Frank Brown, Why do we need fair hiring?

What happens when people come out of prison after serving their sentence?  Are they truly done serving their sentence?  These days, with most employers refusing to consider those with a criminal record, people are finding themselves locked up in prison and then locked out of society.  Returning Citizens end up serving a life time sentence after leaving prison.  I know this is true because I am a Returning Citizen.

You see I made a mistake over thirteen years ago. I took responsibility for my mistake.  I served my sentence.  Well, I served the sentence the judge handed down to me.  I made changes in my life while serving.  I’ve been out of prison for over seven years, and crime free, but I’ve found myself locked out of both jobs and housing.  I am not alone. There are many Returning Citizens like me.

I applied for over 500 jobs over the last seven years.  I was even offered four or five of them.  I was offered these jobs because of my education, experience and my interview.  With each offer I was asked to fill out an application.  I faced the background question and answered it truthfully.  Each of those times I was told, “Sorry, we don’t hire ex-felons.”  My crime is not related to these jobs, yet because I have a record I am locked out of society.

When people with criminal records who want to change and be a positive part of our community are shut out of the job market, it creates a cycle of despair and hopelessness that hurts the economy and public safety.  Denying employment to Returning Citizens continues to punish those with a record — and their families — long after they’ve served their sentence.

Every study shows that a decent job is the best way to reconnect a person to the community and prevent future crime.  Employers need to be part of building a community that is strong and safe.

That is why TakeAction Minnesota’s Justice 4 All program and Protect Minnesota are joining together on a petition telling corporate Minnesota to implement Fair Hiring practices now.  Join us – add your name to the petition today.

Frank Brown

Frank Brown is a Justice 4 All Organizer with TakeAction Minnesota.