Search Results

To Listen to Audio click the Play Button [beneath each segment] which varies based on the browser you are using.

November 13, 2015

Title: Would you Hire an Ex-Con?
Topic: Protecting Business Owner’s Rights

Discussed by Dianna Muldrow
with Texas Public Policy Foundation (www.TexasPolicy.com)

Sometimes we do stupid things in our youth that haunt us for the rest of our lives. Sometimes we fall upon hard times and, out of desperation, do something we regret. We still must face the consequences of those actions. Everyone deserves a second chance. After all, God has forgiven us time after time after time. But how far is too far?

Recently, the Austin City Council Economic Opportunity, Technology, Innovation, and Creative Industries Committee considered a recommendation regarding “Fair Chance Hiring Practices”. This would place several unnecessary burdens upon private business owners, potentially causing more economic harm than intended. Dianna Muldrow is a policy analyst with the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. "Providing reasonable reentry avenues for offenders is very important in lowering recidivism rates and protecting public safety. However, it is also important to be cautious in change,” Dianna warns. “Fair Chances runs the risk of creating more criminal records (by placing) civil burdens onto small employers who are simply unaware of new and complex ordinances."

The question today is: Should the local government be permitted to force private business owners to hire ex-convicts? Listen in as Dianna discusses Fair Chances in more detail and how it will affect Austin business owners. She describes some negative aspects of Fair Chances which other cities have experienced, like criminal charges against business owners who do not adhere to the “rules” regarding ex-convicts. “This concerns us because this goes against the real point behind Fair Chances,” Dianna says.

More from this Guest      More on this Topic      More from this Organization