Legislation barring employers from initially asking job applicants if they have a criminal history was sent to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk over the weekend.
The bill was introduced in February, the state Assembly approved AB1008 on Friday, and it now awaits the governor's signature.
Supporters say ex-felons would be able to get more jobs and potentially stay out of trouble. Lawmakers say employers would still be able to ask about criminal history but not until the applicant has received a conditional job offer.
Democratic Assemblyman Kevin McCarty is one of the politicians behind the bill. If passed, it would help more ex-felons get a second chance.
"For the applicant, especially someone who has a criminal history, it gives them a chance to highlight their qualifications of the job before they have to explain some criminal history that might disqualify them from the job," Kathy Eppright, an attorney in San Luis Obispo, said.
Mychal Cody, manager of Pizza La Nova in San Lis Obispo, says it's important to know who they have on staff when it comes to someone's background.
"They're not only taking the charge of representing our business, and so to be able to clearly identify who that person is going to be could really have an effect on our business," Cody said.
However, Cody says Pizza La Nova won't judge anyone who applies.
"If they're hard-working and they're trying to make a change in their life and we can be that step forward for them, we want to be that," Cody said.
For some employers, if this bill becomes a law, it could become difficult to scrutinize potential employees without knowing their criminal history, according to Eppright.
"So once they make the offer, then they can say, 'We're going to make it conditional on a background check,'" Eppright said. "Then they have to connect it. If there is something in the background, they have to show how the offense relates to the job the person's applying for."
Employers who deny applicants because of their criminal history must have a good reason.
"Let's say somebody has a DUI in their background and they apply to work at a Starbucks. It would be hard to connect the dots between the connection and why it would disqualify them from being a barista for Starbucks," Eppright said.
The bill would make the following employment practices unlawful under FEHA for an employer with five or more employees:
Including questions about criminal history on employment applications
Inquiring or considering the applicant's criminal history before offering a conditional job offer
Disseminating or distributing an applicant's conviction history background check
If the employer plans on denying an applicant based on their conviction history, the bill would require the employer to do an individualized review of whether or not their history would have a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job.
They would have to consider three stipulations: the nature of the offense, the time that has passed between the offense and sentence completion, and the nature of the job.
The employer would have to notify the person applying with a written decision, and the applicant is allowed five business days to respond, and an additional five days to dispute the decision with evidence.
There are some companies that require background checks by law, so they would be exempt from this bill if it becomes a law, according to Eppright.
Nine states and 15 cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, have adopted similar regulations.
I have a felony for cashing fake checks, I was not the one making them, I had cashed them and now I have these felonies on my record, I have been
trying to hard to get a job, but once they pull my record I can never
get it. I am a changed person but I cannot get a job.
Please help me.
How can I get a Job with my Felonies?
Well, let's see. You have multiple felonies for cashing bad checks. Convictions involving any kind of theft or robbery can be quite a challenge when looking for jobs. You can pretty much rule out any type of employment involving cash, merchandise or other valuables. I encourage my students to always be honest when applying for jobs but often when employers see convictions for theft or other crimes involving integrity on applications, they are reluctant to hire them. Even if the applicant checks "no" to the "Have you ever been convicted....." question, they risk being fired later when background checks are done. So what are felons with these times of convictions do? My suggestions is to apply to smaller, family owned businesses.
These smaller businesses rarely spend money on background checks because they cost so much. Another thing that is common is they tend to use standard applications that are purchased at stationery stores. These are very generic applications. When you get to the dreaded question, simply leave it blank. There is a good chance that the business owner will overlook it. This will allow you to a least get an interview where you can sell the employer on your attitude and skills. If the question about having a criminal record does come up, your response can be something like this, "I'm glad you're asking this because I want you to feel comfortable about hiring me......." Then you briefly talk about your conviction but spend more time talking about the changes you have made and what you have done to make yourself a better person since making some bad choices.
These may not be the best jobs in the world, but they will give you the opportunity to build a work history, makes some contacts and maybe even some references that will pay off when you apply for better jobs later.
The thing that you will have to understand is that finding jobs for ex-offenders and felons is a numbers game. The more jobs you apply for, the more interviews you will get. You get more interviews and you will have more opportunities to get hired.
Be sure you have all the tools you will need to to make a good impression. Get a good resume, great interview clothes and practice those interview skills. Put yourself in the best possible position to make a good impression.
