technologies.

I have lost a job through not even having a criminal record, just a police caution for computer misuse (which had no relevance or impact on the job I was doing).

This kind of snowballs - other employers are reluctant to hire someone who can't give a satisfactory reason for leaving their previous company, and if they do, and subsequently find out, you lose that job as well.

It's a pity people can't simply be judged by how honest and reliable and competent they are in *that* job. In fact, the skills that led to the police caution have subsequently proved useful in these other jobs, but naturally, employers don't see it like that, they just see a security risk.

I feel I'm judged on my past, and not allowed to put it behind me and start afresh. The whole idea of a caution is that it isn't an official record - unfortunately some organisations have the right to search these records too.

Sid you have hit a nerve with this topic of discussion. Many people have responded to this debate. I am thankful that you brought this topic to light. One thing I can say is this that we as human beings have to learn to judge things in an unbiased manner. I haven't been to many discussion forums but what I have seen is a great turn out on this subject. This is a good thing if and as I have stated in my earlier repy which was not intended for a single individual but for all. I feel so strongly on this issue and seeing it from both sides my text was a bit garbled in my prior reply. Please look for my previous entry. You are not alone. America was founded in what the British could say "a collection of misfits, criminals and deviants." Austrailia also was a drop of point for criminals and look at both countries alive and well and surving don't give up hope someone out there will give you a chance but be prepared you may be scrutinized more so than the other guy. This is a prime time for you to shine.

There is nothing or no-one that can guarantee you employment or that you will have the opportunity to advance. My recommendation would be to continue to prove yourself as reliable and rehabilitated. Word of mouth carries more weight than anything. If you choose to pursue more certifications, they can't hurt you. For the most part they should demonstrate to a potential employer that you have requisite knowledge and experience to perform the task associated with your certification. Microsoft has a requirement for experience in earning their certifications, but they have no mechanism for ensuring that you have the experience-for whatever it's worth. As for the homicide--Don King (the famed boxing promoter) committed homicide many years ago and look at where he is now. My point to this is don't dwell on the past. You can only work to make your future better.

You might be best starting either your own consulting company or working for a small private one to at least establish yourself so you can start one. You have the experience and it seems that only the big Exxon companies who will care about your background are looking for the certifications. Even so they still won't take anyone without practical experience. There are some good sites to pick up extra I.T. knowledge free such as HP.com. Anything now-a-days seems to be experience, experience, experience.

As I was reading his post I initially thought the same thing. However, he has already stated that he was incarcerated for 19 years. You can't hide that many years of being out of the work force on your resume.

...and in my opinion that fact that you don't try to hide your past goes a long way. I'm sure we've all made bad decisions in our past, some get caught and some don't. I don't know if it's fair to stigmatize those that have convicted, but it is of their own doing. The key is not repeating the same behavior that got them their to begin with. Someone else mentioned that there are many opportunities out there. Some may not be very glamorous, but none of us start off at the top even when we haven't been convicted of anything.

Guys - MOST companies of any size do extensive background checks on prospective employees. A murder rap will be easy to find, obviously, but that's not the point... the point is that corporations are being increasingly careful about who they employ. They want to avoid any potential lawsuit, and with workplace violence being what it is today, I would say that hiring a convicted murderer would be extremely unlikely - no way my company would do it & we have 60,000+ employess worldwide.

I had a guy on my team in the last couple of years who had problems with anxiety and depression - you wouldn't believe the scrutiny I've had to keep him under, to make sure he doesn't do anything that might bother the rest of the team...

There are plenty of applicants for just about every job, so competition is stiff. My advice to this guy would be to be glad for the job you have, and stick where you are. If you have good troubleshooting skills, then you could start to branch out by going out on your own gradually.

sounds to me that the value of a mans charcter shall now be judged by the educational system that raised him. malarky!!!!!! having been educated in several countries over my lifetime I have discovered that people who have little to say depend on vocabulary to hinder or debilitate other into thinking that they are really less then they are! If you have a thing to say use clear and concise terms, I would rather dazzel them with briliance then baffel them with B.S.

