A local man with a criminal history wants others with a troubled past to have a second chance.
The movement is called "ban the box."
It would eliminate the question about previous crimes from job applications.
Saginaw's Stacy Swimp hasn't always been clean cut and professional. "I understand all the excuses people can make because I was taught these excuses at a very early age, hence I get into trouble as a teenager and as an adult," says Swimp, president of The Fredrick Douglass Foundation of Michigan.
By age 25, he was doing prison time for assault with intent to commit murder. After serving his sentence he had difficulty finding a job with his criminal past.
He's not alone. Michigan State Police crime statistics say 1.8 million people in Michigan have criminal records. That's one in four. One in six carry felonies. "We're not looks to defend criminals. We're looking to defend the opportunity to work for those who have overcome," Swimp says.
He wants Saginaw County to remove the question about previous convictions from job applications to give felons an equal chance at getting a job.
"It's not just a win for those who are locked out, but it's a win for all of society if these people are given an opportunity to be self-reliant and self-sufficient."
Stacy says it's not just better for unemployment numbers; he says felons are often passed over for housing and student loans. Ge says felons that don't work are a bigger strain on society. "If I can't work, then i'm probably going to need food stamps. I'm probably going to need assistance from DHS (Department of Human Services). Taxpayers are burdened either way it goes."
Stacy has been on the straight and narrow for some time hoping others can follow in his footsteps and get a second chance to do so. "I want to see other people as committed am who made the kind of right decisions I've made to do the things I'm doing."
Employers can still ask the question during the job interview and order a criminal background check before hiring.
Saginaw County commissioners will take up a "ban the box" proposal November 8th.
Several communities in Michigan, including Detroit, have already passed similar legislation.