Jobs for Felons: Immediate Jobs for Felons and Ex-offenders
Jobs for Felons: Five Places Felons Can Find Jobs - Get a Job Quickly!
Are you an ex-offender or felon who has a question about finding a job with a criminal record?
I have been helping ex-offenders and felons get jobs for over ten years
and I feel I have an understanding of what works. I update
this blog often. I will answer specific questions relating to getting a
job with a criminal record on this blog so feel free to send me your
questions. You could have your question answered right here. Email your question to: Adogzheart2@gmail.com
Will moving to another state help a felon get a job?
Hello Mr. Mayo,
Thank you for this blog. I live in San Francisco, California. I have multiple convictions for a few things. I was talking to someone here and they told me that because I have a record in California, I should move to another state. My record will not show up in another state. I have relatives in Illinois. Will moving to Illinois help me get a job?
Karl
Will moving to another state help a felon get a job?
Hello Karl,
I am glad you are seeking another opinion and not relying on information from that person. Totally false! Your record will follow you wherever you go. In this age of computers and extensive data banks, you can find out just about anything on anyone. There are companies that exist just to sell information to anyone who will pay for it.
A history of criminal record would include an individual's personal identifiers (descriptive information and fingerprints), arrests and subsequent dispositions (final outcome of a charge.) Dispositions are posted to the
National Criminal History Record File by the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. Not only convictions but each criminal arrest for which the CJIS Division has a fingerprint submission would be on file. So you see, your record is fairly easy to get.
There are organizations in your area that can help an ex-offender or felon looking for jobs.
Arriba Juntos
Arriba Juntos, a community-based organization in San Francisco. This organization has an employment program for ex-offenders and felons. They even offer , direct job placement for clients who have job skills. Also available in career training in computer technology, including MS Office Suite, and certified nursing assistance with the ability to obtain California licensing. The center will assist clients in obtaining licensing from the State of California. In cooperation with the San Francisco Municipal Railway they offer a driver training course. Clients may obtain their Commercial Driving License and consideration for employment with MUNI as bus drivers. These training programs include a Life Skills component, job interview techniques and resume writing in addition to daily survival skills. There may be paid on job training program that is used as an incentive to employers to hire felons and ex-offenders.
You can contact them at the address below:
1850 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-487-3240
415-863-9314 fax www.arribajuntos.org
Private Industry Council of San Francisco (PIC)
Private Industry Council of San Francisco (PIC) is a non-profit organization that provides employment, training and research services to employers and job seekers in San Francisco. PIC is a public/private collaboration for workforce development. PIC contracts with over 60 community- based organizations to provide training and employment services. They may have contacts to employers who hire ex-offenders and felons who need jobs
You can contact them at the address below:
1650 Mission Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-431-8700
415-431-8702 fax
Web Site: www.oaklandpic.org
Also take a look at the video below. There are other options for finding jobs in your area.
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Where Ex-offenders and Felons Can Find Jobs
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Ten Steps to getting a Job with a Criminal record
Jobs for Felons: Know your Rights about Criminal Records check
Will moving to another state help a felon get a job?
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My name is Steve. I am 24 years old. In 2009 I
committed a crime consisting of Vandalism, Burglary, and Arson. I had
never been in trouble my entire life and grew up in a strict household.
I was with five other guys and I was the oldest. I was the only one to
turn myself in and give a full statement on the matter. It landed me on a
four year probation term and after that, it will be expunged from my
record. (THAT WAS THE PLEA AGREEMENT). It happened in Tennessee and now I
am currently living in Fort Wayne, IN.
There are a lot more jobs up here
than down there but the problem I am facing is that when I go to a temp agency that IS SUPPOSED TO HELP FELONS FIND WORK they tell me that my
current felonies together seen on paper would make it really hard for a
potential client to take interest in my employment. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO
DO. I have not been in trouble since my sentencing. I am a proud step
father now of three and I have already completed two full years on my
probation.
Felon can't get by Past Criminal Record
Hello Steve,
I'm sorry you are having so much trouble. I meet people everyday that have done some really stupid things when they were younger and are still paying the price as they get older. My advice to them is to apply, apply apply for as many jobs as they feel they are qualified for. I tell felons looking for jobs that finding a job is a numbers game. The more jobs you apply for, the more interviews you will get. The more interviews you get, the greater the chance you will find an employer who will give you a shot a job. Felons get hired everyday. It's all about finding job leads and applying.
