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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Humane society needs blankets for dogs awaiting a home ... Fog blankets Rogue Valley ... Depression-era motel razed in Grants Pass to clear site for development ... Humane society needs blankets for dogs awaiting a home ... Fog blankets Rogue Valley ... Depression-era motel razed in Grants Pass to clear site for development ... OUR VIEW Our View: Bill gives ex-convicts a glimmer of hope Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 1, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted May. 1, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News One of the biggest obstacles confronting people newly released after serving prison time is finding a job. A bill that passed the Oregon House on Wednesday attempts to make that just a little easier. The Senate should approve it as well. Anyone who has ever looked for work is familiar with a question that invariably appears on the initial application form: "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?" If you haven't, you check "No," and move on. Someone who has faces a dilemma. Answer truthfully, and know your application likely will be automatically tossed aside; lie, in the hope of at least getting an interview and the chance to explain the circumstances, and maybe get rejected for lying when the employer does the background check that is now routine. House Bill 3025, called the "Ban the Box" bill, doesn't prevent an employer from rejecting an applicant with a criminal record. It merely prohibits including that question on the initial application form. An applicant wouldn't be guaranteed an interview, and employers would be free to ask about criminal history in the interview and run a background check. But applicants trying to make a new start would be spared the automatic rejection of checking that "Yes" box. Opponents succeeded in watering down the original legislation, which would have barred employers from running a background check before an initial job offer. The version that passed the House specifically allows employers to ask about criminal history in the interview. This small step offers no guarantees; nothing in the bill requires an employer to hire anyone with a record. It does give job-seekers a chance to explain their situation and perhaps demonstrate that their skills and experience outweigh past mistakes. Sixteen states have adopted some version of Ban the Box legislation, and many cities and counties have similar policies. In Oregon,for example, Multnomah County's hiring policy takes into account whether the nature of the crime has any relation to the job, the age of the applicant when the crime was committed, the time elapsed since conviction and any positive changes demonstrated since. It's hard to expect ex-convicts to turn their lives around and refrain from committing new crimes if they are effectively locked out of the job market the moment they fill out an application form. People who complete prison terms are said to have "paid their debt to society." This bill sends a message to former convicts that they might not have to keep paying for the rest of their lives. MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 1, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501