Help for felons is hard to find. This happens due to their past stigma. Yes, people should repent for their sins. But, not giving ex-felons chances for a fresh start after ending their sentences does nothing but only increases recidivism rates.
Also, not all crimes have the same severity. Felonies contain different types of crimes. Like, a shoplifter and a murderer have different felony charges. This necessitates not giving them the same treatment.
Also, the making of a healthy society can use skills from all, including ex-felons. But, biased job checks hardly give a chance to ex-criminals. However, many states and organizations have relaxed the norms. One such great example is Indiana’s new law for background checks.
What is Indiana’s New Law for Background Check?
The new law aims to remove the biased attitudes ex-felons face during job interviews. To do so, Governor Eric Holcomb issued an executive order in 2017.
The executive order gave the details of “fair chance hiring.” This never stops employers from running background checks on employees. But, the order prevents treating crime records as the initial disqualification factor.
Besides, it gives ex-felons the chance to explain their charges to employers during the hiring process. They can discuss record inaccuracies with potential employers. Also, the new law stops employers from focusing on anyone’s arrest records more than 7 years old.
The new law presents an attempt to “ban the box.” But, sadly, it cannot compensate for the lost chances of previous felons.
What happens if employers fail to follow the New Law?
The new law applies to job opportunities in the public sector. This means employers in the public sector should follow the new order. They are no longer free to conduct checks in whichever way they want.
Also, this new law prevents them from searching sealed and restricted crime records. Most importantly, this prevention carries implications for reporting agencies or criminal history providers. These agencies can no longer search sealed or removed records of ex-felon job candidates.
Moreover, not following the law acts as a legal offense. This may end in giving fines. Also, you earn a bad spot for not following the law.
Thus, you need to know this law well as an HR, employer, or search agency. Employers must ensure following the law during the hiring or interviewing of ex-felons.
Can this New Law offer help for Felons?
The new law ensures help for felons. This frees the ex-felons from getting asked uneasy questions during job applications.
Also, the law helps candidates with sealed or restricted records. They can look for jobs without imposed barriers. This aims to give fair chances to ex-felons.
But, the new law lacks specific rules. Like, it does not dictate the actions of felons if they come across an employer not following the order. The new law could have included legal implications for job hunters as a more sustainable help for felons.
Final Thoughts
Help for felons can be given sustainably. We can take Indiana’s new law as an example. This law states the details of fair hiring.
This order removes unfair practices aimed at ex-felons. This helps ex-felons with sealed or removed records.
A law like this act as practical help to reduce relapse rates into crimes. This brings good attempts for second chance jobs for felons in society.
We hope Indiana’s new law helps ex-felons start a life away from crime.
