Blog

 
     

Illinois Rep. Stresses Criminal Justice Reform and Re-Entry into Society

By Michael Klazema on 3/20/2016
With the Illinois presidential primary looming, State Representative La Shawn K. Ford held a press conference on Sunday, March 13th, urging the candidates to make criminal justice reform a centerpiece of their campaigns. In particular, Ford, a Democrat who hails from Chicago, stressed the importance of making it possible for criminal offenders to re-enter into society after serving their time.

In a press release distributed prior to the Sunday event, Ford said that "a criminal background in America prevents citizens from living a productive life." His words align with an argument that has been waged about employment equality, criminal histories, and background checks for years. More and more cities, states, and counties throughout the country are responding to the argument by "banning the box" and taking questions about criminal history off job applications. Ford's native Chicago has even gone one step further than most jurisdictions, banning the box for both private and public employers.

Still, Ford believes that there is a long way to go before our country will be able to break the cycle of recidivism. Often, ex-offenders struggle to find jobs due to the stigma against them. Ford's hope is that, someday, this discriminatory treatment will end. "Americans with criminal records should be given a second chance if they have served their time and are fully committed to obeying the laws of the land," he said in his press release. Unfortunately, many convicted criminals carry their misdeeds with them for years after finishing out their sentences. And when ex-offenders can't find jobs to support themselves or their families, they are more likely to fall back into patterns of criminal activity, get arrested once more, and re-enter the prison system. The issue, in other words, leads to overcrowded prisons, violent and dangerous streets, and broken families.

Ford wants the next President of the United States—whoever that is—to focus on making a different kind of re-entry a priority. He wants criminal offenders who have served their time to be given the second chance to re-enter society, get jobs, and climb back up the ladder of the American Dream. With the current presidential candidates carrying wildly different viewpoints on the future of criminal justice reform, the forthcoming election could significantly affect the feasibility of societal re-entry. For instance, Republican frontrunner Donald Trump believes the country needs to be tougher on crime while Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders wants to curb over-incarceration and pursue alternative options.


Sources:

http://chicagodefender.com/2016/03/13/call-on-presidential-candidates-to-make-re-entry-a-priority/

http://chicagoreporter.com/making-the-case-for-black-voters-to-feel-the-bern/

http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/trump-on-criminal-justice-reform-509292611802

http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-criminal-justice/
Industry News
  Illionois
Author
Michael Klazema

Tag Cloud
Categories
Recent Posts

Latest News

  • December 03 — The rapid digitization of criminal record systems improves ease of access for background checks, but new outside threats pose risks of damage and disruption.
  • November 28 — Under allegations that the company used a discriminatory background check policy, Dollar General agreed to a hefty fine and procedural changes.
  • November 26 — As the gig economy grows, it is vital to acknowledge the state of the union for vendor and contractor background checks. Companies can’t ignore the importance of contractor background checks and vendor screening as this economy grows.
  • November 21 — A coach's responsibilities don't begin and end on the playing field. Keeping kids safe in sporting organizations requires a proactive approach to safety on every level. 
  • November 19 — Most ban the box policies relate to employment, barring employers from asking about criminal history on their job applications. It is now starting to take root in another area: housing. 
  • November 14 — Implementing a policy to promote safe hiring is a positive step, but incidents nationwide illustrate why policies aren’t enough without good governance.
  • November 13 — How long does a background check last? We look at what employers should be doing to monitor changes to their employees’ criminal records. 
  • November 12 — With so many organizations using background checks, it’s easy to wonder whether these checks can go too far as an invasion of privacy. 
  • November 07 — For businesses that experience a seasonal rush, having additional labor on hand can be invaluable. Get valuable information about safely using temporary workers.
  • November 06 — A pending charge may affect a candidate’s fitness to perform a job. How long will it take such a charge to appear on criminal background checks?