Govt should be role model as employer for ex-convicts

dragg SG

extracted from strait times forum.

I refer to the letter 'A victim of his past after turning over a new leaf' (ST Oct 24) by Miss Powell Poo Jian Wei.

It is extremely important that the government takes the first step to give past offenders like Miss Poo's relative a second chance.

After all, we citizens look up to the government as a role model. By rejecting the applicants because of a mistake that they committed many years ago, I wonder what message is being sent to the people.

The Yellow Ribbon Project has raised much awareness amongst the general public. However it is still unclear if more employers are willing to hire those with a criminal record.

If the organisers themselves are not carrying out what they promote, then the campaign will continue to have minimal impact.

Tan Hui Ling Yvonne (Miss)

dragg SG

isnt it ironic that singaporeans always have to remind the govt that they should take the lead in doing something instead of paying lip service.

Wanda SG

It's a shame....and all that publicity and money spent on the Yellow Ribbon Project. If nobody employs this grp of ppl, how are they going to live? In the end may add to more social problems. Sad

dragg SG

recently i read an article in the straits times.

someone wrote to ask the education ministry about an issue concerning ex-convicts.

the person concerned applied for the position of relief teacher but was rejected. he has a criminal record.

i think it is only right that employers consider the nature of the crime instead of rejecting outright.

Wanda SG

There were other cases reported in the papers after ppl wrote in. One involved the opening of a public institution in which LKY was the guest of honour. The contractor in charge of security personnel has a staff who had turned over a new leaf for a rather long time already and has performed well in his job. But he could not get past the authority's checks. The public (govt) institution asked the contractor not to let that particular staff on their campus ever again.

So, what second chance is there to speak of? Evil or Very Mad
NATO NATO...

nomood SG

That is like, so screwed. *sigh*

dragg SG

a lot of campaigns and whatnot are only for show sake.

those up there hardly give a damn.

The man who was death SG

If small offences, should erase their criminal record more quickly

ilovemyrolex SG

honestly, if there are no stigma to being a criminal, would it render our Justice system irrelevant?

Even when there is a stigma associated with being an ex-offender, there are still 11,000 of them turning over every year. Imagine the case when there is no stigma what-so-ever attached... what would be the consequence.

Perhaps a better way is to teach our kids the severity of breaking the law.

No way I'd have my kid in a school taught by an ex-offender.
No way I'd like an ex-offender to uphold the law (Police).
Ex-con with a rifle?
Ex-con in a bank?

The government may be promoting the Yellow Ribbon Project, but there is just no place for an ex-offender in any Government position.

iveco SG

What about bus fare cheats?

Kuali Baba SG

The concerns are genuine and I can't deny that, but there many ex-offenders who repent their crimes and just want to get on with life after serving their punishment.

The stigma involves both the offenders' criminal records and the discrimination that the people they interact with have. I believe the latter is what the campaign is targeted at, so that they can integrated back into society (in suitable jobs, of course...no one's calling for the end of criminal records.). Otherwise, there's a chance they could return to old ways to suport themselves or to "escape" the harsh world.

If an agency with the government organises such a campaign, then naturally we'd expect them to practise what they preach. Otherwise, they'll simply look like hypocrites - we might as well not have any campaign. If we want to be fussy, then at least employ those who have stayed out of trouble for a certain period of time.

Anyway, they are employing a certain type of "offender" -- didn't Senior Minister Goh say that gay civil servants have been employed?

stellazio SG

yaa and when the government reads this,they'll probaly go hire some ex convicts to show singaporeans..

aka the election ai lai liao publicity stunt.. Laughing

[email protected] SG

PAP. wot u expect? hah!

iveco SG

It is not as if the gay bureaucrats had been charged with engaging in gay sex. As long as they hide their true feelings in the closet, nobody gives a damn.