To: The New Jersey State House, The New Jersey State Senate, and Governor Phil Murphy
End lifetime bans and limit background checks to 7 years for 2nd degree and lower non violent off...
It is time for change. The laws of New Jersey in their current form are more harmful than good. The lifetime bans on those with criminal convictions eliminate the chances of rehabilitation and employment. In our post 9/11 world, more and more industries have turned to background checks to filter out possible terrorists and those who may be involved in current criminal activity. However, there is a negative side to this practice.
Two weeks ago in the borough of Leonia NJ volunteer fire chief David Bohnert was fired after a background check showed a 15 year old conviction for lewdness. Lt. Arnold Davenport was also fired in the same process for a twenty plus year old marijuana conviction. Here are two men who cared so much for their fellow man that they routinely put their lives on the line FOR NO PAY to help strangers. And their reward? They were dismissed for dated criminal convictions that had absolutely NO bearing on their current positions.
In the case of first degree violent crimes, i.e. murder, rape, arson, kidnapping and anything involving the use of a firearm or other weapon that resulted in harm to another or property, the lifetime bans and background checks may well benefit society and more closely meet the principles the framers of the law meant in its writing. But to place a wholesale moniker of "Criminal" and having all convicted suffer collateral consequences and lifetime bans is cruel and unusual punishment, especially in our current economy.
In the National Employment Law report "65 Million Need Not Apply" a study by Shawn Bushway and Gary Sweeten is cited that showed that an offender who has been released from custody or parole and has not re-offended for 7 years after release has the same risk factor to offend as someone who never committed a crime.
By ending lifetime bans and limiting background checks to 7 years, we are increasing fairness in hiring, bringing more qualified and willing workers into the workforce, instilling pride, introducing more volunteers who just want to help their neighbors and reducing recidivism by allowing people to honestly provide for themselves and their families and not return to crime out of desperation to survive.
By signing this petition, you are helping people who may have made a mistake by poor judgement or the foolishness of youth. You are helping someone who was convicted of a second degree or lower non violent offense, and that has lived a law abiding life for at least 7 years, obtain and keep honest work, or provide volunteer services to their communities.
The NJ Rehabilitated Criminal Offender Act and the Ban the Box movement don't go far enough in helping our citizens. An employer allowed to discover a 20 year old minor conviction will just be more creative in finding an excuse not to hire an otherwise qualified and willing worker. Please sign and help 65 million people get a fair chance at work.
Two weeks ago in the borough of Leonia NJ volunteer fire chief David Bohnert was fired after a background check showed a 15 year old conviction for lewdness. Lt. Arnold Davenport was also fired in the same process for a twenty plus year old marijuana conviction. Here are two men who cared so much for their fellow man that they routinely put their lives on the line FOR NO PAY to help strangers. And their reward? They were dismissed for dated criminal convictions that had absolutely NO bearing on their current positions.
In the case of first degree violent crimes, i.e. murder, rape, arson, kidnapping and anything involving the use of a firearm or other weapon that resulted in harm to another or property, the lifetime bans and background checks may well benefit society and more closely meet the principles the framers of the law meant in its writing. But to place a wholesale moniker of "Criminal" and having all convicted suffer collateral consequences and lifetime bans is cruel and unusual punishment, especially in our current economy.
In the National Employment Law report "65 Million Need Not Apply" a study by Shawn Bushway and Gary Sweeten is cited that showed that an offender who has been released from custody or parole and has not re-offended for 7 years after release has the same risk factor to offend as someone who never committed a crime.
By ending lifetime bans and limiting background checks to 7 years, we are increasing fairness in hiring, bringing more qualified and willing workers into the workforce, instilling pride, introducing more volunteers who just want to help their neighbors and reducing recidivism by allowing people to honestly provide for themselves and their families and not return to crime out of desperation to survive.
By signing this petition, you are helping people who may have made a mistake by poor judgement or the foolishness of youth. You are helping someone who was convicted of a second degree or lower non violent offense, and that has lived a law abiding life for at least 7 years, obtain and keep honest work, or provide volunteer services to their communities.
The NJ Rehabilitated Criminal Offender Act and the Ban the Box movement don't go far enough in helping our citizens. An employer allowed to discover a 20 year old minor conviction will just be more creative in finding an excuse not to hire an otherwise qualified and willing worker. Please sign and help 65 million people get a fair chance at work.
Why is this important?
Far too many have been caught up in the all encompassing snare of collateral consequences of criminal conviction. After being incarcerated and denied physical freedom, and after paying restitution and/or fines, the debt to society is paid. It is cruel and unusual punishment to make a 2nd degree or lower non violent offender suffer collateral consequences for life, and be kept from honest work or volunteering.