Civil and Human Rights Coalition Applauds Higher Education Program for Prisoners, Calls for “Ban the Box” Executive Order

WASHINGTON – Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement in response to reports that the Obama administration plans to announce a pilot program to provide Pell grants to state and federal prisoners. The Leadership Conference has also urged President Obama to issue an executive order that would “ban the box,” remove the check box from job applications used to pre-screen applicants with prior convictions, for job applications with the federal government and its contractors

“We applaud the Administration for acting to break down barriers that deprive prisoners of the ability to rehabilitate themselves by taking college courses while incarcerated. This will help people access the education they need to secure employment and support themselves and their families once they are released. We thank President Obama, Secretary Duncan, and Attorney General Lynch for taking this important step toward rehabilitating prisoners and preparing them to re-enter society.

The President should take the next step in helping the formerly incarcerated re-integrate by issuing an executive order to ban the box and implement fair chance hiring practices for federal jobs and contractors. The 700,000 people released from American prisons every year are met with innumerable obstacles to successfully re-entering their communities. From securing employment to finding affordable housing, formerly incarcerated Americans face a slew of restrictive policies that make it almost impossible for them to be the productive members of society we say we want them to be.

President Obama has already endorsed banning the box, but the White House has yet to catch up to the 18 states, 100 cities and counties, and major employers like Starbucks, Walmart, Koch Industries, and Target that have already put this policy in place. 

On Thursday, July 30, we will join impacted leaders, clergy, civil rights and labor leaders in a demonstration at the White House calling on President Obama to take this next, crucial step in criminal justice reform. The President has referred to America as a ‘nation of second chances.’ It’s time for him to make the federal government a model employer and give millions of Americans a second chance and a fair chance at employment and opportunity.”

Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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