Felons No More?

[Rasputin_Vol]

What do you all think about this...

California Offers Path For Inmate Firefighters To Expunge Criminal Records

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law legislation which would expunge criminal convictions for inmate firefighters so they can qualify for civilian firefighting jobs after their release from prison.

"Inmates who have stood on the frontlines, battling historic fires should not be denied the right to later become a professional firefighter," Newsom, as he signed the law on Friday which allows prisoners to petition courts to expunge their convictions after receiving "valuable training and place themselves in danger assisting firefighters to defend the life and property of Californians."

The law would also allow inmate firefighters to qualify for paramedic certification, a requirement by civilian fire departments which prevents those with convictions from achieving.

"Rehabilitation without strategies to ensure the formerly incarcerated have a career is a pathway to recidivism," said Democratic Assemblywoman Eloise Reyes, who added "We must get serious about providing pathways for those that show the determination to turn their lives around."

 

[Boca Vol]

Yeah, this is going to work. Cail gonna Cali!

 

[Rifleman]

 

[volfanhill]

All for it

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

One of the comments:

 

[Vol737]

Eh, whatever. It’s Cali and I’ll never live there. Then again, maybe a few ex cons find a new path and something that gives them purpose vs their old life.

 

[KB5252]

I would imagine there would have to be multiple factors that would qualify a felon for a detail like this. That being said the current system makes it difficult for those who want to turn their lives to succeed. If this is a path I'm all for it as long as common sense is applied in qualifying the felons for those opportunities.

 

[Rickyvol77]

What do you all think about this...

California Offers Path For Inmate Firefighters To Expunge Criminal Records

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law legislation which would expunge criminal convictions for inmate firefighters so they can qualify for civilian firefighting jobs after their release from prison.

"Inmates who have stood on the frontlines, battling historic fires should not be denied the right to later become a professional firefighter," Newsom, as he signed the law on Friday which allows prisoners to petition courts to expunge their convictions after receiving "valuable training and place themselves in danger assisting firefighters to defend the life and property of Californians."

The law would also allow inmate firefighters to qualify for paramedic certification, a requirement by civilian fire departments which prevents those with convictions from achieving.

"Rehabilitation without strategies to ensure the formerly incarcerated have a career is a pathway to recidivism," said Democratic Assemblywoman Eloise Reyes, who added "We must get serious about providing pathways for those that show the determination to turn their lives around."

I know I’d love to count on burglars, thieves, drug addicts and rapists to be able to save my family members’ lives!

 

[volfanhill]

If I recall correctly the big issue on this was, as convicts they could fight the fires, then once out bc they were felons they could not.

 

[KB5252]

I'd like to add that I speak from experience. I was a felon, I say was because I left that life far behind and have been on the other side for so long the average background check only returns a ticket or two.

But for about quite a few years my prospects were limited. I worked my way up in some dead end jobs and built skills that afforded me the opportunities I have today. It can be done but you have to work hard and keep your head down.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

I know I’d love to count on burglars, thieves, drug addicts and rapists to be able to save my family members’ lives!

Interesting... I guess we are supposed to trust the cops in California?

California cop allegedly burglarized home after responding to death of elderly man

 

[Rickyvol77]

Interesting... I guess we are supposed to trust the cops in California?

California cop allegedly burglarized home after responding to death of elderly man

I’d bet you money that they lowered their hiring standards within the last 10-15 years and that guy had a previous criminal incident

Which proves my point. Don’t hire criminals

 

[NurseGoodVol]

Let em sign up, teach them what they need to know and put them through the same training program, put them on the job, give them a sense of community and hold them to the standards of a firefighter.
Those that are seriously going to turn around will. Those that find their former life better will leave or re-offend. Then I'd call them done with the program.
Check out the stats after a year. See what the recidivism is then.

 

[NEO]

Interesting... I guess we are supposed to trust the cops in California?

California cop allegedly burglarized home after responding to death of elderly man

So the cop will go to jail.

Fight some fires now.

And be back out to steal again with a clean record?

 

[KB5252]

Let em sign up, teach them what they need to know and put them through the same training program, put them on the job, give them a sense of community and hold them to the standards of a firefighter.
Those that are seriously going to turn around will. Those that find their former life better will leave or re-offend. Then I'd call them done with the program.
Check out the stats after a year. See what the recidivism is then.

I like it, for a portion of offenders if you can catch them at just the right time and give them a sense of direction and belonging outside of the circle that causes them to re-offend you could have success IMO.

 

[NurseGoodVol]

I like it, for a portion of offenders if you can catch them at just the right time and give them a sense of direction and belonging outside of the circle that causes them to re-offend you could have success IMO.

I agree. I also believe there are some felons that recidivism is their middle name.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

I know I’d love to count on burglars, thieves, drug addicts and rapists to be able to save my family members’ lives!

You call the fire department, you're worried if the criminals will be able to save your family's lives.

I call the police department, I'm worried if the criminals will be able to keep from killing my family's lives.

 

[KB5252]

I agree. I also believe there are some felons that recidivism is their middle name.

Yes, some will never do anything but offend. I think at some point those that decide they do not want to live in a lawful society should be removed from it permanently.

 

[Hunerwadel]

You are what your record says you are. Well, maybe not anymore.

 

[0nelilreb]

They might as well California has been using inmates to fight fires for decades . I believe the rate of pay is like $5 a day or that’s what I always heard .

Edit : I googled it , here’s an article ..

Prison Inmates Are Fighting California's Wildfires for About $3 a Day

 

[Rickyvol77]

You call the fire department, you're worried if the criminals will be able to save your family's lives.

I call the police department, I'm worried if the criminals will be able to keep from killing my family's lives.

I wouldn’t want felons at either place. I would never hire a criminal. Ever.

The stats show the likelihood of a police officer killing someone especially who is innocent is so low, you’re more likely to get mauled by a bear

 

[ajvol01]

You are what your record says you are. Well, maybe not anymore.

 

[NurseGoodVol]

Yes, some will never do anything but offend. I think at some point those that decide they do not want to live in a lawful society should be removed from it permanently.

I may have a different " permanently " in mind than you do KB. For example, all the commuted death sentences for Capitol murder to life. If they took a life they should forfeit their own.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

I wouldn’t want felons at either place. I would never hire a criminal. Ever.

The stats show the likelihood of a police officer killing someone especially who is innocent is so low, you’re more likely to get mauled by a bear

Would you work with another officer that was proven to have lied on a police report?

 

[Rickyvol77]

Would you work with another officer that was proven to have lied on a police report?

Define lying. Knowingly lied on an official report like traffic accident or something. He/she should be written up or worse. Officer lying to make up charges on someone? Fired and sued IMO

I’ve only personally seen one officer I’ve worked with lie on a report (a female rookie) who on her last day of FTO training forgot a phone number from a witness and made up one to put on a report so she wouldn’t get a bad grade from her training. She was fired that day when it was discovered.