During the past few years, there has been a major push to make it easier for people with a criminal record to find gainful employment. The reality is that many of the laws that prohibit people with a criminal record and getting a job in their chosen occupations are incredibly archaic and outdated. Instead of focusing on punishing people who have a criminal record, it is important to make it easier for them to find work. After all, the goal of punishing people who committed a crime is to turn them into productive members of society. That is how we all move forward. At the same time, it can still be incredibly difficult for people who have a criminal record to get a job doing anything at all. This doesn’t do anyone any favors. Therefore, it is important to take a look at why people with a criminal record should be able to find work and how this process can be made easier.
Why Should People with a Criminal Record Be Allowed To Get Another Job?
On the surface, people with a criminal record are not seeing as the most sympathetic people. After all, they have committed a crime and many people believe the day is over everything they get. This could not be further from the truth. First, many people who have a criminal record have committed minor crimes. Often, these are crimes committed when they were much younger and they are completely different people now. Therefore, the idea that they should be prevented from getting a job is simply not true. Morally, this is not the right stance to take. Of course, there are other reasons to address as well.
In addition, it is also important to highlight that it is not the role of employers to punish people who have committed a crime, particularly one that has been committed a long time in the past. It is the role of the justice system to punish people who have committed a crime. By denying people who have a criminal record and opportunity for gainful employment, this is, effectively, creating double jeopardy. Furthermore, this is punishing people for a crime that they have already been punished for. Employers should not have the power to punish people who committed a crime. This amounts to vigilante justice.
Next, it is also important to highlight the point that the goal of this country is to reduce the recidivism rate of people who have committed a crime. In order to reduce the recidivism rate, it is important to make it easier for them to get a job. The reality is that the vast majority of people who commit a second crime and after being released from prison commit this crime because they want to stay alive. When people are unable to get a job, they are unable to put food on their table, unable to provide for their families, and unable to keep a roof over their heads. Therefore, they are driven to commit crimes in order to survive. This is another reason why people with a criminal record should be able to get a job. If individuals are able to make an honest living, they will not have to commit dishonest or unscrupulous acts in order to survive. Making it easier for people with a criminal record to get a job will reduce the recidivism rate which is better for society.
In addition, making it easier for people with a criminal record to get a job is also better for society. The reality is that society spends a tremendous amount of money on his prison population every year. This is money that is better spent elsewhere. In order to free up the money that is spent keeping people in prison, it is important to reduce the prison population. Making it easier for people with a criminal record to get a job will do this.
Finally, it is also important to make it easier for people with a criminal record to get a job because, in many cases, the criminal record has nothing to do with the job for which they are applying. If a crime someone has committed in the past has nothing to do with the job they are applying for, that should not have any bearing on whether or not they get that job. These are individuals who simply want the opportunity to make an honest living. Therefore, they should be afforded this opportunity. Now, it is important to take a closer look at how does can be done.
How To Make It Easier for People with a Criminal Record To Get a Job
The reality is that it is still very difficult for people with a criminal record to get a job. In order to make this process easier, laws have to change. Some of the key points that everyone has to keep in mind when they are trying to reform criminal justice laws include:
- A law has to be put in place to prohibit the blanket rejection of any applicant with a conviction history
- Any law that is in place has to incorporate additional factors such as whether or not the conviction as related to someone’s occupation and how much time has passed since that conviction took place
- It is critical to also make sure that any law incorporates a limit when it comes to the scope of record inquiry, such as considerations with regards to the types of information that are being requested
- The law may also require the consideration of rehabilitation the individual has gone through
Today, many states have put forward laws that are designed to make it easier for people with a criminal record to get a job. The reality is that these laws still have to be passed by the local state legislators. Then, it remains to be seen how these laws are going to be implemented.
Once the laws have been put into place, it was important to monitor them closely. They need to be implemented with good faith by various State Licensing Boards. If the laws work well, then they create a blueprint for other states to follow suit. This will make it much easier for people to get a job.
Looking to the Future: Changing the Stigma Surrounding a Criminal Past
The reality is that just because someone has a criminal record does not necessarily mean they are a bad person. When this conviction has nothing to do with the job they are applying for, it should not hold sway over whether or not that individual is able to find gainful employment. It remains to be seen how the attitude of society will continue to change when it comes to individuals with a criminal record applying for a job. By providing everyone with a chance to provide for themselves and their family, it is possible to significantly reduce the burden that people with a criminal record have on society. Morally, this is simply the right thing to do.
