Politics & Government
4-4 Deadlock Doesn't Deter 'Ban the Box' Supporters
"We need to give people a chance to get back into society," a Presbyterian minister says. "If they pay their debt (to society), we should give them a chance."
Genesee County commissioners are deadlocked, 4-4, on a “Ban the Box” law that would make it illegal to ask potential employees to disclose their criminal pasts on initial applications for county government positions, but supporters aren’t giving up on a law they say will help curb hiring discrimination.
Currently, applicants for county jobs are asked: “Have you ever been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor, not including civil citations, but including juvenile offenses?”
One in four Americans would answer “yes” to that question, says the National Employment Law Project is urging Genesee County commissioners to eliminate it from initial applications.
Find out what's happening in Fentonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Requiring criminal history disclosures on initial applications often results in employers ignoring candidates who might otherwise be qualified, the NELP says.
Other supporters are determined not to give up.
Find out what's happening in Fentonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Joe Eufinger, who coached football for Flint Central High school from 1976-2001, told county commissioners at a recent meeting to approve the new policy. He described one former student whose felony conviction resulting from poor judgment might be a barrier, telling officials “if you had a face-to-face with that man, you would have hired him in a minute.”
The National Employment Law Project is urging Genesee County commissioners to change hiring policies so job applicants no longer have to be asked about felony and misdemeanor convictions when they first apply for public jobs with the county. That isn’t a license for applicants to hide their criminal pasts, because the county would still be able to do criminal background checks on finalists.
At that point, NELP says, they would be able to explain extenuating circumstances or why employers shouldn’t be dissuaded from hiring them.
Ban the Box is intended to help people assimilate back into society after their release from jail or prison and lead productive lives, curb systemic discrimination, and reduce unemployment, currently around 10 percent in Genesee County.
The county doesn’t have a policy against hiring candidates with criminal backgrounds.
One commissioner, Flushing Democrat Archie Bailey, said he would change his vote against eliminating the question if employers could ask job candidates up front if they’ve ever been convicted of crimes against children.
Also voting against the proposal were Fenton Township Republican Tony Brown, Grand Blanc Democrat Mark Young and Burton Democrat Jamie Curtis.
Voting for it were Flint Democrats Omar Sims and Brenda Clack, Clayton Township Democrat Ted Henry and Richfield Township Democrat Pegge Adams.Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.