~25 years ago. It's not fun, not good. I do not recommend it, if you can avoid it. The damage can be lasting.

See my comment here to give some context. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25610810

I am one of the lucky ones who never went back.

I got out over 20 years ago, and I was determined to do whatever it took to successfully complete my parole and put all that crap behind me.

I still have scars. I'm 47 now. Dentures are in my near future because of the fighting from my prison days.

I had nightmares about the fighting and killing (saw two guys get killed mere feet away from me) for 15 years after getting out.

As time goes by the memories are less and less, but they never go away.

It changes you permanently.

I came here to comment similar to what you've already said.

Prison was HELL.

My screen name says it all. I have top-notch skills, but I will be forever haunted by white-collar crimes I committed over 20 years ago, and have even been pardoned for.

I stay with the company I hate (love the job, hate the politics) because it's almost insurmountably hard to get a good job somewhere else.

The pay is just okay here, but if someone else would give me a chance, I could easily make 20%+ somewhere else, for the same work.

I wish I knew about Last Mile. I'm going to reach out to them.

For some context... see my only post https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18704252

I have another account on HN with lots of karma, but I'm still terrified that if I talk about my past openly, it'll be career suicide.

Here's the thing: you can "pay all your dues" to society, but if:

a. your crime is a felony

AND

b. you don't live in a state where their criminal code has a provision for felony EXPUNGEMENT (NOTE: that's not the same thing as only a pardon)

the simple fact of the matter.... you're SCREWED. It will follow you FOREVER.

There is no forgiveness, and the felony will make it very hard to get a good job unless you're lucky enough to find a company who will hire you in spite of it.

I have only had luck at companies where I knew someone who worked there already, and they vouched for me. Even then, it was VERY challenging to get past the gate that is HR.

Here's the thing, though... if (as a society) we're going to hold crimes against people forever... how do we expect them to be restored?

A good job is arguably the most important part of that work of restoring someone to society.

melonbar: see my post about this very thing... https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18704252

I'm in much the same boat. I feel like for this to seriously change, the laws have to change. That's no small feat.

As long as there are for-profit prisons, there's little/no incentive for criminal laws to change.

San Francisco has the "Fair Chance Ordinance", but you actually have to LIVE there for it to apply to you.

https://sfgov.org/olse/fair-chance-ordinance-fco

I have reached out to you via email, btw. It was back in November. I haven't spoken about that stuff publicly, hence the throwaway account. :/

Hey, thanks again! I will be reaching out again to keep you posted. I am heavily leaning toward pursuing my dreams.

This part is so discouraging. I've experienced this many times.

To be honest, don't voluntarily give any negative information. Don't lie if someone asks directly about criminal background.

Normally, job application is filled out after hiring manager makes an offer. This where you might need to fill out any felonies. If during this phase something goes wrong, I would not hold it against you. And if someone does, you tell them you have been working for 20 years at different jobs and didn't think your felony was an issue anymore.

One of these days, I will ask someone from HR about this.

> Don't lie if someone asks directly about criminal background.

If you have a record legally expunged by a court, if it has been expunged automatically after a certain period of time, or even if you've been pardoned or something, you're generally expected to lie if asked the question. Great system.

Thank you, I appreciate it.