When you get an interview and the question about your record comes up, acknowledge that you made some mistakes when you were younger. Don't spend a lot of time talking about the mistakes, but focus on the things you have done to improve yourself and your attitude since. You may say something like this:
I was into some things when I was younger that landed me in jail. Jail is a tough place to be but I made the best of a bad situation. I had a job which taught me respect for authority and patience through hard work. I can honestly say, today I am a different person than I was going in. If you give me this opportunity I’ll make the most of it.
As far as applying to temporary agencies, you may have more success applying to small privately owned agencies rather than large national companies. Smaller businesses in general are more flexible when it comes to hiring felons. Use the state sponsored employment service. Each state has a network of offices that assists individuals in finding jobs. They also provide a long list of services that help you get a job or find a career. Some services are, resume preparation, and interviewing skills. There lists of open jobs in your area. Each offices has trained counselors that can provide individualized assistance. Many of the counselors have experience helping ex-offenders and felons get jobs. You can find the nearest office in any community at:
Jobs for felons: Ten Simple Steps to Getting a Job with a Criminal Record
Jobs for Felons: Know your rights in regard to Criminal Background Checks
Jobs for Felons: How Employers Look at Criminal Records
Companies Hire Felons | Companies That Hire Felons | Companies That Hire Ex-offenders | Employers That Hire Ex-offenders | Employers That Hire Felons | Jobs For Felons | Jobs For Ex-offenders | Jobs That Hire Felons | Resumes for Felons | Felon Friendly Jobs | Felon Friendly Employers | Jobs for Felons | Jobs For People That Have Felonies | Jobs For People With A Criminal Record
CEO Isabelle Day of Quality Ingredients of Burnsville was having difficulty filling jobs last year when she read a Star Tribune column about hiring former inmates.
Starting pay is $15 an hour and can reach $40,000 a year, and employees get annual bonuses, health care and a retirement plan.
Day and her plant manager work through Twin Cities Rise, the nonprofit trainer that puts ex-inmates and other low-income folks through a rigorous curriculum of personal empowerment, training and soft-skill development before placing them in internships, at temp agencies or in full-time jobs.
“These are great people who have made mistakes,” Day said. “In many cases, these people are stronger than somebody walking off the street to apply. The work is tough. We see a sincerity and great communication skills. They tend to be respectful, thoughtful and mature.”
As the job market gets tighter, employers are slowly turning to nonprofits such as Rise, Emerge, Building Better Futures, Summit Academy, Genesys Works, Goodwill Easter Seals and others that help former felons build skills and land decent jobs.
“We are safer when these guys have jobs and housing,” said CEO Dan Pfarr of 180 Degrees. “We are their step from prison to the civilian world.”
The Minneapolis nonprofit serves men on parole as they move from prison to community with short-term housing and counseling. It links them to training and organizations connected to employers. It has to happen quickly. Most parolees get only 60 to 90 days to get housing and find a job, with expenses covered by the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
The transition from prison to work, and civilian society, is not easy, particularly if you have been locked up 10 or 15 years and never operated a cellphone or computer. It also takes the right mind-set and a willingness to beat the odds.
Close to 60 percent of Minnesota inmates are back in prison within two years.
Minnesota has a lower-than-average incarceration rate but one of the highest rates of people on probation, which can end up being a “back door” to prison re-entry.
More than half of those returning to prison are on parole violations, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Pfarr and Richard Coffey, 180 Degrees program director, said the violations often are for noncriminal acts, such as being late or taking a different route than prescribed to training or jobs.
“These guys, and we deal with about 300 a year, get a case manager and we work with them on a plan. Some of them have some training. I’m impressed with many of them. Life for them can be daunting,” Pfarr said.
Low jobless rate’s upside
The good news is that the low unemployment rate is prompting employers to warm to hiring former inmates.
Tony Bulmer, a former prisoner, has moved up over six months from a laborer position to a $20 supervisory position at Gregory Foods in Eagan. He’s also moving from a 180 Degrees residence to his own room in September.
“I’m taking this opportunity to the fullest,” said Bulmer, 31, also a trained diesel mechanic.
Bulmer grew up working in a family-owned bakery and likes machinery, which has helped in his new role.
“If I can see how it works, I can figure out how to do it,” he said.
A groundbreaking report last year by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) provides a road map into the “successes of corporate policies giving formerly incarcerated Americans a fair chance at re-entry.”
It’s been embraced by large employers including Google, Total Wine, the Ford Foundation, the Open Society Foundation, Koch Industries, Walmart and other companies.
