Same situation at last call of any bar.
FYI, A misdemeanor in the state of Georgia is a life sentence. My story.
- Thread starter Telephoto999
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Same situation at last call of any bar.
Wuthering_Heights
Banned
Overweight people.
WanderingWind
Mecklemore Is My Favorite Wrapper
Telephoto999
Member
They can at least expunge their weight.
While I completely agree with your basic point here, it's completely legal to discriminate against transgender people for employment and housing in nearly the entire United States.
oneils
Member
Maybe that is exactly what the DA was clamping down on. Sounds like the DA will charge, even without the victim's willingness. I don't really see the problem with that strategy. The DA may have applied it to all domestic violence cases and the OP got caught up in it. I agree that striking back was not self-defense.
It is too bad that georgia does not have a decent process to expunge misdemeanors.
NotMyRealName
Banned
Well... its complicated. About a year ago I started smoking marijuana after finding out that it helps greatly with my depression. The night I got arrested I was smoking with my friend in a parking lot. After he left I went to my car and, knowing I was way too high to drive, but too embarrassed to tell any of my friends or family, decided to sleep it off and proceed home in the morning. About two hours after falling asleep I got a knock on my car window, and saw two police officers parked behind me. Instead of just admitting what had happened, I lied and told them I was just tired. Unfortunately, they kept asking me if I was well enough to drive home, and me, being the idiot I am, told them I was thinking it would be better to keep up the lie then just admit guilt and get arrested for having drug metabolites in my system. They followed me as I drove, which thankfully was only a few blocks, and I was arrested for DUI as soon as I stepped out of my vehicle. Apparently, they were well aware I was intoxicated, but needed me to get the vehicle moving before I could be arrested. I got my blood drawn and spent the next 12 hours in a jail cell. The worst part? Despite having my life ruined I simply can't stop smoking because it is the only thing that makes me not want to kill myself. Yet, only California, and maybe one other state, allows medical marijuana for treating depression. I'm basically going to be an outlaw for the rest of my life because of my situation. Shit sucks.
edit - this happened in Arizona, but I live in Minnesota. The trial is still ongoing, but its not gonna be good. I can feel it.
Chinpoko_Master
Member
Reading stories like this makes my heart drop because I can relate somewhat. I was convicted of a violent misdemeanor about three years ago when I was 20 years old. The difference is that I'm still in school for Computer Science, and I haven't tried looking for work yet in a job that's related to my field, but shit like this makes me worried. I've had anxiety about even applying for entry level jobs because having to explain something like this to an employer is embarrassing. I take responsibility for what I did, but it was an isolated incident and does not accurately represent me as a person which is why it's so humiliating.
I've talked to my uncle who is a recruiter and he says that he has never not hired someone because of a conviction, and he basically told me that my conviction was "nothing". I'm not sure if I can even trust him though, it sounds like employers are pickier than ever. It might just be a symptom of the economy, but I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't go away when the economy recovers. It used to be that on job applications, you only had to disclose felonies. Now most job applications ask if you have committed any crime. Fortunately, in my state (MN) a law just went into effect at the start of this year that employers are barred from doing background checks until the interview process, but honestly it seems like it's just going to delay the inevitable.
Maybe I should stop worrying so much about this until I start applying for more positions, but reading stories like yours is not encouraging and it honestly makes me want to cry when I think about my future career. It makes me wonder if I should still even be in school busting my ass trying to maintain my 4.0 GPA.
I've talked to my uncle who is a recruiter and he says that he has never not hired someone because of a conviction, and he basically told me that my conviction was "nothing". I'm not sure if I can even trust him though, it sounds like employers are pickier than ever. It might just be a symptom of the economy, but I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't go away when the economy recovers. It used to be that on job applications, you only had to disclose felonies. Now most job applications ask if you have committed any crime. Fortunately, in my state (MN) a law just went into effect at the start of this year that employers are barred from doing background checks until the interview process, but honestly it seems like it's just going to delay the inevitable.
Maybe I should stop worrying so much about this until I start applying for more positions, but reading stories like yours is not encouraging and it honestly makes me want to cry when I think about my future career. It makes me wonder if I should still even be in school busting my ass trying to maintain my 4.0 GPA.
At least as a comp science major you can consult and free lance if it comes to that.
Also, you could just go through an agency and be a contract worker, I'm not sure employers require background checks for contract workers because they assume the recruiting agencies take care of this.
Telephoto999
Member
I never claimed it to be 100% in self defense. I was mad at the entire situation, and when I got physically hit I lost my cool, no doubt. However I think there's a big distinction between me, and the man that beats his wife because she wears too revealing of clothes or cooks dinner wrong however I am looked at the exact same way by employers.
empty vessel
Member
You should probably consult the laws of the state in which you are applying, but generally if a record has been expunged, you need not disclose it.
