anonyfelon

See my comment here to give some context. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25610810

For some context... see my only post https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18704252

I have another account on HN with lots of karma, but I'm still terrified that if I talk about my past openly, it'll be career suicide.

Here's the thing: you can "pay all your dues" to society, but if:

a. your crime is a felony

AND

b. you don't live in a state where their criminal code has a provision for felony EXPUNGEMENT (NOTE: that's not the same thing as only a pardon)

the simple fact of the matter.... you're SCREWED. It will follow you FOREVER.

There is no forgiveness, and the felony will make it very hard to get a good job unless you're lucky enough to find a company who will hire you in spite of it.

I have only had luck at companies where I knew someone who worked there already, and they vouched for me. Even then, it was VERY challenging to get past the gate that is HR.

Here's the thing, though... if (as a society) we're going to hold crimes against people forever... how do we expect them to be restored?

A good job is arguably the most important part of that work of restoring someone to society.

I'm in much the same boat. I feel like for this to seriously change, the laws have to change. That's no small feat.

As long as there are for-profit prisons, there's little/no incentive for criminal laws to change.

San Francisco has the "Fair Chance Ordinance", but you actually have to LIVE there for it to apply to you.

https://sfgov.org/olse/fair-chance-ordinance-fco

I have reached out to you via email, btw. It was back in November. I haven't spoken about that stuff publicly, hence the throwaway account. :/