Locally, Quality Ingredients, Target, Bremer Bank and numerous small businesses are on board.
And Rise and its national partner, Root & Rebound, which advocates for former inmates, have received great response from local employers for their “Minnesota Employers’ Fair Chance Hiring Guide.”
The guide takes employers through legal compliance and risk minimization, background checks, the rewards of hiring a second-chance worker, best practices for “onboarding” former inmates and strategies for helping them integrate into the workforce.
As the Minnesota prison system and number of prisoners and parolees generally ballooned over the last 30 years, in part because of mandatory sentences for drug and other nonviolent offenses, the state has spent disproportionately less on education, training and employment services.
Louis King, CEO of Summit Academy, which works with low-income people to earn high school-equivalency degrees, and train for entry-level posts in building trades, IT and health care, has said the best social-welfare program is gaining skills, and showing up for a living-wage job.CEO Isabelle Day of Quality Ingredients of Burnsville was having difficulty filling jobs last year when she read a Star Tribune column about hiring former inmates.
“Turnover was high and we were using [costly] temporary agencies for labor,” she recalled.
Today, six of the 60 factory workers on the floor of Quality Ingredients are ex-offenders.
Starting pay is $15 an hour and can reach $40,000 a year, and employees get annual bonuses, health care and a retirement plan.
Day and her plant manager work through Twin Cities Rise, the nonprofit trainer that puts ex-inmates and other low-income folks through a rigorous curriculum of personal empowerment, training and soft-skill development before placing them in internships, at temp agencies or in full-time jobs.
“These are great people who have made mistakes,” Day said. “In many cases, these people are stronger than somebody walking off the street to apply. The work is tough. We see a sincerity and great communication skills. They tend to be respectful, thoughtful and mature.”
As the job market gets tighter, employers are slowly turning to nonprofits such as Rise, Emerge, Building Better Futures, Summit Academy, Genesys Works, Goodwill Easter Seals and others that help former felons build skills and land decent jobs.
“We are safer when these guys have jobs and housing,” said CEO Dan Pfarr of 180 Degrees. “We are their step from prison to the civilian world.”
The Minneapolis nonprofit serves men on parole as they move from prison to community with short-term housing and counseling. It links them to training and organizations connected to employers. It has to happen quickly. Most parolees get only 60 to 90 days to get housing and find a job, with expenses covered by the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
The transition from prison to work, and civilian society, is not easy, particularly if you have been locked up 10 or 15 years and never operated a cellphone or computer. It also takes the right mind-set and a willingness to beat the odds.
Close to 60 percent of Minnesota inmates are back in prison within two years.
Minnesota has a lower-than-average incarceration rate but one of the highest rates of people on probation, which can end up being a “back door” to prison re-entry.
More than half of those returning to prison are on parole violations, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Pfarr and Richard Coffey, 180 Degrees program director, said the violations often are for noncriminal acts, such as being late or taking a different route than prescribed to training or jobs.
“These guys, and we deal with about 300 a year, get a case manager and we work with them on a plan. Some of them have some training. I’m impressed with many of them. Life for them can be daunting,” Pfarr said.
Low jobless rate’s upside
The good news is that the low unemployment rate is prompting employers to warm to hiring former inmates.
Tony Bulmer, a former prisoner, has moved up over six months from a laborer position to a $20 supervisory position at Gregory Foods in Eagan. He’s also moving from a 180 Degrees residence to his own room in September.
“I’m taking this opportunity to the fullest,” said Bulmer, 31, also a trained diesel mechanic.
Bulmer grew up working in a family-owned bakery and likes machinery, which has helped in his new role.
“If I can see how it works, I can figure out how to do it,” he said.
A groundbreaking report last year by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) provides a road map into the “successes of corporate policies giving formerly incarcerated Americans a fair chance at re-entry.”
It’s been embraced by large employers including Google, Total Wine, the Ford Foundation, the Open Society Foundation, Koch Industries, Walmart and other companies.
Locally, Quality Ingredients, Target, Bremer Bank and numerous small businesses are on board.
And Rise and its national partner, Root & Rebound, which advocates for former inmates, have received great response from local employers for their “Minnesota Employers’ Fair Chance Hiring Guide.”
The guide takes employers through legal compliance and risk minimization, background checks, the rewards of hiring a second-chance worker, best practices for “onboarding” former inmates and strategies for helping them integrate into the workforce.
