Executive Order No. 158 Eliminates Employment Barriers for Individuals with Criminal Records
Read the Executive Order Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order 158 to implement fair chance policies at state agencies to increase employment opportunities for people with criminal records. The Order is effective immediately and will be implemented by November 1, 2020. North Carolina will join 35 states and more than 150 cities and counties, including more than 10 in North Carolina, in reducing employment barriers for people with criminal records. This Order affects the more than 1.7 million people in North Carolina who have a criminal record and may face barriers to employment because of that record. “People who have made mistakes often deserve a second chance, and having a job helps turn lives around,” said Governor Cooper. “Not only will this help reduce recidivism, it will give state government access to more qualified job applicants who now don’t even get the chance to show what good employees they would be.” According to the National Employment Law Project, access to employment is vital for successful reentry to communities after imprisonment. Removing the criminal history question from the state’s employment application and implementing fair chance hiring policies will allow those with a criminal history to be more fairly considered based on their qualifications. Governor Cooper encourages all state, county, and municipal government agencies and private employers to implement this change as well. Executive Order 158 will also:
Read the full Executive Order and frequently asked questions about how it reduces employment barriers for qualified job applicants. Comments are closed.
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