(CNSNews) - "It’s hard enough to find a job; just imagine if you have 'convicted felon' on your resume," the nation's deputy attorney general told a gathering at Columbia Law School last week.
In a pitch for criminal justice reform, Sally Quillian Yates said it's "part of our social responsibility as citizens" to ease convicted criminals' transition from prison to a productive life -- and that includes a willingness to hire them.
"While some companies have demonstrated a willingness to look past an applicant’s criminal history, there are more employers who won’t even give an ex-offender a chance to compete. Beyond job opportunities, we need more businesses to take an active role in the re-entry process. We need companies to partner with prisons and re-entry programs, to help ex-offenders move seamlessly from prison life to a productive life.
"Building safe communities is not solely the responsibility of law enforcement. We all have an obligation, as citizens, to give those returning to society an opportunity, just a fighting chance, to live the lives we have.
"So I challenge – and you should challenge – businesses and individuals to see this as part of our social responsibility as citizens – as a necessary step to create a safer and more stable society. It is possible, but only if we convince them to think differently."
(Among the options under consideration -- removing the checkbox on job applications that tell an employer if an applicant has a criminal record.)
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8 comments:
I don't have a social responsibility to help people that make stupid and bad choices in their lives. I only have a social responsibility to help people that through unfortunate circumstances not of their own making need assistance.
Give them jobs in government.
Where is that written???
Many are imprisoned wrongfully. Not to mention they've served their time. If it's not murder or sexual assault/molestation then it needs to clear off records unless habitual.
Government is full of criminals already. And cops are the biggest gang of criminals in the country.
The crooks will feel right at home working for the federal government with all the other crooks. just what this country needs....more people we can't trust.
Once he's served his time, he doesn't owe society anything but a productive, honest lifestyle, without further criminal behavior.
If he has no history of violence, thievery or sex crimes, there's no good reason to exclude him from jobs "just because". When they get out, they have to support themselves, and without a job, they may become desperate enough to make money the only way they know how.
Those out on probation, have to pay substantial "fees" every month to the probation office, or face being thrown back in prison. It's part of the cycle of poverty that keeps a lot of otherwise good people under the control of the government, forced to pay yet not quite "free" enough to be able to do so.
I am in no way, making excuses for real criminals and the common dirtbags that deserve what they have coming to them. I'm simply saying that some former convicts are willing and able to give up their past, in order to work for a real future, as civilized and productive citizens.
12:45 jobs in govt.? are you crazy? Those POS didn't want to work in the first place.A tax payer supported job only guarantees they won't have to work, they still get paid and can,t be fired.Govt job, no I don't think so. You are obviously are a liberal, God help us if the Hildabeast gets in the white house we will really be over run with wrong thinking idiots like you.
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