Offender Employment : Criminal records

Capitol Hill lawmakers discuss ex-offenders in the federal workforce

Scott — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:19:00 GMT

According to governmentexecutive.com:

"The government should do more to assure individuals with criminal records that they are not barred from certain types of federal employment, lawmakers said on Tuesday.

At a hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, members of Congress said hiring ex-offenders could help many of them as they re-enter communities and also help government as it addresses impending staff shortages."

Read the full article right here.

Download and read each testimony by going here.

Travis County to Remove the Felony Conviction Question?

Scott — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:04:00 GMT

From the Austin American Statesman:

"Sometime in the coming weeks, Travis County commissioners will likely remove the question on county job applications that asks, "have you ever been convicted of any crime?"

That question would be asked later in the interview process. The commissioners say they hope the change, intended as much for its symbolism as its practical effect, will remove a red flag that can cause managers to immediately toss an application in the trash.

"We're weeding them out before they have a chance to show their skills," said County Judge Sam Biscoe, chairman of the Commissioners Court and chief proponent of a new county policy. "It's my guess we're losing a lot of good applicants."

NYC Mayor Bloomberg on the Significance of Employment for Offenders

Scott — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:16:00 GMT

In his keynote address to the US Conference of Mayors, the majority of Mayor Bloomberg's speech focused on employment issues for offenders. Here are some highlights:

"...instead of simply opening the cell doors and letting people fend for themselves, we work with them beforehand to assess their needs and create a plan for where they will go and what they will do after they're discharged. If they don't have a plan, then they don't have a chance. And that's why, on the day of their release, we also provide them with transportation from Rikers Island directly to the housing or community-based provider that's detailed in their plan. The program's participants then continue to receive case management and support for up to 90 days after their release.

So far, the program has provided assistance to about 31,000 men and women, arming them with the tools and skills they need to begin leading honest, productive, and fulfilling lives. And our efforts are clearly paying off: A study by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice discovered that the participants who completed the full program were 30 percent less likely than other participants to return to jail within the year after their release."

***

"But by far the most important thing we can to do to help people leaving our jails rebuilds their lives and become productive members of society is to help them find good jobs. A good job provides more than a paycheck; it affords a sense of pride and self-worth and that creates a domino effect, empowering people to take charge of all aspects of their lives. Of course, connecting the formerly incarcerated to jobs is a particularly daunting challenge, because people with criminal records are among the hardest-to-employ in the nation. So to really make a difference, we must make sure that these people have the skills that employers want."

***

"Over the past six years, our City's Department of Small Business Services, led by Rob Walsh, whom you'll hear from later today, has completely revamped the way we help businesses hire New Yorkers by customizing job-training programs specifically to employers' needs. We are now bringing those same elements to many of the re-entry programs we offer men and women leaving our jails.

But ensuring that they have the right skills will not, by itself, increase job opportunities. To do that, we must also come to the table with a business proposition that appeals directly to employers' interests. That means showing them that the city's workforce developers can deliver people who are prepared to be responsible, dependable, and trust-worthy. And in many cases, it also means offering support and hiring incentives."

***

"Our City's Commission on Human Rights will also continue to go after businesses that deny employment to individuals because of their criminal record, something that's illegal to do in our city."

***

"We can't guarantee that any of our initiatives will be a complete success but we also can't be afraid to try new ideas and test new solutions when it comes to our most intractable problems. As with everything we do, we will measure our programs' results and make adjustments depending on what works and what doesn't. And if our programs don't work at all, then we will try another approach. We won't give up. Our commitment to this issue and the ramifications of this problem, if we turn our backs to it, are simply too great."

In the news: America's "most imaginative" reentry program; a second chance in Philadelphia; fighting crime with reentry in New Jersey

Scott — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:37:00 GMT

The dailypress.com claims that Kansas has the "most imaginative prisoner reentry program." Read about it here.

Pennsylvania Senator Shirley Kitchen (D) wrote an opinion piece in the Philadelphia Daily News. Senator Kitchen advocates for a "second chance law" that would place a limit on how long a criminal conviction would stay on someone's record. Read the full opinion here.

Finally, this article outlines the Governor of New Jersey's reentry strategy.

Seal of criminal records sought in Massachusetts

Scott — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:03:00 GMT

State legislatures in Massachusetts are being urged to limit employer's access to criminal records. The article, which can be read here, states that "advocates have long criticized the law, saying people are rejected for jobs because of minor criminal convictions, inaccurate records or crimes not associated with the position being sought."

It is proposed that "felony charges would remain on offenders' records for seven years after the end of their probation or sentences, down from the current 15. Misdemeanor offenses would stay on the record for three years, down from the current 10. The bill would also purge any charges that didn't result in a conviction."