President Barack Obama recently visited Newark, New Jersey, and proposed an initiative that has mixed reviews from employers. He suggested that instead of screening job applicants immediately for a criminal record, employers should wait until further in the process. This is to give past felons the opportunity to not be judged by their previous mistakes when applying for jobs.The term "ban the box" has been coined by supporters of the movement.
According to a poll by the "New York Times," CBS News, and the Kaiser Family Foundation, 34 percent of unemployed men between the ages of 25 and 54 have criminal records. Although some may argue that people with criminal records shouldn't deserve the highest paying jobs or a chance to work their way up to one, many people including myself argue the contrary. Just because someone made a mistake when they were 20-years-old and served jail time, doesn't mean that they aren't a changed person now that they are 40-years-old. Twenty years is a long time and any "normal" person will mature in that time. By not providing these people with jobs, they end up resorting back to their old ways in order to make ends meet for their families. It is a vicious, never-ending cycle.
The Fair Chance Act, which was introduced to Congress in September, doesn't require that federal government and federal contractors completely ignore an applicant's criminal history. Instead, Obama encourages that employers at least give everyone a chance to "get in the door." This is important so that they can actually talk to their future employer and make a first impression that is not based off a box checked yes. First impressions are very important as they are usually last impressions. President Obama is trying to give past criminals the chance to design their own first impressions.
I have personally seen the impact that a criminal record can have on someone's job search. Sometimes without even knowing the full extent of the story or why a record is there, employers can completely deny the hiring of an individual who may need the job more than others. People should not be haunted by the ghosts of their past for the rest of their lives. They already paid the price for their mistakes. If this initiative is passed, people with criminal records will not have to continue paying for their mistakes even after they have served their time.
Lastly, I think that it is important that you don't judge someone with a record even if you aren't an employer. I'm sure that we have all made mistakes. Some mistakes are just worse than others. As long as we all learn from them and move forward, the world will be a better place.
