Georgia becomes the first state in the South to “ban the box

[frigidmagi]

GJP

Today Georgia joined thirteen states to become the first in the South to enact the fair hiring policy known as “ban the box.” This policy, signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal through an executive order, postpones questions about a job applicant’s criminal history until it is demonstrated that he or she is one of the most qualified candidates. The policy also requires that the applicant have the opportunity to explain his or her criminal history before denial, and that only a relevant conviction will be used as the basis for disqualification.

Currently as many as 3.8 million, or one in three, people have a criminal record in Georgia and the state has long been considered to be one of the hardest in the country for someone to get a job when the box is checked. The research is clear that the best indicator of whether a person with a record will be rearrested is their ability to secure stable employment. Often, however, after applicants indicate on the job application that they have a criminal history, employers will issue a denial without considering whether the applicant is qualified for the position or if his or her history is even relevant to the job for which they have applied.

As an employer, the state of Georgia was not setting the best example for how applicants with criminal records should be considered in order to reduce recidivism, increase tax revenue and improve public safety. In fact, the fourth question on the former state employment application asked about criminal convictions — before work history, education or even the title of the position for which the person was applying.But today, Georgia took a positive step towards reducing the challenges to securing employment for people with criminal histories in our state. Following the 2014 recommendation from the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform, Governor Deal implemented a hiring policy that will more fairly consider applicants with criminal histories. The new hiring policy does not affect whether applicants for state employment will be asked about their criminal histories, just when and how. Under the new hiring policy, the question will not be asked until after the applicant has proven they are one of the most qualified and the applicant will get the chance to explain their criminal history before being denied a state job.

“Ban the box” has been a top priority for the Georgia Justice Project for the last two years and we are planning an event next week for the community, and to thank those individuals and organizations who worked so hard to make this happen. Please stay tuned for details.

Interesting story, a Christian Church has been at the forefront of this campaign pushing for the reform.

[rhoenix]

I'm glad to see this as well. People may make mistakes in their life, but they should also have the ability to self-determinate to make their lives better instead.

[Lys]

What was the saying? "To err is human, to forgive divine." It's nice to see a Christian church actually doing shit Christ would approve of, and I say good for Georgia in doing this. I can understand the unwillingness to hire people with criminal histories, but they should at least get a chance to prove that they're qualified for a given position and to explain themselves. Having them disqualified at the first step of the process is not good for society, because people who cannot get stable employment are likely to wind up imprisoned again. This is an altogether better approach, and represents the kind of thinking that is sorely needed in the criminal justice system these days. Most people deserve a second chance.

[Josh]

Won't change much, though. In this day and age a criminal records search is just a click away. With online applications being very common these days, it doesn't even take human intervention.

The effort is good and a start and all, but we need a deeper structural change to how we handle incarceration and for what.