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Tell Nebraska to Ban the Box!
  1. Signatures
    467 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. The Governor of NE (+ 2 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The Governor of NE
      • The NE State Senate
      • The NE State House
  2. Created By
    Elizabeth Renter
    Clayton, NC
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Imagine struggling to find gainful employment despite your qualifications and talents, all because of a mistake made decades ago--paying for a crime long after your prison sentence has been fulfilled or years after being discharged from probation.  The corrections system is designed, among other things, to dole out penalties for crimes. From probation to prison time, there are many ways in which we hold violators of criminal laws accountable in this country. But once these penalties are fulfilled shouldn't people be allowed to become productive, employed members of society? Across the country, people are eliminated from job applicant pools because of a single box on their application-- one that asks about criminal convictions. Nebraska is poised to become the next state in a growing list to eliminate that question on initial job applications. We want to help them pass that law. 

Access to employment has been shown to play a major role in recidivism. Every year about 9 million people are released from jail and around 700,000 from prison. When someone is released from prison and can't find a job they are far more likely to resort back to a life of crime. Many people exit the prison system prepared to work hard and clean up their lives only to be turned away again and again by employers. While discriminating against someone because of their record is unethical and sometimes illegal, it does happen.

Nebraska State Senator Brenda council introduced legislation that would make it easier for people to get their foot in the door. If passed, this law would effectively ensure that initial applications weren't tossed aside for mentioning a criminal conviction. The law wouldn't eliminate employers' ability to ask about convictions, simply delay it--allowing everyone a chance at getting their foot in the door. While this bill only pertains to public employment, it would pave the way for private companies to also join the cause. Help Nebraska become the next state to "ban the box". Show your support by sending a letter to the lawmakers there. 

Photo Credit: Daquella Manera

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

LB 189/ Criminal Offender Employment Act

Greetings,

I write this letter in support of recent legislation introduced by State Senator Brenda Council. Every year, millions of men and women are released from jails and prisons across the country only to discover they can't find employment. While the current economic situation has only proved to worsen this, the problem existed before. One box on a job application can prevent a reformed offender from finding gainful employment and prevent an employer from potentially finding the right person for the job. While employers do have a right to know if their applicants have been convicted of a crime, this shouldn't completely overshadow their skills and experience.

Employment has a dramatic effect on recidivism. If a once convicted person can't find a job upon their release from prison, they are far more likely to return to the life of crime that sent them there in the first place. The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services currently holds thousands of men and women, nearly all of which will one day return to the streets of Omaha, Lincoln, and surrounding communities. When they have served their time and are back amongst the other citizens of the state, wouldn't you rather see them gainfully employed than struggling to provide for themselves and their families?

LB 189, The Criminal Offender Employment Act, wouldn't take away employers rights to know about the people they hire. It would simply allow all people to get their foot in the door. Similar legislation has been passed on state and local levels throughout the country. Hawaii, Minnesota, and New Mexico all have a similar law and Massachusetts likely will before the end of this year. We want to see the same sort of progress here in Nebraska.

Please show your support for The Criminal Offender Employment Act by swiftly sending it through. There are many people in your state who want to work and pay taxes but whose past mistakes may be preventing that. Show them you support their reintegration by voting for LB 189.

Thank you for your support

[Your name]

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