Ban the Box
By Demond A. Jackson
The “ban the box” movement is an initiative, which urges employers to wait until employers are being interviewed or have tentative job offers before asking about their criminal histories. Supporters of the initiative believes “It provides ex-felons and others with criminal records with a better opportunity at employment, long as they have not been rejected during the processing of their application.
Christine Owens executive director of National Employment Law project stated in a interview in the USA Today “More and more of our nations major employers-including Koch Industries which is synonymous with conservative politics- are choosing to embrace fair-hiring policies shows that this is an idea with broad appeal whose time has come.”
The Ceo of Koch Industry, Charles Koch has made overhauling the criminal-Justice system a personal priority. Koch general counsel and senior vice president Mark Holden says “It made common sense for the company to take this step.” Statistic estimate that 70 million American adults have an arrest record or conviction that shows up in a routine employment background check. Sixteen states have already adopted the “fair chance” hiring policies. Some company managers believe that by supporting this initiative they are complying with federal anti-discrimination laws that prohibit automatically banning the hiring of anyone with a criminal record.
The “ban the box” movement is making positive head way and while I salute the Ceo’s, companies and states who are supporting this initiative. It is imperative that we understand that ex-felon and those with arrest records are not only discriminated against at job sites. We are discriminated against when it comes to voter registration policies, gun rights and applying for federal funding and grants. America’s population is a little over 300 million, 70 million is almost a third of this nations population i.e., a separate class of people, that beyond gender, race or geographical differences.
So why are we the least vocal?
Mark Holden was quoted in a interview with USA Today stating:
“Do we want to be judged for the rest of our life for
something that happened on our worst day?”
In this day in age. A just nation should always allow people a means to redeem themselves to the fullest of their potential. Living and learning is about good days and bad days. Freedom and liberty is the foundation of being a productive person. When one is lacking by any means.. a class of people are being subjugated from life and the pursuit of happiness and this is something this nations constitution prohibits i.e., “All men and women were created equal.”
That being said CSB is striving to amplify the voice of those who made a mistake on their worst day, high light their potential, contributions to the up-liftment of our nation and provide a media outlet where they can share their perspectives.
The “Ban the box” initiative is only the beginning when it comes to reform for ex-felons and those with arrest records. It’s time to address the other discriminatory liberties 70 million people are being denied. One thing you can bet your bottom dollar on is CSB will not stop voicing the plight of the people until our country and it’s leaders correct these injustices.
I'm the son of an African American queen, born and raised in Los Angeles California, where I was groomed in its infectious gang culture. For the past decade and half, the federal Bureau of Prison has been a institution of self-education, self-evaluation and the reason I now possess knowledge of self. That being so, I now strive to expose the solution to the problems that our plaguing our communities, America's youth and this country as a whole. There's a saying: "There's nothing new up under the sun." Simply put, if there's one thing in this universe existence, that has seen all thing that mankind has done or not done, it is the sun. That means the moral dissension that taking place currently is nothing new. Historian have written about times where the moral fabric of a nation was so tattered where the only solution for change was war a destruction. This country was built and establish to be the nation it is today. By the disenfranchised, those who were being oppressed by the Queen and her fellow Aristocrats. Therefore if this country is to change once again for the better. It will begin and must begin with the actions and the voice of the disenfranchised i.e, America's minorities, poor and it's third class citizen the American Ex-felon. That being said I'm committed to "WRITING MY WRONGS..." and sewing seed of knowledge and truth that will blossom into peace, prosperity and positive change
Writing Contact:
DEMOND JACKSON #05934-088
FCI Victorville Medium II
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
PO BOX 3850
ADELANTO, CA 92301