New Haven Felons Could Get Chance at Permits

Board of Alderman vote in favor of the bill on Monday night.

New Haven's Board of Aldermen voted unanimously on Monday night in favor of an amendment concerning convicted felons.

It would help people avoid penalties that aren't part of a sentence that includes things like not being able to obtain a license or a permit, the New Haven Register reports.
           
The proposal is an extension to the city's 2009 "ban the box ordinance," which allowed ex-offenders to apply for jobs without checking a "felon box" on an application.

It also ensures that they wouldn’t be automatically disqualified for employment based on their criminal record.
 
Amy Meek, coordinator for the Re-Entry Initiative, told the New Haven Register that that one of seven people who applied for a permit or license with the city in the last few years was denied.

“There are 12 or 13 permits and licenses the city gives out,” she told the paper. “The amendment cleans up inconsistencies among licensing standards.”

Meek said the amendment would make the process for denying a permit more objective. It would take several things into account, including the nature of the offense, the relationship of the offense to whatever job the person is applying for, and rehabilitation. It would also look at the gravity of the offense, the person’s age at the time of the offense and the time elapsed since the conviction or release, said the paper.
 

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