Breaking through "tough on crime" policies to give all Americans a chance at employment

[marmar]

from YES! Magazine:




Ban the Box for a Fair Chance
Breaking through "tough on crime" policies to give all Americans a chance at employment.

by Aaron Tanaka
posted Jun 08, 2011


Americans with criminal records face legalized discrimination in the workplace, at the voting booth, and in their daily lives. But grassroots leaders across the country are breaking through “tough on crime” policies and winning major challenges to their second-class status.

The National Employment Law Project estimates that 65 million Americans have a criminal record, counting both convictions and arrests that did not lead to convictions. Since 1994, the fraction of major employers screening for criminal records has grown from 20 percent to more than 90 percent. People of color are disproportionately convicted, and suffer more discrimination after completing their sentences. Black ex-offenders are four times less likely to get initial job interviews than their white counterparts, despite equivalent credentials and offenses.

In Massachusetts, residents denied the ability to earn a living and support their families began to speak out and organize. A broad-based coalition led by ex-offenders and supported by youth organizations, labor unions, workforce agencies, and faith groups waged a 5-year “Ban the Box” campaign to end overt discrimination and eliminate the felony check-box from initial job application forms.

In July 2010, after dozens of major demonstrations, hundreds of legislative meetings, and thousands of constituent phone calls, the Massachusetts legislature passed a landmark criminal records reform bill including a “Ban the Box” provision. The new law makes employers evaluate applicants more fairly by allowing background checks only after an applicant is deemed qualified for the job. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/beyond-prisons/ban-the-box-for-a-fair-chance

[mopinko]

1. that's awesome.

just hope that it doesn't mean that ex-felons get jerked around before being rejected.

[awoke_in_2003]

2. they may get rid of the felony box...

on applications, but a lot of people still do background checks. Ex-cons will still get screwed.