effort , he was the crime and justice staff who initiated and devoted much time
and expertise on this effort. It is the historical context that can be a bit
irritating, when history is left out.
I was a bit surprised when Ray Dehn did not acknowledge on his website the
pioneering work and people that created the success for ban the box.
This is not so much about getting credit....it is about appropriation of the
work of,others.
Ah, yes, appropriation.
The foundation was laid years before Ray Dehn. And with a lot less ease in the
struggle.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Council Bans the Box
Today the Minneapolis City Council unanimously removed the question requiring
disclosure of past criminal records on applications for employment with the
City.
The Council on Crime and Justice has been working with Council Members Glidden
and Samuels on this for months. (I have been supportive as well, but they took
the lead.)
The reason to "ban the box" is that otherwise qualified applicants are
discouraged from even applying for work with the City if they know that they
will be asked this question. State law prohibits the City from making the
answer to that one question the sole basis for refusing to hire someone, but
it's understandable that folks are less likely to apply when they see that
question asked right on the front of every application.
There are some positions that require background checks. If and when a
background check is needed, it will still be performed. All we've done is
remove a question that doesn't provide meaningful and useful information to our
Human Resources personnel.
If we believe that the thousands of people being released from prison every
year can and should be productive members of society, it is important that we
do what we can to reduce the obstacles that can come from past convictions.
This is a small step in that direction.
We can now go to other employers in Minneapolis and ask that they "ban the box"
as well.
It should be noted that the St. Paul City Council has also taken this action -
they beat us to it by just a few weeks. I hope that this is the beginning of a
larger movement in our metro region, towards rehabilitation and second chances,
away from unnecessary and demeaning obstacles to work.
posted by Cam Gordon @ 10:31 AM
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