Here's a new development in Obama's push to reform the criminal justice system:
President Obama on Monday will announce a series of measures designed to reduce obstacles facing former prisoners reintegrating into society, including an executive order directing federal employers to delay asking questions about a job applicant's criminal history until later in the application process.
Many states, cities and private employers have already taken steps to "ban the box," which refers to the checkbox on employment applications asking if the applicant has ever been convicted of a crime. However, some federal employers and contractors still ask the question.
Bravo, Mr. President! Given how hard prison life is, with the constant threat of violence, rape (which I'd also like to see the President act against), and general wasting, this is a necessary step to emphasize that when the price is paid, the price is paid. Not to mention, more unemployment is bad for the economy, which affects all people, criminal history or no criminal history. I've gotta hand it to Obama; he's making the best of a very bad Congressional hand in the game of legislators' poker.
Not too long ago, the President also called out employers for nitpicking hirees over employment gaps. Ex-cons are even more likely than non-excons to be affected, tho I think that employment gap issues should be fixed for all. I hope the President acts on that. Another iniquity in the hiring process is how fucking long jobs take to get back to applicants. I'd love to see a law which requires all employers over a certain size be required by law to respond to applicants in a timely period so that their lives aren't in suspension when seeking employment.
We'll miss you when you're gone, Mr. President. Keep fighting the good fight!