I think it's truly sad that every thread that I follow erodes to this point. I'm assuming that we're all adults here, but in every single thread you would think you were trying to interact with 3rd graders. All of you people on your moral high horse need to consider that we don't live in a zero defect socity. We've all done wrong at some point in our lives including you and me. I don't condone what this guy did and his victims family have to live with this eternally, but the guy seems like he genuinely wants to get his life on the right track and amend (as much as possible) for his past wrong.

If the family of the victim are the only ones to decide, why are you offering your views. You don't speak for all of society. Oh and P.S., I'm no "liberal wienie" nor do I condone what he did. However, if in the eyes of the law he has paid his debt to society, then he should be given the opportunity to repent.

It's amazing how childish adults can be. Your views were valid (whether I agreed or not) until you ended with "blow me." I remember in high school we used to talk like that, but as adults...???

Robotech, you've given the technical legal definitions. I don't think that's what the debate is about.

You need to read ALL of the related prior posts, not just those within a particular sub-string, so as to place a specific one in the proper context.

I do recognize that such is here made somewhat difficult, owing to the maximum allowable depth within any given sub-thread.

'Warrior' has, whether by design or not I cannot say, scattered his posts widely, with the result that responses to such are equally scattered.

The speaker that you here praise, i.e. 'warrior,' has a history of emotionally charged outbursts, coupled with a complete absence of any facts to support his conclusions.

As previously stated, FACTS MATTER; opinions, only to the extent that they are based on facts.

As for one's 'language,' the world does judge one by one's civility, or the lack thereof.

Don's post is yet one more example of a conclusion based on facts not in evidence.

Considering the importance of logic in our profession, I am astonished to find that so many of our brethren cannot here construct anything remotely resembling a cogent argument!

with that on your record you should have users that listen to you... that is something most sys-admins don't get :)

Depending on how you choose to go, I tried the mcse path, but saw all the paper mcse's that could not even install winnt. I stopped wasting my money, and got a handful of clients and let the word of mouth do it's thing... now I can't even take a vacation... ho hum...

First of all - it is a yes or no answer. In order to come to that yes or no, however, it is the smart, responsible, and generally good thing to ask about the circumstances pertaining to the crime. As to the rights issue, when one is convicted of a major felony (e.g. Homicide, Murder (There is a difference by definition), Rape, Imbezzlement, Fraud, etc.), that person gives up the right to, say, own a gun or to vote, or to have that part of their life kept secret. Honest answers about this topic would go a long way to establishing whether or not you were capable of being an employee.

As far as the "maybe you don't think like a homie anymore" comment, I believe that it was meant as a figure of speech (i.e. "it's raining cats and dogs"). Literary elements aside, that statement does go a long way in summing up what this much of discussion is about: determining whether or not an ex-convict can or cannot pursue a career in IT. If one has TRULY rehabilitated (i.e. not thinking like a "homie") and learned one or more valuable lessons from their experiences, then I personally would have no problem hiring this person.

The right of a convicted felon to vote vary greatly, from losing said right forever to being allowed to vote even while imprisoned!

The right to bear arms can be regained though petition to the Federal courts.

As for your right to inquire as to an applicant's criminal background, this too is regulated on a state-by-state basis. Generally, such regulations provide that:
1) You may not, in any manner whatsoever, inquire about certain crimes; and,
2)For those which you are allowed to inquire about, such right to inquire expires after a specified period of time has elapsed.

Most small to medium sized businesses are unaware that the criminal records of applicants are not open to de facto scrutiny.

Because i note that was a very important crime, homicide ?. And this person the only concern that he is worried it's about his IT future in Networking. come on !.
We need to have more persons with more conscience.

Name calling certainly make your argument more pursuasive.

How you would react to this guy is nice, but we do have laws that govern what you can and cannot ask an applicant during a job interview.

Your statement presumes that everyone believes in God. And, the fact that someone doesn't believe in God doesn't make them a bad person either. In reality you most likely won't know about an individuals moral standing until after you've hired them.

When one has to resort to personal attacks and name calling to make their point, it's usually because they don't can't support their position with facts, strong opinion, or intellect.