As the Minnesota prison system and number of prisoners and parolees generally ballooned over the last 30 years, in part because of mandatory sentences for drug and other nonviolent offenses, the state has spent disproportionately less on education, training and employment services.
Louis King, CEO of Summit Academy, which works with low-income people to earn high school-equivalency degrees, and train for entry-level posts in building trades, IT and health care, has said the best social-welfare program is gaining skills, and showing up for a living-wage job.
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I am a Black Man in America in 2018. I am having difficulty
getting any employment because of a 1977 felony conviction. Since
I got out in 1979, I got my college degree and two teaching
licenses in two states-Indiana and Illinois. My “inability” to
get employment seems as if this is nothing but a higher form of
Jim Crow.
I realize that I am not by myself but this appears so unfair to
people that are trying to live a totally new life. So many
people talk about “rehabilitation” but it seems as if it is just
talk. I have also been a member of NA and AA for 32 years. I had
a drug problem and I knew that if I resumed my habit, I would
have returned to the penitentiary. I took care of that first
because it was so important to do that.
I taught school for the public schools system for 13 years. I
disclosed my felony conviction to the school
system and it didn’t pose a problem to the system. Why is it
posing a problem now?
I served my time and I have totally changed my life. Will I have
to pay for this the rest of my life. I was 26 years old
when this happened and I am now 64 years old.
The law needs to be changed. Once a person serves his/her time
that should be the end of it.
I don’t understand how I taught for the school system for 13
years and my background was disclosed.
There also has been no recidivism in my case. I can understand
people going back to the penitentiary but I have only gone once.
What I have done with my life should matter but it does
not. I always thought that the goal of incarceration was
rehabilitation. Is it really?? Incarceration has become a viable
business.
People can change their lives. By not allowing someone to change
their life is such a grave mistake.
Why shouldn’t I be bitter? I will never give up in what seems as
if an uphill battle. Racism is still here. I could care less
about having a Black president.
Jobs for
Felons: Can I teach with an old
Felony?
Hello,
That's quite a story. I'm
not sure why you were let go after so many years even though you
disclosed the conviction at the time of your hire. As for
having a Black President, the food he eats doesn't fill my
belly.
It's easy to be discouraged and start
doubting yourself and society as a whole. Instead, lets
concentrate on some things that perhaps we haven't though about
before as alternatives. Don't give up hope of being a
teacher. In fact, you have already done the hard
part. You have a degree and you are already
certified. You have another very important quality.
You have experience and the wisdom and maturity of an older
person. All you will need now is to find teaching opportunities where your
conviction will matter a lot less than it does to the public
school system. There are many alternatives to teaching in
the public school system. In fact I encourage many of my
students who are ex-offenders and felons and also
have college degrees to pursue teaching as a career. Let's
look at a few options.
Private Schools
- These schools are supported by a private
organization or private individuals rather than by the government
and therefore may have quite different eligibility requirements.
Career Schools - A career or vocational school
is different from a four year college. Instead of taking
four years to get a degree, a vocational school allows students
to get specialized training in specific career fields in two
years or less. These schools also require courses in
general subjects like math, English and science just like
traditional colleges.
Community Colleges - Community colleges,
sometimes called junior colleges, are two-year schools that
provide affordable education as a pathway to a four-year degree
or a particular career.
Community colleges prepare students for jobs that require higher
education or workforce training. Typically community
colleges work with employers to develop flexible, affordable and
relevant training programs and partner with businesses which meet
local commercial and regional economic needs. These colleges also
have traditional degree programs.
Charter Schools - Charter schools are
independent schools that have received a charter, which is a set
of self-written rules and goals which determine how the school
will be structured and run. Generally, they are able to organize
a school that operates outside the control of the local school
district but still funded by local, state, and federal tax
money. Essentially charter schools are free public schools
that don't have to follow the same regulations as the local
school district.
These are just a few options I can think of just off the top of
my head. There maybe a lot more but this is a start. If you
are fortunate enough to get interviews, be prepared to talk about
your conviction. As I tell all of my students in your
position, when asked about the conviction, briefly speak about it
and how it has changed your thinking and your approach to
life. Focus the conversation on the time that has passed
and what you have done since then to improve yourself and how you
have used your own experiences to encourage young people not to
make the same mistakes that you have.
Just don't let your recent stumble keep you from moving forward.
Best of luck to you.
