President Obama is expected to announce new measures to help ex-convicts reintegrate into society rather than to be eternally engaged with the modern privately operated penal system.
Obama plans to announce an executive order to “ban the box” on federal job applications, a move which will bar employers from asking applicants about their criminal record.
This will leave the door open for former prisoners to enter the job market rather than the prison cell.
BYPASS THE CENSORS
Sign up to get unfiltered news delivered straight to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe any time. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use
The Independent reports:
“Each year, more than 600,000 individuals are released from state and federal prisons,” the White House said in a statement.
“Advancing policies and programs that enable these men and women to put their lives back on track and earn their second chance promotes not only justice and fairness, but also public safety.”
Employers are less likely to hire a black applicant with a criminal record compared to whites with a criminal record, according to a National Justice Institute study. The same study, conducted in New York City, found that a criminal record reduced the likelihood of a job offer by nearly 50 percent.