Has anyone besides me noticed that the only way liberals can make a point is to include some type of personal attack. You see it in these threads, you see it in the media, you see it in your daily interactions with them. Hmmm...

...and this person felt so strongly about their attacks that he posted it twice.

This may be the wrong forum for this question. I think that smaller companies without a HR department may be more likely to recruit somebody with a criminal background. If the question were left to an IT manager then I think that experience / qualifications would be the prime concern. But sending the same CV to an HR department woould probably not result in an interview.

It can be done, but you are going to have to prove that you want to be a productive person. Go for the Certs.. they show what you really want to do. You cannot be idle and hope something comes to you. It is going to be a tougher road for you, but if you show people what you can do, they will try you out. You must also be totally honest with prospective employers up front, if they find you omitted something or covered something up they will think you are hiding things from them and they would rather not hire you. The public stigma of "felons" is a rather unpleasant one.. so you have to prove you are different in order to get past that.

No matter your background...Keep it to yourself unless asked! You seem to be positive and moving in the right direction .. Stay focused and always in the books. Get your DBA and start a company.. Time waits on no one..Stay positive..Benitowestside

P.E.A.C.E.

Positive
Energy
Always
Creates
constant
Elevation

Wow! It amazes me how shallow we as social beings can be. You think his social skills have been eroded and therefore it must be true...right? Nothing more than that's what you think helped you form this opinion. I would be more concerned about working for someone who displays such lack of awareness of humanity.

That others may take offense at one's remarks is not the same as being offensive.

That you may take offense at his observations does not confer on you the right to ask, let alone demand, that he desist from stating such.

As authority for making this statement I refer you to Amendment No. 1 of the U.S. Constitution.

And, as for "growing up," your implication that the one to whom you are replying is "juvenile" is a conclusion based on facts not in evidence.

The difference between intelligence and stupidity is that stupidity knows no limitations.

I am an MCP and got cuaght up in an unfortunate incident that left me with a criminal background. I don't know about anywhere else but here in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, it has been an issue. I've changed a lot since then, doesn't matter though.

Keep your head up, keep learning and get all the experience you can. I'm glad you work for a company where it is not an issue ! Kudos to you for not giving up !

That you think I can control others emotions is quite a compliment, however undeserved. My words may be the catalyist, but their own soul is the cause.

I think, when Christianity mixes up with Capitalism, the particpants suffer from an internal conflict. Greed and gluttony, cornerstones of Capitalism, are mortal sins. Lying and not paying your taxes are against Christian ethics, too.

Yet capitalism, as it's practiced in the US, refers to lying as "puffery" and uses it in marketing all the time.

Capitlaists also find themselves in a position of decieving their associates, and their associates expect it, in matters such as true cost, and profit margins.

Most notably, Capitalism (as it's practiced in the US) allows you to kill people who try to take your capital - a very non-Christian value.

I think that's why so many truley devoted Christians choose to take a vow of poverty... and why so many Muslims refer to the US as the "Great Satan".

I did 5 years when I was much younger. It's 32 years since I got out. Life might have been easier if I had no record, but if I worried about it I would have gotten no where. Forget looking for excuses, no God or any one other then yourself, will make any difference, you are the only one that is capable of getting what you want, and will only get it by going for it.

When Clinton lied, Congress was forced to spend months investigating how he perjured himself. It wasn't EVER about what he did w/Monica that was the problem(!) It was that he committed a felony by lying under OATH about it. Being an attorney, he should have known better, but he was arrogant. Upon learning that Mr. Clinton PERJURED himself, he was DISBARRED for 5 years (this is like DEATH to an attorney). Congress had to take valuable time from its agenda to spend discussing the gravity of Mr. Clinton's offense--time that was supposed to be spent discussing NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS and ways to better protect the US from outside terrorists!!!!! It is a tiny bit of a stretch, but if you look at it this way--that b/c he committed perjury, he had to be investigated and people spent time and money that was intended to have been spent devising ways to protect us. So, it set Congress and the US back BIG TIME. Congress couldn't enact laws or establish plans to prevent terrorism and the FBI's resources were diverted to the investigation of perjury, (among quite a few other criminal activities the Clintons were involved in).