Jobs for Felons: The Facts
about Companies that Hire Ex offenders and Felons (2018)
Jobs for Felons: Can I
teach with an old Felony?
companies hire felons |
companies that hire felons |
Companies that hire ex-offenders | Employers that hire
ex-offenders | employers that hire felons | Jobs for felons | jobs for
ex-offenders | jobs that hire felons | places that hire felons
| felon friendly jobs | felon friendly employers | how to get a
job with criminal record | second chance jobs for felons
| temp agencies that hire felons | high
paying jobs for felons
Edward Minor had a paper due for his English class on income inequality
at Wayne County Community College in Detroit. He’d completed all the
research and knew what he wanted to write. The main issue was time—he
only had a few hours.
But countless, frustrating obstacles delayed his progress, from the
laborious pace at which 62-year-old Minor types to figuring out how to
save his document. The final step, however, was really tripping him up.
Since he was using a computer at the library, he needed to email the
file to himself so he could edit it later on a different computer.
“Do I just put my email address up here?” Minor asked, pointing to
the bar at the top of the web browser. Eventually he got some help from a
computer technician, but he wasn’t confident he’d be able to find the
document later.
“They’re
doing it so fast and I’m trying to follow,” he says. “They don’t see
that there’s a baby right here in front of them. I’m a baby out here!”
Ed Minor types at the Detroit Public Library, wearing a pin with a photo of Angela Davis.Photo: Nick Hagen
Indeed, Minor’s relationship to the world isn’t so different from
that of an infant. That’s because, in October 2017, Minor was released
from prison after being incarcerated for more than 40 years. A
modern-day Rip Van Winkle (who left society for a mere two decades),
Minor is adrift in a society that left him behind.
The
hunt-and-peck typing method he employs, which itself is slower than
usual, is just the beginning of his technological difficulties. The
computers, wireless internet, and touch screens that many take for
granted are alien to him. Even looking at a computer screen—with all its
strange icons, commands, and windows—is like deciphering the Rosetta
Stone.
While Minor may be an extreme case, he squarely fits the
description of Americans who suffer most from the digital divide, a
phenomenon that describes how technology can contribute to inequality:
He’s elderly, he’s poor, and he’s a person of color.
Resolving the
divide’s underlying issues will be anything but simple, but the
negative effects are pretty straightforward. If you don’t have access to
the internet or the skills to use it, you also won’t have access to
countless jobs and resources. As Tom Wheeler, former chair of the FCC, said in 2015,
“The bottom line is this: If you are not connected to the internet…you
cannot participate fully in our economy and our democracy.”
As of 2015, Detroit was the least connected city in America. Forty percent of Detroit’s households have no broadband connection and 70 percent of its school-age kids have no internet access at home (excluding smartphones).
For its size, Detroit is woefully under-connected. But rural areas and small metropolises often have it worse. According to a Brookings Institute report,
almost one in four people in the United States lived in low
subscription neighborhoods in 2015. Fewer than 40 percent of households
subscribed to broadband internet.
Price is often an inhibiting factor. Detroit’s two main broadband
providers, Comcast and AT&T, respectively, offer plans for their
slowest connections at $25 for 12 months (and $50 afterwards) and $40
per month with a $99 installation fee.
Ed MinorPhoto: Nick Hagen
Federal programs can lower the cost of these plans, but a study by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance
(NDIA) showed that in Cleveland and Detroit, AT&T didn’t built out
the infrastructure sufficiently to provide residents with high enough
connection speeds to meet program guidelines. In other words, there’s a
major correlation between plan availability and poverty.
The NDIA
has described this as “digital redlining,” a reference to the practice
that denied people of color access to housing, and which ran rampant in
Detroit in the mid-1900s.
That’s in line with what Diana Nucera,
director of the Detroit Community Technology Project, has witnessed.
“Whether it’s artificial intelligence or internet access or healthcare,”
she says, “the problems of the digital divide all stem from the same
place: racism.”
I described Minor’s situation to Nucera and asked what she thought.
“If he’s a victim of the digital divide, he’s also a victim of several
other things before that,” she says. “It’s much more complicated than
giving this gentleman a computer.”
Before Minor ever went to prison, understanding modern-day technology was the least of his concerns.
He
came from a challenging home life. “My family were alcoholics,” he
says. “I never met my mother’s side of the family. My father’s side was
just drunks, dope fiends, dealing in corn liquor. My father was always
jumping on my mother; my uncles were always jumping on their
girlfriends.”
That contributed to his feeling aimless as a youth
growing up on Detroit’s west side. “I didn’t know what to do with my
life,” he says. “Didn’t want to do anything with my life.”
