“Companies including Facebook Inc., Koch Industries Inc. and Alphabet Inc. said Monday they would help the Obama administration knock down barriers to employment for ex-convicts, part of President Barack Obama’s attempt to overhaul the U.S. criminal justice system.
“Executives from 19 major corporations came to the White House on Monday after agreeing to sign a pledge to take measures including “banning the box” on job applications — the practice of asking applicants whether they have criminal records. Obama has directed the federal government to end the practice in its own hiring and delay questioning applicants about their criminal histories.
“The White House hopes that by recruiting a diverse set of marquee companies to the cause, the administration can persuade other businesses to overhaul their hiring practices and give more convicts a second chance. Around 70 million Americans have a criminal record, including almost one in three of working age, according to the administration. Obama is pushing Congress to write bipartisan legislation that would ease sentencing for nonviolent offenders, among other criminal justice changes.”