×

Be up front about the past

America has been a land of second chances for many people. For that reason, President Barack Obama’s call for better efforts to integrate ex-convicts into society probably will resonate among many.

There is a practical side to the question, too: It is better for society to enjoy the contributions of ex-inmates who decide to turn their lives around than to pay tens of thousands of dollars a year to incarcerate each of them who goes back to a life of crime.

But Obama is wrong about one technique he proposes to give ex-cons a second chance.

He is asking Congress to ban government agencies and contractors from using job applications that ask about criminal histories. Even for positions in which that is a factor, the question could come up only near the last stages of the hiring process.

That is a bad idea for many reasons, including that it would waste the time and money of both applicants and employers with job openings not suitable for those without squeaky clean records of obeying the law. Congress should not go along with the president on the proposal.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today