Ban the Box News Story
SAN FRANCISCO -- Truck driver Vertis Williams says he's applied for 80 jobs since last August but can't get an interview anywhere because of one question on the application forms: have you ever been convicted of a felony?
"I believe that is the reason why I've been denied so many opportunities," said Williams.
Williams is an ex-felon who was released last May after serving nine years for car theft and other violations.
He admits he made mistakes and says he's rehabilitated. But Williams claims that disclosing his felony conviction gives potential employers an excuse to ignore him.
Studies show a clear link between employment opportunities and reduced recidivism rates for ex-offenders. Advocates for ex-felons say the good news is that at least six states and 26 large cities and counties nationwide have recently "banned the box," eliminating the felony question for public job applications.
It's an issue that has gaining increasing importance as California awaits a Supreme Court ruling on whether thousands of prisoners must be granted early release into their communities.
"If people who are coming out of prison can't feed their families, cannot pay their rent, then some of them are going to go back to trying make money through criminal activity," said Linda Evans, who works with All of Us Or None, a national organizing initiative of former prisoners to combat the many forms of discrimination ex-felons face.
Jerry Elster served 27 years in San Quentin Prison for a gang-related homicide. He's now doing volunteer work to help young parolees find jobs.
"You have the basic necessities: clothing, housing and food. And if you don't have employment, you can't provide any of those," said Elster. "These men are just basically out there in the streets."
Advocates for former prisoners say finding work for ex-felons benefits everyone. The challenge is finding jobs in a tight employment market.
"In this economy, we have many, many job applicants, said San Francisco County Human Resources Director Micki Callahan. "Some of them have criminal histories. Most of them do not."
San Francisco banned the box for city and county job applicants about five years ago. County officials say conviction history only comes up when the applicant is a finalist for a job.
The county works with the California Department of Justice to do fingerprint checks on all new hires. Ex-felons are ineligible for public safety jobs, such as police or probation officers and juvenile counselors. There's also an appeals process for applicants who feel they've been discriminated against.
"I think that we can also hope to be an example to other employers who may be resistant to employing people with conviction histories," said Callahan.
In San Francisco's upscale Hayes Valley shopping district, small business owners told KTVU there are more important hiring factors than an applicant's criminal past.
"I never check that, " said Enrico Perella, the owner of Bulo Shoes. "However, I need the people and then based on the reference I call them up and I check each reference."
Perella went on to say he would hire an ex-felon without worrying about potential problems.
"I think if you're given a chance to work, earn some money, I think people tend to be good people," said Perella.
Vertis Williams hopes more private employers will ban the box for those who want to work.
"I made a mistake but I'm here to try to improve myself. And hopefully someone will give me that opportunity," said Williams.