[Gaidi Sugu]

Check out this scenario:

A 25 year old bother committed some felonies way back when he was still young and dumb, and mixed up in the wrong crowd. He probably served 3 months in county jail and came out a reformed man, determined never to fall back to those dark times. He went to college and graduated with a bachelors degree.

After college he tries to get a job but keeps getting turned down coz of his criminal record. When u apply for a job, you have to tell them if you have been arrested for a felony in the past, so ain't no way to avoid it.

He gets frustrated and decides to lie on the application. He manages to get a job but gets fired once they find out. So now he's reduced to working as an airport security guard. But he gets fired after the 9-11 tragedy coz the govt doesnt want anyone working airport security with a criminal record.

Out of frustration and brokeness, he robs a mickey D, and now he's being chased down the freeway by cops on "America's wildest police videos." He could probably get a lighter sentence if he didn't run, but he figures what the hell?! I can't make it outside anyway! I can't get a job, I'm broke, I have no right to vote, my life it's over.

What I'm saying is, the American legal system keeps records of all criminal activities. No one is given a second chance to prove they have changed. You are judge based on stuff you probably did 15 years ago, stuff that does not represent who you truly are now. Every time you get pulled over, the cops run your ID thru the computer and comes up with your record. He uses this prior record to decide whethe to give you a verbal warning or a speeding ticket, or arrest you on warrants.

Thousands, if not millions of African Americans have been deprived of their right to vote due to their criminal record. Is this just coincidence or a calculated plan to dienfranchise African Americans?

What do u think?

[wordapeople]

Obviously a plan to disenfranchise them by going to jail one is definately paying back their dues to society meaning that after serving time they can start over.
It is pointless to hold this against a man/woman for the rest of their lives unless offcourse you are determined to suppress them .
Which is really what the whole justice system is about where the African-American society is concerned.
So, where is the morale to do better if you don't even get a chance to prove yourself?

[Tomsta]

Unfortunately, the majority in the west have designed a system that still gives them and their children the upper hand when it comes to governing.

In the UK for example, a significant propotion of crime committed is carried out by young blacks. Simply because they feel the system is not inclusive of their needs. While crime on the other hand, presents itself as more compassionate and understanding. whose consiquences are more devastating to the community in the long term.

In my opinion, the system is the problem yet the individual has to take the blame. Your left to wonder when will the tables turn?

[Wakili]

In England and Wales we have 'spent convictions' as provided by The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Offenders who are sentenced to 30 months imprisonment or less for an offence can have their convictions regarded as 'spent' once the necessary period of rehabilitation has expired.

That period runs from the date of conviction and varies in length depending upon the sentence imposed. E.g. 10 yr rehab period for a prison sentence exceeding six months but not exceeding 30 months. Commission of a further offence during the rehab period for an earlier offence means that neither conviction becomes spent until the rehab date for the later one.

The main function of the 1974 Act is to protect a person who has spent convictions from having to reveal his record in civil proceedings and when applying for a job.

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I am too blessed to be stressed

[Wakili]

Gaidi,

I am not sure about US Law but you mentioned when applying for a job one has to declare whether or not they have been arrested for a felony.

My understanding is that being arrested is not an indication of guilt nor is it equivalent to a conviction. Surely an employer's decision to hire or not based on an arrest and not conviction goes against the notion that one is innocent until proven guilty.

Could clarify this point for me, did you mean conviction when you typed arrest?

Thanks


Excuse the typos
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I am too blessed to be stressed

[roma]

Wakili,
To answer your question about the states, it inquires about a conviction.

[Mkosa_Kabila]

>>>Thousands, if not millions of African Americans have been deprived of their right to vote due to their criminal record. Is this just coincidence or a calculated plan to dienfranchise African Americans<<<<

No coincidence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This usually gets me very angry because I have talked to about 3 people that were wrongly convicted and now can't vote!

Mkosa kabila ni mtumwa :'(

[sly]

yeah well we are africans and not african americans so why are you all concerned about issues that affect african americans?? deal with the issues that affect us-Africans in this foreign land!!!

[meja]

>My understanding is that being arrested
>is not an indication of guilt nor is it
>equivalent to a conviction.

The fact that the young man was jailed implies that he was convicted of the crime/s.

~~Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he isn't, and a sense of humor to console him for what he is.~~

[Pimpala]

Sly dont be silly...
At some point after naturalization (if), YOU will be categorized as AFRICAN-AMERICAN. And Gaidi's query wasn't challenging our patriotism. Dumbass!