Senators Cardin, Brown and Booker Urge President Obama to Expand Job Opportunities for People with Records and Reduce Recidivism

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) today led a group of 25 of their Senate colleagues in urging President Obama to expand job opportunities and reduce recidivism by taking executive action and requiring federal contractors and federal agencies to “ban the box” on job applications. Reforming hiring practices has widespread support from both public and private institutions. Sixteen states and more than 100 cities and counties have already begun to implement fair chance hiring practices that prevent job applicants from being asked about prior convictions until later in the hiring process. Many of the nation’s largest employers, including Walmart; Target; Bed, Bath & Beyond; Koch Industries; and Home Depot, have also opted to “ban the box.”
 
In addition to Cardin, Brown and Booker, the letter was signed by U.S. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-WA), Tom Udall (D-NM), Tom Carper (D-DE), Jack Reed (D-R.I,), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii).

“There isn’t a single member of the United States Senate who hasn’t received a second chance at one point or another,” said Senator Cardin. “If we want to reduce recidivism, we must allow Americans who have served their time to fully reintegrate by seeking gainful employment in our communities. Banning the box along with my legislation to restore voting rights to the millions who are out of prison but excluded from the democratic process, are important steps towards reforming our criminal justice system.” 
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