Families of SOs Community Group
WE HAVE MOVED!!! ............................. ............................... ......................... ............................ ............................. .......................... HERE: http://support-for-families.boards.net ............. ................ ............... ................ ............................... .................Please create a profile...
Hello all--it's been awhile since I've written, but I could use some ideas. Brother was released from state prison in Illinois about 4 months ago. His charge precludes him from using a computer while on parole and his parole is 3 years to life. (He had a relationship with a 17 year old, which is legal. But they took private pictures of each other which is illegal and he was charged with 1 count of CP). Anyway, he thought he would be allowed to use a computer for work or school, but that's not the case. Although the law does allow this with written permission from his parole officer, it just isn't done. I called the state parole office to see if I could help in any way or pay for him to have filtering software on a computer so he can go to school and was told that Illinois simply no longer allows that. She said it's a blanket rule and no parolee with his charge ever gets to use a computer. Period. However, she did say that if he can find any classes that don't require a computer, (or have anyone under 18 in them) he will be given permission to get an education. (Anyone else see the craziness in this statement?!).
As you all know--life without a computer in 2014 is pretty hard. He is getting very discouraged looking for a job that doesn't have computer work or is too physical. (He has a few health issues). I could vent on and on about the challenges of his life and how unfair it all is, but I know that I am preaching to the choir. You already understand.
Sooo…does anyone have any ideas about work or a small business he might try? He's not well educated in a formal way, but is an avid reader, loves history and politics, and is smart as a whip. He used to repair computers over the phone by dialing into a client's problem machine which enabled hime to see their screen to work through the problem. And he actually still does that when old clients call him--only he does it WITHOUT a computer on his side. He can still accurately advise people about correcting lots of different problems with their computers. I find this unbelievable. He really understands and enjoys technology and I am amazed at his talent and heart. And his parole officer can't stop him from doing that. Or writing a technology newsletter. The PO just scratches his head (a monkey with a math problem?) trying to figure out why this shouldn't be allowed, but he hasn't been able to find anything that makes it illegal. So Brother keeps on. Sadly--he's only making a very little money with some of his old clients. But it even that helps both financially and emotionally.
Okay--now that you know a little more about him--any thoughts about jobs he might try? Any fields that have a deck success rate for SO's? Or do you know of anyone who might be able to use a tech guy who can work amazingly well without a computer? Also he has lots of ideas for phone apps--actually some for sex offenders. But needs to study more about writing the code for this and you know where that's going. (No computer, no study).
Any thoughts or suggestions you have about this will be greatly appreciated. If he doesn't start earning some money soon he may have to go back to prison. We can only help him financially for several more months.
I try to keep all this in a small mental compartment and not let it out a lot, or I'll worry myself sick.I have faith that things will work out somehow, but I need to help him take action. Maybe one of you has an idea…
Thank you all for listening and letting me vent a bit. He has made some different choices, but he's a good man and I want to help him. I wish you all the best. As always, Miss Mare
As you all know--life without a computer in 2014 is pretty hard. He is getting very discouraged looking for a job that doesn't have computer work or is too physical. (He has a few health issues). I could vent on and on about the challenges of his life and how unfair it all is, but I know that I am preaching to the choir. You already understand.
Sooo…does anyone have any ideas about work or a small business he might try? He's not well educated in a formal way, but is an avid reader, loves history and politics, and is smart as a whip. He used to repair computers over the phone by dialing into a client's problem machine which enabled hime to see their screen to work through the problem. And he actually still does that when old clients call him--only he does it WITHOUT a computer on his side. He can still accurately advise people about correcting lots of different problems with their computers. I find this unbelievable. He really understands and enjoys technology and I am amazed at his talent and heart. And his parole officer can't stop him from doing that. Or writing a technology newsletter. The PO just scratches his head (a monkey with a math problem?) trying to figure out why this shouldn't be allowed, but he hasn't been able to find anything that makes it illegal. So Brother keeps on. Sadly--he's only making a very little money with some of his old clients. But it even that helps both financially and emotionally.
Okay--now that you know a little more about him--any thoughts about jobs he might try? Any fields that have a deck success rate for SO's? Or do you know of anyone who might be able to use a tech guy who can work amazingly well without a computer? Also he has lots of ideas for phone apps--actually some for sex offenders. But needs to study more about writing the code for this and you know where that's going. (No computer, no study).
Any thoughts or suggestions you have about this will be greatly appreciated. If he doesn't start earning some money soon he may have to go back to prison. We can only help him financially for several more months.
