Governor Kate Brown signed multiple statewide employment bills into law Monday.
One of them is known as the “Ban the Box” Bill.
House Bill 3025 prohibits companies or hirers from asking about a job applicant’s criminal history before an interview or, if there’s no interview, “conditional offer of employment”.
This potentially allows job applicants with a criminal history to have a greater chance in a possible hire.
Successful employment is one of the most important factors for decreasing recidivism, according to Fair Shot for All, a coalition of social justice and labor groups.
In Oregon, nearly 5,000 people are released from prison every year.