This is a good point about the economy. People with convictions will find it much harder to find jobs when the economy is weak and unemployment high, precisely because businesses will have many options to choose from. In a strong economy, people with misdemeanor convictions won't necessarily be locked out to the same extent.
Unfortunately, I don't see a strong economy happening anytime in the near future, certainly not while Republicans have any political power.
Chinpoko_Master
Member
I will have to look into that. Honestly, I've been thinking more and more about self-employment opportunities but it's daunting when you've never even had a job to begin with.
I raised this point earlier in the thread and honestly, I think it's really at the crux of this issue. If there were plenty of jobs to go around, employers wouldn't be as picky about this kind of thing. But, they can choose 5 other people who have a convicted person's credentials, but no convictions and guess who is less risky? If the economy improves, I think OP's issues might go away, but not sure it will any time soon, which sucks.
SkeptiMism
Member
Wow, that really sucks to hear. All the strength to you man.
I see it has already been brought up, but I'll repeat, you really should try to get your story out. If you're lucky, some major newspaper in your state might even pick it up since it does seem to be a real problem there.
Also, ..
ignore these guys. Seriously, wtf people?
I see it has already been brought up, but I'll repeat, you really should try to get your story out. If you're lucky, some major newspaper in your state might even pick it up since it does seem to be a real problem there.
Also, ..
...NoRéN;97585517 said:
ignore these guys. Seriously, wtf people?
If it makes you feel better, they probably would've arrested you anyway. Though again I guess it depends on the state, you generally don't need to drive anywhere to get a DUI. Sleeping it off in your car is a pretty common way of getting one around here.
Which is the stupidest thing ever. Really bugged me just last week, a buddy of mine was acting DD but got a bad headache during the night and said he was just gonna go rest in the car since the bar scene wasn't helping matters, he probably left us about 10pm and we showed up about 2:30 in the morning and he said the same police officer woke him up no less than 6 times to see if he was planning to drive drunk, obnoxious.
Keysersoze
Banned
OP you hit a woman because she asked you to leave her house.
No, it sounds like he hit her because she hit him with a phone first. Big difference. Not that I condone it, but let's not act like she made a verbal request and he went off half cocked and nailed her.
Keysersoze
Banned
She asked him to leave, he got jealous and refused to leave her house and they both got physical. Who was in the wrong in this situation? fuck he's lucky he didn't get a worse conviction.
GoldenEye 007
Member
That may be so.... but he has paid his debt to society. What good does it do anyone to continually punish him damn near 10 years after the act?
I actually made a thread on this subject a while back, and I have to agree that punishing people with lifetime poverty after they serve their time is not only immoral and idiotic, but its also counter-productive. What the hell do you think these people are going to do if they can't survive in the legal economy?
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=712120&highlight=
Provided some links to scholarly and online articles and excerpting the good bits if anyone is interested in learning about national facts, figures, and analysis, etc
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=712120&highlight=
Provided some links to scholarly and online articles and excerpting the good bits if anyone is interested in learning about national facts, figures, and analysis, etc
Chinpoko_Master
Member
Sounds like they both were in the wrong. Why does it even matter though? OP was just saying that he isn't a typical "wife beater", he wasn't trying to deny responsibility.
This shit does not matter in the least.
Northern Lights
Banned
The south is always a step behind.
Hmmm, really? You don't think the extent of a crime makes a difference, in how people should be treated and judged?
He was already judged and served his time to society. Its completely idiotic and counter-productive to keep punishing him after that
IdreamofHIME
Member
Not sure it would be any easier to get a work permit in a Western Euro country with any kind of criminal record than he's having getting work in his own state. Certainly for UK, Germany and France.
Telephoto999
Member
Sadly, I used to be a big southern supporter as I was born and raised here however lately I've started to denounce that feeling. We are so backwards in many of our thoughts and beliefs.
As far as this man asking details on the crime, I don't even know where to start. I was charged and convicted of a misdemeanor, not a felony.
This crime was 7 years ago. He was tried and judged at that time and it was ruled a misdemeanor. As far as I am concerned, this far down the road, its nobodies damn business.
No one is talking about putting the OP in prison. There's no question that he "served his time" and no one is asking to implement further criminal sanctions against him.
The question is whether or not other people want to work with him or would feel comfortable working with him. I'm a pretty small woman and, frankly, the extent of the crime would make a big difference to me, if there was a possibility I had to work with the OP.
