Racine---It’s too easy for employers to automatically discount job applicants simply because they're felons. That’s the premise behind the nation-wide ‘ban the box’ campaign that discourages employers from asking applicants right off the bat to mark a box if they’ve ever been convicted of a felony.
In Racine, city officials appear ready to drop the question from the application form for city employment. A council committee voted this week to support the move. About a-third of the council has signed on as co-sponsors.
Alderperson Mary Land said past mistakes shouldn’t automatically close the door on a chance for a job. "A lot of young people make big mistakes and they shouldn't have to pay for it for the rest of their lives," Land said. Others who've been charged with a felony don't think things through and plead guilty just to get it over with instead of working to get the charge reduced. "They don't do any jail time but they got that slapped on their name," she said.
Council members who support the ‘ban the box’ resolution say they hope private businesses will follow the city's lead.
While banning the box, the resolution would not preclude background checks for job applicants who become finalists.
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From our partners at WRJN.