City councilors and former criminals rallied Monday for an end to a system they say gives employers the right to unfairly judge applicants or employees who are recorded convicts at a meeting of the Council’s Committee on Human Services.
They raised objections to the Criminal Offender Record Information system, which gives employers access to criminal records of job applicants and employees and often poses a formidable roadblock for former offenders seeking jobs.
The original CORI regulation policy from December 2000 details four levels of crimes and the length that offenders would be disqualified from employment for committing each.
Cathy White, who was charged with resisting arrest in 1999, said at the meeting she lost her job as a pharmacy technician because of CORI regulations.
“As I switched location of employment, they did a background check, and I was fired in 2004,” White said. “This new executive order could immediately release the hold on me.”
“We believe that [the study] provide[s] a unique opportunity to advance necessary reforms that will allow qualified and appropriate individuals to be employed in the [Health and Human Services] and other fields,” said Richard Ward, the Boston Foundation director of grant making.
According to Ward, the Boston Foundation charged a 14-person task force with identifying opportunities that would increase employment access for “low-risk, qualified applicants with CORI while continuing to protect vulnerable populations.”
Councilor-at-Large Sam Yoon said he hopes local leaders will support CORI’s elimination.
“Once the singular change happens at the highest levels, that should start the conversation,” he said.