Telephoto999
Member
Because apparently if I hit her 4 times instead of 1, that determines how many years after I'm supposed to suffer. Questions like that anger me so much, because I know there are many like him that are in positions of power and are holding me back from any kind of normal life.
And its backwards thinking like yours that causes people to be placed on a national sex offender list for peeing in a park at 2 in the morning when they were 16. Bravo, /slowclap. If he starts working at your job, no one should have to tell you that he committed a single crime in his life that was 7 years ago and, again, no ones business at this point.
The point is, the more violent and damaging the encounter, the scarier you are to work with (especially for women). It's hardly crazy for employers to take into consideration whether or not one person is going to affect the working environment for everyone. Or even just for them.
Then, congratulations, you just created an impoverished, underclass society of ex-convicts who have no hope to better their lives because they are constantly denied from employment and have no hope or reason to change, learn form their mistakes, or put a bad mistake behind them. It also make them more likely to commit another crime because how do you except them to survive if they are barred from the legal economy?
The purpose of prison should be rehabilitation and reintegrating ex-convicts into society. Thats impossible if you deny them the opportunity to make a legal living. Its pure stupidity on all sorts of levels. We are paying an enormous price as a society to make you feel 'safe'
So how long is he scary for? If he was 50, and nothing else has occured since he was 19 then is it ok?
It's backwards thinking that, as a woman, I would be fearful of a man who violently hurt his ex-girlfriend and would want to avoid him? Really?
Now, I expect you'll read that and say "we don't know whether the OP violently hurt his ex-girlfriend?" Well, that's why I asked.
No, I'll read it and say: "That was 7 years ago around two involved adults behind closed doors and you would just be some random women that he sees at a workplace with multiple other people." I would then say to get over yourself and your supposed "safety" when really you are just hiding behind antiquated morals that you are choosing not to break free from.
GoldenEye 007
Member
I'm not sure in this situation it was a standard violent attack. One the OP in retrospect should have walked away from, but the GF did attack first in this case. So that should be taken into consideration.
I'm an expert
Formerly worldrevolution. The only reason I am nice to anyone else is to avoid being banned.
It's also reasonable to assume that you don't know the backgrounds of everyone you have ever worked with unless you are the actual HR manager. You may have worked with people far more dangerous and scarier than the op in the past and been completely oblivious, especially if they're someone who did have the chance to clean their records or were never caught.
BlackGoku03
Member
I really need to up my cert credentials. I'm still studying for the 70-640. Shit is hard man.
Hope you get it expunged. I know at my job if you have a drug charge (misdemeanor or felony) they won't hire you. This is South Carolina.
Good luck.
Telephoto999
Member
Are you intelligent enough not to hit a 6'1 210lb man over the head repeatedly with a telephone? I'd never lay my hands on any human being without being physically attacked first. The thought not only angers and sickens me, but it pisses me off that I know that the way you see me, is how so many others do and that if this expungement doesn't go through I'll never get past this. For reference, I've had multiple long term relationships since then, all who were very aware of my past and not only loved and accepted me for it but tried helping me through what I am going through now. Not any of them ever felt in any danger nor fear because that's not the person that I am.
If' I'm hiring, I'm not going to hire someone that I personally don't want to work with. It's that simple. I also hardly think its "antiquated morals" if a woman doesn't want to work with someone who has a conviction for hitting a woman.
You're one of those women that uses those crap background check sites everytime they get romantically involved with someone, aren't you? Or do you not care so much about those people's background, just the random ones you work with?
I, sincerely, hope you don't actually hire for a company no matter how large or small it is.
Edit: Also, yes, if you are taking a person and applying your own punishment to them especially after they've already been punished for it. You are doing it wrong.
GoldenEye 007
Member
There certainly should be cool off period. A couple years probably. That's reasonable.
Beyond that, people like you are everything that is wrong with current hiring processes.
Shao Kahn on the Lawn
Member
I need to see you acknowledge the fact that responding to violence with violence is a far cry different from simply initiating the violence himself.
She hit him, he responded in kind. There's nothing "scary" about that except for the absurd idea that women should get special treatment when they get physical with someone.
Telephoto999
Member
She's right though. Most HR departments are predominantly female and if any sort of crime involving a female comes up all they have to say is they don't feel comfortable working with that person and out the door he goes.
I'm aware thats how it works, that doesn't change the fact that it is, frankly, extremely stupid. I don't even have a criminal record anywhere for anything and this is irking me to no end.
BlackGoku03
Member
Good thing you aren't.
How long will it be until he is safe to work with? 10, 15, 20 years? He's not a repeat offender either.
That's crazy that Georgia is so behind. I bet South Carolina isn't far behind... It's probably worse.
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