So, if Clinton told the truth, no hearings would have been needed and Congress would have been able to discuss IMPORTANT topics like how to defend the US against global threats of terror. BECAUSE CLINTON LIED, [EVENTUALLY] PEOPLE DIED.

p.s. I actually refuse to deal w/anyone who still insists Clinton was brought down b/c of sex, as well as anyone who insists Bush stole the election--b/c beliefs like that = blatant stupidity and total naivete about politics and society. I am well-read on politics, law and gov't, so my opinion is certainly a well-informed one. I just thought it was important to dispute what your quote was b/c I'm sure you're not the only person so terribly misguided and misinformed by the liberal media and half-truths. I'm guessing you're not exactly a politics major, so I can cut you some slack, but it's important to me to speak up when I hear people make comments like yours. I do happen to support our President, but no matter how you look at it, the ramifications of Clinton's perjury were far-reaching and they continued for several years, as it took Congress a long time to get back to where they were headed before he committed a felony. If Clinton had any honor or integrity, he wouldn't have committed a felony that wasted untold millions of dollars and he cost Americans by having their legislators distracted from their primary goal--keeping us safe. Also, b/c Clinton was such a flaming liberal, he and his lawyers objected to practically anything the FBI or CIA proposed about new measures of investigating threats. Ever heard of the ACLU? American Civil Liberties Union? A bunch of people who are concerned more with the rights of child molestors than the rights of th molestors' victims. So, Clinton and his liberal supporters at the ACLU objected to the FBI and CIA's requests to beef up counter-terrorism measures by conducting surveillance on known terrorists already within the US. They were concerned that Mohammad Atta and his gang of homicidal maniacs' rights would be violated if they were tracked while within our borders. CLinton was more concerned that these people's rights were protected than about what danger they could cause. So, in my opinion, by his actions and what they set in motion, Clinton and his administration have the blood of the 3,000 people who were murdered on 9/11/01 all over their hands.

I'm curious how being a classmate of Col. Oliver North at the Academy makes you qualified to say that G.W. is unfit for command? His actions certainly have no bearing on your credentials. Using his name doesn't make you any more credible. Your opinion is your opinion, and no one can argue with you over that, however, prefacing your opinion knowledge of Olie North doesn't make you any more qualified.

I agree with your point about congress. I think they wasted millions of tax payer dollars going after Slick Willie.

There are a lot of details missing. The details are irrelevant. His original post had to do with getting employment having a criminal record. Over time the focus has shifted to the crime he commited as opposed to employment opportunities.

You know your position is weak when the only response you can come up with is to single out what clearly is a typo, and then resort to name calling. How grown up is that?

I am 31 years old and made one mistake (White collar) which now has affected my entire life. I have 16 years of Cooperate America and now I?m being judged for my mistake and can't find anyone who's willing to help me or hire me! What should I do? I can't believe that at this point of my life I can't find a way to move forward from my mistake... where can I get help for emplacement?

Helpless in NJ

I have a couple of questions. First, My husband is currently incarcerated in Fremont County in Canyon City Colorado. He goes up for parole in January and I am trying to help him out by finding information on some options he has. Do you actually do any hiring? If so, for what positions, etc. If not, would you happen to have any information or contacts that would be able to help me get some information. We are located in Denver Colorado. I look forward to your response, and Thank you for your time.

Delores Jackson

So, nobody died when Clinton lied?

Did you have your head buried up your rectum when he conducted his high-altitude bombing campaign against Yugoslavia? The one that killed 3,000 civilians who had no ax to grind with the U.S.??? We later discovered that the "mass graves" in Kosovo were a lie, and that the true "butcher of the Balkans" was actually Slick Willie himself.

No one died when Clinton Lied?
Tell that to Vince Foster.
Tell that to Ron Brown.
Tell that to over 50 former Arkansas friends and acquaintances of Clinton's who died "mysteriously" after either (1) knowing too much, and/or (2) wavering too much in their loyalty to the corrupt Clinton regime.