As for technology, his family didn’t even own a color TV.
“The problems of the digital divide all stem from the same place: racism.”
Minor was imprisoned once for seven months for breaking and entering.
When he was released, he wanted to pay back a favor for a friend that
helped him out while in prison. But the only way he knew how to get the
money was to steal it. Planning to mug someone outside a nightclub, he
says he brought an unloaded BB gun whereas his co-defendant, without
telling him, brought a real gun.
According to Minor, his accomplice shot the person they were mugging,
and after they were arrested, made a statement saying Minor committed
the murder. Minor says he was pressured by his lawyer and the judge to
plead guilty to second degree murder.
The sentence: life with parole.
Ed Minor checks the bus schedule on his phone.Photo: Nick Hagen
Since getting out of prison, Minor has lived with his cousin in
Southfield, an adjacent suburb of Detroit about 15 miles from downtown.
On a normal day, Minor wakes up at around 11am, eats breakfast, and
takes an hour and a half-long, two-bus transfer journey—with an
undersized bicycle in tow—to either the WCCC campus or Detroit Public
Library’s main branch. There he’ll do school work and develop his
computer skills for several hours before heading to his job as a
dishwasher at a nearby restaurant.
He often closes out, which
means leaving work at around midnight and catching one of the last rapid
buses heading north. At that time of night, the bus no longer runs for
the last four-mile leg home, so he either bikes or walks depending on
the weather. Once, the bus never came and his co-worker paid for a
rideshare. He rarely gets into bed before 3am.
While at the downtown library, the person assisting him is often
Keronce Sims, a computer technician. He teaches classes on computing
basics, but his main job is helping patrons and employees troubleshoot
computer issues. That means he’s often running from one request to the
next all day long.
“What aren’t I responsible for?” Sims says with
a laugh. “I’m one of three in the building…I’m putting out some
matches, some candles, some fires.”
Local libraries are common destinations
for people without computers or internet access. Detroit’s main branch
has about 80 computers and there’s no time limit on how long someone can
use one or, aside from games and X-rated content, what they can use
them for.
In his 30 years at the library, Sims has seen all types of people use
the computers for every conceivable reason: to apply for assistance,
look for work, write a thesis, sue someone, or just to watch videos and
go on Facebook.
Sometimes, according to Sims, people have panic attacks when trying
to take care of a stressful matter using a machine they don’t
understand. “I see it all the time,” he says. “I see a lot of
impairments. Some are dyslexic, some are recovering from a physical
injury or a stroke. Some are visually impaired. I’ve seen people with
missing digits.”
Sims has been working with Minor since the summer
and is encouraged by his effort. “Some people inquire about our
services but don’t show up,” he says. “But [Minor] showed up. He knew
nothing at first—the whole digital world was foreign to him.”
Keronce Sims helps Ed Minor navigate a computer at the Detroit Public Library.Photo: Nick Hagen
In addition to having a felony on his record, little free time in his
daily life, bad eyesight, hyperthyroidism, and no car, Minor also has
very little money, and few people he can rely on besides his cousin.
He’s also battling the type of culture shock that has nothing to do with
the digital world. Simply going to the supermarket is a stressful
experience that results in decision paralysis. “I stick to chocolate or
vanilla ice cream and white socks,” he says.
As director of DCTP,
Nucera oversees programs that foster use of technology based on
community need. One of those programs is the Equitable Internet Initiative,
which will provide 150 Detroit households with high-speed internet
access. The program also involved training 25 local “digital stewards,”
two of whom were in their late seventies, in hardware installation and
WiFi setup. Age matters, but it’s not the primary barrier.
Minor has a passion for housing. After he’s done taking his
prerequisites at WCCC, he’s planning to take classes on real estate.
Despite everything he’s been through, he’s remarkably optimistic.
“Oh, it’s gonna get done,” he says. “Keep doing what I’m doing, don’t cry about it, move with it. I feel I’m on a mission.”
Sims and Nucera both think he has the capacity to overcome his technological difficulties.
“Clearly
he’s extremely resilient,” Nucera says. “You don’t come out of prison
after 40 years as an optimistic man without having a sense of self and
being very intelligent. It’s not about his ability to learn. It’s about
whether or not society can accept someone who’s been in prison for that
long.”
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Claims of racial disparity in how criminal background checks are used led to $3.7M class-action settlement.
