Wednesday, March 6, 2013

NC Legislation Creates a Path to Opportunity for Ex-Felons

By Mildred Robertson

Do you want a convicted bank robber working as a teller in your bank – probably not. But you might want to give a chance to 25-year-old who served time for DUI, or possession of an illegal substance. With NC House Bill 208, that 25-year-old may stand a chance, because the measure would eliminate the check-off box on employment applications asking whether the applicant has a felony conviction on his or her record.

That check-off box has created an underclass of men and women who never get another chance to be productive citizens. Though these ex-felons may have paid their debt to society, they are summarily eliminated from most job interviews because of their record. In an already competitive job market, they don’t stand a chance.

So what do we as a society expect them to do?  If an ex-felon cannot work, and cannot get housing, what options are left for his or her survival?

I recall when I lived in New Orleans that a group of amazing street performers passed the hat to bystanders, asking them to “give a little to my house, so we don’t have to come into your house.” After a little uneasy laughter, the hat filled to overflowing. Their talent was undeniable. But so was their underlying message. With a little hustle and ingenuity, these young men had figured out a way to survive. But their street-wise philosophy made it clear that in the final analysis, survival was the goal.

And it is the goal of us all.

These people have already paid their debt to society. Many people are lured into the streets at an early age, seeing only the money that life can give them—money they think they cannot achieve anywhere else. By the time they learn the downside of this decision, they have acquired the new “scarlet letter,” the “F” that will close almost all doors to opportunity.

House Bill 208 would prohibit employers from asking job applicants about whether they are convicted felons. Basically, the measure eliminates the check-off box on employment applications about felony convictions.  Employers would only be able to ask such questions after they have made a conditional job offer to the applicant, or if the person is seeking a job where his or her felony might put the employer or the public at risk. Another bill, Senate Bill 91, would prohibit employers from asking applicants about expunged criminal records. Senate Bill 33 would require state licensing boards to review the circumstances under which they deny professional licenses.

All of this legislation is a move in the right direction. I applaud the North Carolina legislature for taking up this matter. This proposed legislation acknowledges that just because a person made a serious mistake, he or she should not be forever shunned. It also acknowledges that a pathway to good citizenship must exist in order for someone to take the path. Ultimately, our goal is to rehabilitate and allow people the dignity of making their own way. Call your representative and express your support for a pathway to opportunity for these individuals seeking to be productive members of our society.  

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