No one died?
If you have courage enough, look at www.twa800.com
Look at how Slick Willie deliberately concealed the fact that al Qaeda shot down TWA 800 with shoulder fired missiles.

And unfortunately, according to Yossef Bodansky, the Clinton cover-up of TWA 800 is one major reason why we begot 9/11.

Son, until you've got all of the facts, don't pretend to have an opinion worth spouting off about. Clinton was the most evil man to hold elected office in the U.S. His sale of advanced U.S. military technology to China will soon cost American lives in ways we can't yet calculate.

I'm a Libertarian, not a Bush-backer, but your view of current events is indicative of having your head buried up your ass.

In this world u have good guys and bad guys. Don't make u r self depressed if any bad guys deny u, make u r self strong and then a day will come when companies will be ready to employ u at what ever cost possible. But for that to get possible u should work hard and forget your bad past days and live a new life will full entusiasim amd zeal. All the Best for you.

Great background, I think there will be companies to hire you, but those big ones would it be hard

EOM

IMHO, unless we are talking a minor crime like stealing $20, or traffic violations, upaid parking tickets, etc. Maybe even fraud if on a low level and not involving huge dollar amounts or ruining people's lives (ie. you are busted for creating fraudulant (sp?) ID's and selling them to teenagers to get into 21 and older clubs).

But any serious or major crime...assault, rape, murder, molestation, bank robbery, etc....serve in a thousand wars, serve with honor and win all kinds of awards...you are still just a punk criminal in my mind who has no honor, diserves no respect.

I say if you stole a car without violence (wasn't at gun point), you physically harmed no one AND then you did your time plus went through all you have to get a decent "working record" again AND you served your country..that you are "fine and I say good luck and I hope you are doing well".

However if you car jack the car with a gun, you physically hurt people in the process.

Cry me a river...serve your country, etc.

Doesn't matter.

re:
I was refering to a combat veteran as someone who as served his country after conviction of a crime. Not someone who served their country first, and then committed a heinous crime.
----- ----- ----- ----- -----

Aha - the devil is in the details. However, from what I understand - you can't get into the military with a serious criminal record. Something about not being moral enough to kill people?

Your original post (so you know what I'm replying to -- max thread was reached)

Before you speak, get the facts.
Like most, your definition is based on contemporary ethics, as defined by, for example, law and/or modern translations of the Bible.

If you want to know what the Ten Commandments REALLY state, you must:

1) Go to the oldest known written recordings of such;
2) Read such in the original language and/or translate using the then current meanings & idioms of said language as it was then used; and,
3) Interpret them in the then current sociological context.

You cannot simply start and end with current translations.

When in doubt, consult the experts; in this case, Biblical & Historical scholars.

I stand by my prior post; it is historically accurate.

***

Sorry I just saw your reply today, I was not being ignorant.

Your reply is well received, but my point is -- in this case...history DOES NOT MATTER.

Today as its applied in reality...the church, society and individuals take the adultry commandment as not "sleeping around when married".

period.

Have you considered writing your life experiences into a book? I've noticed several folks have posted stating that you are not alone in having served time. Perhaps you could all write down your experiences as an ex-con in the IT field and title the work, "IT: The Ex-Con Way."
Who knows, you might have a best seller on your hands. If ya do, please just include me in the title page acknowledgements. I won't even ask for a cut of the royalties!

And I have hired ex-con's before. It all depends on the circumstances surrounding their conviction, their record in prison and the records since being released.

One idea that did strike me was you starting a training course in computers for convicts and ex-cons. I am sure that the penal system is always eager for volunteers looking to help out.

Best of luck in your career!

Hi, i'm 19yrs. old and currently facing 6 felony charges in NH. I have no clue what to expect when everything is all said and done with. I have been thinking about going into the Navy or forensic science (not sure yet). But now i'm not sure weither or not i will be able to these things and if i'll ever be able to clear my record. If someone knows what i can expect and if i will able to do these things i would gratly appreciate it.
Thank you,
Jessica

P.S
Sorry i'm asking this in a reply I'm not sure how to post something on my own.