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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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