WASHINGTON — The federal government will no longer ask job applicants whether they have a criminal record, under a new policy announced Monday by President Obama.
The decision to “ban the box” on federal employment applications comes as part of a broader package of criminal-justice reforms intended to help ex-prisoners stay out of prison.
Obama announced the change during a visit to a substance abuse treatment program in Newark, describing it as part of a broader effort to reintegrate ex-prisoners into society — at a time when US prisons hold 2.2 million inmates.
“There’s people who have been through tough times. They’ve made mistakes. But with a little help, they can get on the right path,” Obama said at the Integrity House drug treatment center.
Under the new order, the feds can still ask about an applicant’s record but must wait until later in the interview process.
Obama said millions of Americans have problems even “getting a foot in the door” because of questions about past convictions. He said 70 million Americans have some sort of criminal record.
“We can’t dismiss people out of hand simply because of a mistake that they made in the past,” Obama said.
An estimated 600,000 inmates leave prison each year.
Obama met with former convicts trying to move beyond their past crimes.
Among them was Stephanie Luna, who pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine.
Her conviction could have put her away for 20 years, but instead she is receiving drug treatment at Integrity House — and managed to get a hug from the president for trying to turn around her life.
Obama also mentioned Ashley Sinclair, who he said spent most of her 21 years on the streets and became involved in crime — only to get on a better path and land a job with the Newark sanitation department.
“So today, instead of getting in trouble on the streets, she’s earned a paycheck cleaning up those streets,” Obama said.
The New York City Council enacted similar legislation last summer that prohibits businesses from asking about prior convictions in initial applications.
The White House also announced $8 million in grants to educate felons and provide job training. The announcement coincides with the release of about 6,000 drug felons from prisons nationwide.