I try to keep all this in a small mental compartment and not let it out a lot, or I'll worry myself sick.I have faith that things will work out somehow, but I need to help him take action. Maybe one of you has an idea…
Thank you all for listening and letting me vent a bit. He has made some different choices, but he's a good man and I want to help him. I wish you all the best. As always, Miss Mare
It will be difficult for him to find a job that is going to fulfill him intellectually right now. My advice is to retain any job even if it is not perfect. I have the belief that it is always easier to find a better job when you have one already. The idea is the same teams in any sporting event that has a playoff: Survive and Advance. He just needs to show he can get through parole and earn the trust of his PO and the hope is eventually he will be allowed to use his God given abilities of computers. Anything in the computer industry is a perfect job for sex offenders not convicted of CP. It is a merit based industry, you either know it or you don't, and people are willing to take a chance on you even with a background such as the ones we have.
My PO told me to hit the pavement, get up at 7am and look for a job everyday till I found one. I was on the verge of despair looking for corporate jobs, so in order to have even a fighting chance I would look for small business jobs. Preferably something you could eventually run your own business. Janitorial work, carpet cleaning, landscaping are all jobs that you could eventually turn into your own business. Nothing sounded interesting to me when I could not find a job however getting through it is the trick. There is some light at the end of the tunnel your brother is facing.
So I would start with the job listings and automatically start looking at the smaller businesses.
Advocate2, I have also been reading about the slight movement we're seeing with use of the computer for SO's. It heartens me. But I get the feeling that parolees might not be included in that. He's had discussions with his PO about this and the gist of the response is always the same. This is how the parole office runs things. Period. Seems like a set up for failure to me.
Don't get me started! And thank you both for your responses--much appreciated. MM
Anyway--thank you both for your responses.
Have you written to the folks at IL Voices for Reform?!
They can't give legal advice but if you ask how this has been handled for others they may have experiences.
We just had a thread on here about a 2013 decision in IN regarding keeping people away from social media - you just cannot in this day and age and expect them to function. I say this is similar. (Although maybe being on probation makes a difference? It shouldn't. )
Ideally you'll find someone within IL Voices who can point you in the right direction (Will and Tonia are both really helpful) or if you have the ability obtain a lawyer to sue - because even a cashier at Taco Bell may have to log their time using a computer 'web clock'.
You say that his charges preclude him from using a computer. Is he precluded because of state law or statute or was his exclusion regarding the computer use part of his sentence?
How does your brother's sentencing papers read? Does it mention anything about computer access?
If the disallowance of computer use is not part of a state statute or his sentencing, all he has to do is convince a judge he can use the computer for business. He can petition the court to amend the probation terms and persuade a judge to allow him to use a computer. At that point, the PO has no recourse except to allow your brother to use a computer, as the judge always has the final say.
This can only happen if the denial of computer access is not a state statute. Judges cannot make decisions that would override the law.
A PO cannot override a judge's decision.
Now if you do this, realize that the PO will not be happy with your brother and may make life hell for him since he will feel as if he went over his head to allow access to a computer. So you have to weight that possibility in any decision you might make. Most POs will not be happy that they were pushed to do something they did not want to do.
And a judge may deny a motion to allow computer use, especially with your brother's crime being CP.
It would be so much easier if Illinois would just compromise and allow computer use with monitoring software for offenders, but apparently they don't want to even do that.
Also, is there a chance that he can have computer access after he has been on probation for a little while? Many POs soften up with time when they realize the probationer is not a trouble maker.
rewdiazepam
i don't know much about computer repair but can't you repair them without getting online? if he has the software to clean, restore, format and knowledge to write code isn't it possible to repair that way? if something requires getting a repaired computer online someone else in the a shop or at in the home could easily do that. would it be possible to do a in-home repair business if there is someone else available to do the online stuff?????
Criminal Code of 1961 Amendment
Details the definition of "social networking website" to mean an Internet website containing profile web pages of the members of the website that include the names or nicknames of such members, photographs placed on the profile web pages by such members, or any other personal or personally identifying information about such members and links to other profile web pages on social networking websites of friends or associates of such members that can be accessed by other members or visitors to the website. A social networking website provides members of or visitors to such website the ability to leave messages or comments on the profile web page that are visible to all or some visitors to the profile web page and may also include a form of electronic mail for members of the social networking website.
Bans offenders from social networking websites for:
Any offender convicted of a sex offense on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act (January 1, 2010); and
An offender placed on supervision for a sex offense on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act (January 1, 2010).
So if there is some other condition it is from the probation dept or judge. Since it's not a state law you should be able to fight it.
One other interesting note (interesting to me at least): when IL wrote this law they specified an 'convicted on or after' date instead of applying it to everyone.
Why?! All their other restrictions (parks, schools, celebrating holidays) they just put out there for all SO.
Why did they deviate on this one? Too hard to control? Worried about the punitive nature?
If interested in forwarding me that, please PM me for my personal information so you can send it...