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Prison Program Aims To Turn Criminals Into Coders

Posted by Soulskill on from the hello-walls dept.

Press2ToContinue writes with news that San Quentin, a notorious California prison, has started a program to teach a class of inmates to write code. The first class will last for six months, and the inmates are learning about programming for eight hours a day. The hope is to give them the skills to find a good job after they leave prison, which in turn would reduce their chances of recidivism. Since the state's Dept. of Corrections prohibits internet access, the class only "pretends" to be online — they can't use internet-based resources, and nobody on the outside can see or use the software they create. One of the class's backers said, 'Almost every week there's epiphanies. And most of the guys in here, they've never touched a computer before. They are progressing beyond our expectations."

8 of 305 comments (clear)

  1. Of course! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That's what we need more of! Computer-savvy criminals!

    1. Re:Of course! by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 3, Insightful

      For those who still want to believe that there's a long-term future in coding ... how DO you plan to compete with people who have no debt from education and will qualify for massive job subsidies?

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    2. Re:Of course! by ranton · · Score: 3, Insightful

      For those who still want to believe that there's a long-term future in coding ... how DO you plan to compete with people who have no debt from education and will qualify for massive job subsidies?

      ... and won't pass any corporate background checks. I think it is great to teach inmates anything that could help them lead a productive life after prison. But personally I would start with professions where background checks are not common.

      It seems improbable for people with few job skills to come out of prison to get $50k/yr jobs as developers. I would be happier if prisons spent times training inmates for more realistic jobs where they may only make $18/hr, but will actually have a chance of being employed.

      --
      -- All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -- Edmund Burke
    3. Re:Of course! by Opportunist · · Score: 2, Insightful

      There is only one reason to hire a criminal, and that is planning to do something criminal. That way, if you get caught, you can play innocent and shift the blame on the ex-con because, ya know, once a crook always a crook and all that.

      Else, why hire some ex-con when there's 100s battling to get that job? No, I didn't discriminate against him, that other guy just had better qualifications. Because, uh, I do value that experience he has in ... hell, we'll find some tech in his resume that he did the ex-con didn't!

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    4. Re:Of course! by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Not if the government is the one suing, because it's in the interest of society as a whole to make it possible for former criminals to actually be rehabilitated and contribute to the system.

      Considering that 40% of the adult American working-age population have criminal records, many of them for completely stupid and banal offenses, do you really want to make it so impossible for someone to be honest that they have to return to crime just to eat?

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    5. Re:Of course! by NormalVisual · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There is only one reason to hire a criminal, and that is planning to do something criminal.

      Well, there's also the situation where the ex-con is actually good at what he does. Back in 2010 I did some contract work for a large and established company (big/old enough to have a pre-ARIN /16 netblock), and I shared a cubicle with a guy that had a third-degree felony battery conviction after putting a guy in the hospital during a bar fight years earlier, and happened to be a wicked sharp Java coder with great customer interaction skills. Even with the clearly disclosed felony on his record, he was eventually extended quite a nice offer to go onboard as a permanent employee.

      --
      Please stand clear of the doors, por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas
    6. Re:Of course! by squiggleslash · · Score: 3, Insightful

      What about if they're the best person for the job?

      People make mistakes. Everyone does. Most of the time that doesn't result in a criminal conviction. In a small number of cases it does.

      More-over, most of the students I went to University with are unconvicted criminals, guilty of serious felonies related to illegal drug use. Around 40% of prisoners are in prison for similar (as in drugs related) non-violent crimes.

      What's (seriously) the difference between the two? Why do the guys who spent time get to be blocked from having the jobs given to the other guys, when both DID THE EXACT SAME CRIME?

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
  2. No Internet? by tonywestonuk · · Score: 3, Insightful

    When I learnt programming on an old VIC20, there was no stinking internet.... just a few books I got from the library. Really, I think that the internet can be a huge distraction.... and, if cut off from the internet, I would probably do my best work!