Fair employment news and resources

The National Employment Law Project (NELP) recently published its November 2016 On the Record: Fair Employment newsletter which provides links and information on a number of interesting developments related to collateral consequences and criminal record mitigation.  The full newsletter is available below:

 

National Employment Law Project

On the Record: Fair Employment Newsletter

November 2016

NEW RESOURCES

Employment Opportunities for Justice-Involved Youth 

In a new report, NELP explores model youth employment programs and takes a careful look at existing programs for vulnerable youth, including justice-involved and foster care youth.

FAIR CHANCE

Unfair Barriers to Licensing and How to Address Them 

NELP’s new piece in Democracy Journal highlights occupational licensing barriers for people with records and suggests policy solutions. (For more information, check out NELP’s report, “Unlicensed & Untapped.”)

Additional Evidence that Ban-the-Box Works

New numbers from Richmond, Virginia reveal that approximately one in four applicants deemed eligible for hire has had a record—and most end up getting a job.

New Cities Adopt Fair-Chance Policies

North Las Vegas adopted a policy, Tempe, Arizona delayed conviction inquiries via changes to the city personnel rules, and Milwaukee did so by ordinance.

FEDERAL

New EEOC Strategic Enforcement Plan for 2017 to 2021

In its updated, 5-year strategic enforcement plan, the EEOC stresses eliminating barriers in employer recruitment and hiring.

How to Advance Diversity in Law Enforcement

A new report from the EEOC and DOJ reiterates the importance of increasing diversity in law enforcement and suggests reforms to help achieve that goal, including through more individualized consideration of any arrest or conviction history or past drug use.

DOJ Says Landlords Must Carefully Tailor Background Check Policies

The Justice Department filed a statement of interest in an E.D.N.Y. case, arguing that when a housing provider considers conviction records of prospective tenants, the Fair Housing Act requires it take care not to disproportionately disqualify people of color.

STATES

California Commission Report on Easing Barriers to Occupational Licensing

The Little Hoover Commission issued a new report, recommending reforms to California occupational licensing laws and regulations, including eliminating self-reporting of records and increased transparency regarding how licensing boards evaluate records and candidates.

Criminal Justice Issues on State Ballots this November

Voters in various states have the opportunity to vote on important issues including the death penalty, sentencing for nonviolent offenders, bail reform, victims’ rights, and drug possession as a felony.

RESEARCH

Potential Criminal Justice Policy Solutions and How to Talk About Them

A new report from the Opportunity Agenda, “Transforming the System,” suggests how advocates might most effectively talk about policy reforms to address the broken U.S. criminal justice system.

Confronting Criminal Justice Debt via Litigation and Policy Reform

New guides suggest how to leverage litigation and policy reform efforts to address fines and fees imposed by the criminal justice system and their disproportionate impact on people of color.

MEDIA

New Documentary Examines the Thirteenth Amendment and Mass Incarceration

In her new documentary 13th, director Ava DuVernay takes a hard look at the Thirteenth Amendment and how racism and forms of modern-day slavery persist in the United States.

Halloween is Behind Us, But a Record Can Haunt You Indefinitely

Check out this short quiz from the Marshall Project as a way to spread knowledge about the pervasiveness and longevity of collateral consequences.