By Kavita Kumar Star Tribune
Target Corp. has agreed to pay $3.7 million to settle a lawsuit over concerns that the way it uses criminal background checks as part of the hiring process has disproportionately hurt black and Latino applicants. “Target’s background check policy was out of step with best practices and harmful to many qualified applicants who deserved a fair shot at a good job,” said Sherrilyn Ifill, president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which worked on the case. “Criminal background information can be a legitimate tool for screening job applicants, but only when appropriately linked to relevant questions such as how long ago the offense occurred and whether it was a nonviolent or misdemeanor offense.” As part of the settlement of the class-action complaint, independent consultants will recommend changes to Target’s current screening guidelines. For example, they will come up with a list of convictions that are not considered job-related and should not disqualify a person from a particular position. They will also review the company’s appeals process that offers candidates a chance to show evidence of rehabilitation. “We’re glad to resolve this and move forward,” the Minneapolis-based retailer said in a
statement. “At Target, we have a number of measures in place to ensure we’re fair and equitable in our hiring practices. … And in hiring, like the rest of our business, we hold diversity and inclusion as core values and strive to give everyone access to the same opportunities.” Maurice Emsellem, program director with advocacy group National Employment Law Project, said this is one of the largest settlements of its kind and will likely provide a model for other employers as they look to adopt better hiring practices and policies. In 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau agreed to pay $15 million to settle a similar class-action suit that involved an estimated 450,000 black and Latino applicants who may have been passed over for jobs because of background-check practices. “Employers are now way more tuned into the laws and policies that encourage them to create more fair practices to hire people with records,” Emsellem said. “But there’s still plenty of big employers and small employers who have a long way to go to clean up their policies.” As part of the settlement, which was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in New York, black and Latino applicants who were denied employment from a Target store because of a criminal-background check since May 2006 will be eligible for priority hiring or interviewing for current open positions. Alternately, they can seek a financial award of up to $1,000. Target is also giving $600,000 to five organizations that work to help individuals with criminal backgrounds find employment: AccessAbility’s Career & Educational Pathways program and RS Eden in Minnesota, Center for Employment Opportunities and the Fortune Society in New York, and A New Way of Life Reentry Project in California. In 2016, Target was among the companies that signed on to a White House pledge that encouraged employers to eliminate unnecessary barriers facing applicants with criminal records. Like many major employers, Target started using criminal background checks as part of its hiring process more than a decade ago. The retailer, which employs about 345,000 workers and is among the nation’s largest employers, used to ask job applicants about their criminal history on the initial application form. But as part of the so-called “Ban the Box” movement, critics complained that such screening at the outset made it difficult for ex-offenders to get jobs even if their offenses were from when they were young or were not pertinent to the positions for which they were applying. In 2013, Minnesota passed a law barring private employers from asking about criminal history on application forms. The following year, Target removed that question from its applications nationwide. “Now, we gather criminal background information in the final stages of the hiring process,” Target said in a statement. “This ensures individuals are considered for employment based on their qualifications, interview and availability.” However, the company said it still believes it’s important to consider conviction history. “Individuals are given an opportunity to explain their criminal history and provide information about the circumstances, mitigating factors, good conduct and rehabilitation,” the company said. “We exclude applicants whose criminal histories could pose a risk to our guests, team members or property, and design our process to treat all applicants fairly while maintaining a safe and secure working and shopping environment for team members and guests.” According to the lawsuit, Target’s policies mandated automatic rejection of applicants for broad categories of misdemeanors and felonies such as violence, theft and controlled substances convictions within seven years of applying. If an application required further review, it was forwarded to Target’s human resources division, which used its discretion to make a final determination “rather than apply any objective or validated measures,” the complaint said. Such a screening process imported “the racial and ethnic disparities that exist in the criminal justice system into the employment process, thereby multiplying the negative impact on African-American and Latino job applicants,” the lawsuit said, noting that those groups are arrested and incarcerated at rates much higher than whites. The plaintiffs in the case included Carnella Times, a 47-year-old black woman who applied for an overnight stocker position at a Target store in Connecticut in 2006. She was disqualified because of two misdemeanor convictions from 10 years earlier. The following year, she filed a discrimination charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which issued her a right to sue in 2015 after years of investigation.
Another plaintiff was Erving Smith, a 40-year-old black man who applied for a stocker position at a store in Pittsburgh in 2014. He was denied the job because of a drug-related felony conviction from 2004.
Jobs for Felons: The Facts about Companies that Hire Ex offenders and Felons (2018)
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