JEFFERSON CITY – Senator Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis), lauded today’s executive order from Gov. Jay Nixon (D-MO) to “Ban the Box” on employment applications with the state government. The order prohibits state agencies from including questions about previous criminal records on job applications.
Senator Nasheed is a longtime advocate of criminal justice reform and introduced a bill to “Ban the Box” earlier this session (Senate Bill 724). With the bill stalled in committee, Sen. Nasheed launched an online petition urging Nixon to implement the policy via executive order that has gathered hundreds of signatures throughout the state.
“Far too often, former offenders knock on the door of opportunity only to have it slammed in their faces,” said Sen. Nasheed. “A non-violent criminal record should not be a pretense for employers to deny an individual without giving him or her a chance to explain for themselves.”
“I commend Gov. Nixon on his decision to help our state’s most vulnerable residents find jobs and create new lives. This is a huge step forward for Missouri.”
Under today’s executive order, state agencies will still have the opportunity to run background checks on prospective employees, but they will not be able to automatically discount former offenders based on the first round of applications. The order gives an estimated 20,000 Missourians, who are released from prison each year, more opportunities to find work.