Md. Gov. Hogan announces study of barriers to jobs for ex-prisoners
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Version 0 of 1. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Wednesday that his administration will conduct a one-year review of the legal and regulatory barriers that ex-offenders face as they seek employment. The announcement came a day before the state’s Justice Reinvestment Coordinating Council is scheduled to submit its recommendations for reducing the state prison population by focusing more on community-based services. The Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention will create a work group that includes several state agencies, ex-offenders, nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups and the business community to study what sanctions and state regulations prevent ex-offenders from obtaining licenses that could lead to employment. For example, the council learned that if ex-offenders want to become barbers, accountants or commercial drivers, they can not obtain those licenses because of their criminal records. “These consequences have a lasting impact, making it more difficult for ex-offenders to re-enter society, find a job and fully engage in the community,” Hogan (R) said in a statement. Earlier this year, Hogan signed the Second Chance Act, which was passed by the General Assembly. The law, designed to help ex-offenders get jobs, blocks certain nonviolent misdemeanor criminal records from the public. “We took an important step to expand employment opportunities with the Second Chance Act, but there are continued obstacles to re-entry that demand a thorough review,” Hogan said. The work group will submit its findings to the governor next December. |