Purchasing from a convicted criminal - would you?

It depends on several things. First, if the book had anything to do w the crime, absolutely not, no I wouldn't buy it. Second, what crime they were convicted of. If someone w no prior conviction were convicted of protesting near an area designated as a "no free speech zone" by the secret service - I am not sure I would feel they belonged in prison to begin with, so buying thier "product" would not bother me . And, third, where the proceeds go to. If all of the proceeds go back to the taxpayer in some manner (e.g., all goes to prison budget), then - maybe. The thing about prisonors is they are suppose to "pay a debt", which is feasable if they are making license plates or what not. But, as it stands - most imprisonment costs society enormous amounts of money per inmate.

This particular inmates "product" - no, I would not buy it - for the same reasons described by faceman, above.

Fundamentally, I agree with this entire statement. The only clause I would need to insert is that it is dependent on the individuals crimes, as there are felons whose crimes I don't personally find offensive.

I have to say that there really is no black and white answer on this one.

I'm pretty sure that some of us here have been convicted of crimes. Perhaps not sexual harassment, but you never know. Would you buy a book from a convicted shoplifter who was young and dumb when they did it, but older and wiser now? Or how about an habitual speed limit breaker? Which laws are ok to break and which aren't?

I think that it would be more likely that most of those here who have said that they would not buy a product from a convicted criminal really mean that they would not buy from a criminal convicted of a crime against a person, but maybe I'm wrong.

And how SHOULD a convicted criminal earn a living if no one will pay him for his (honest) work?

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What did Jane Fonda do? I recall her talking about Vietnam protests saying how back then she was against the war but she certainly wasn't against those serving, did I miss something? Back in the 80's, her pregnancy work out tapes were the only decent programs around, guess I should have passed? Nope! I owe her big time!
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Jane Fonda A.K.A. Hanoi Jane

Waresbear, a lot of people believe Jane Fonda betrayed this country.
Her actions during her visit to North Veitnam are very questionable and did place prisoners in jeapordy.
Especially those who served during the war. My father and mother were adamant about this and never saw any of her movies or bought any thing she promoted.
One of the Redgrave sisters also visited the PLO , publicly supporting their use of bombs, and has condemned Israel on numerous occassions.
I believe these are 2 of the examples that Faceman calls far right wacko liberals.
Jane Fonda has a right to free speech but her visit was used by the North as propoganda.
Faceman if I am wrong on the assumptioins correct me. Jane Fonda may be in a different category. Shalom

Yes in this situation I would buy the book.

I would not buy the book if it were about his crime or makeing a profit off that but if he has written a book about horses and just happens to be in jail then I see no problems with it.

I once saw a statistic that said 90% of reoffenders do so because they have no other way of surviving. No one will employ someone who has been in jail, state benefits (at least in the UK) are crap and not enough to live on so they have to turn to crime to survive.

I agree with you about Jane Fonda. I wouldn't buy anything from her either. I think, for me, it solely lies with the fact that this person in question is serving time for his crimes. He is PAYING for what he did. If he fled the country and did not go to jail (a la Roman Polanski) I would not have bought the book as I do not support Polanski or his movies.

I think the comment about needing them to truly be remorseful is a good one but how could you ever really know that they are genuinely sorry and trying to reform?

Does it help that she said she was young & didn't intend to put soldiers in jeopardy? Does it count that she now donates small fortunes to help veterans? Or once you do things like that when you were young, are you damned forever?
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