Second Chance: Impede Recidivism

Question on job applications ask "if ever convicted of felony?" with disclaimer that answering yes will not hinder consideration for employment when in fact it does. However, if it doesn't why ask? Maybe the question should be followed by "how long ago was the conviction?" Employers cannot ask a persons age on an application and a person has the option to answer the question about race. Omitting these questions help to curtail discrimination against age and race. Ex offenders like my significant other, who has been released from prison and has had no other issues with the law since 1996, can't get pass this issue. If an offender has paid their debt to society and have had no other run ins with the law in almost 17 years, shouldn't they be given a second chance? By not giving these people another chance to change their lives could result in desperation acts of trying to provide for themselves or a family.