'Ban the Box' bill has one last hurdle to clear
"A bill to prevent employers from asking prospective workers, at least at first, whether they have a felony conviction won preliminary approval in the Colorado Senate on Thursday." "The so-called Ban the Box measure, HB1025, is designed to help convicted felons to at least get in the door and be considered for employment, rather than be dismissed outright because of past infractions." "Some of those applications don't ask for details of a felony, but merely have a box that ne
Colorado Senate OKs 'Ban the Box' bill, sending it to Gov. Polis' desk
"Gov. Jared Polis will get his chance to sign the “Ban the Box” bill after the Colorado Senate finally passed the measure April 12 on its third trip through the chamber in the past five years." Read full article #LeslieHerod #BantheBox #SecondChances #criminaljustice #GovernorPolis
“Ban the box” movement takes aim at college applications
“When it comes to second chances,” said Tate, of Centennial, “I think the government should be wanting to make sure those who want to be better for themselves, seize personal responsibility and pursue education — meaning, make their lives better — should be incentivized to do that.” "The Rodriguez/Tate bill would prohibit the University of Colorado and Colorado State University systems, as well as all other public higher-ed institutions in the state, from inquiring about thei
Colorado to hold CDOC accountable for dangers posed to transgender inmates
"In May of 2018, the Colorado House of Representatives passed a resolution by Reps. Leslie Herod, Adrienne Benavidez and other legislators, including Pete Lee and Tony Exum, to address the issue of discrimination suffered by transgender inmates in CDOC care. The resolution ordered CDOC to establish policies to protect transgender inmates that are consistent with the Prison Rape Elimination Act and standards set out by the American Correctional Association and the National Cor
‘Ban the Box’ bill targets discrimination against people with criminal records
"In 2016 and 2017, Colorado’s Legislature took up the question of whether to prohibit employers from asking job applicants up-front about their criminal records. Both times, committees in the Republican-controlled Senate rejected the idea." "But it’s a new day at the Capitol, with Democrats having seized control of the Senate in November while maintaining a majority in the House. And on the opening day of this year’s legislative session, Democratic Reps. Leslie Herod and Jova
Lawmakers eye drug sentencing reforms to ease projected prison population growth
"This has some lawmakers wondering if too many people addicted to drugs are ending up behind bars." “Are they supposed to be there in the first place or are there other options?” said Rep. Leslie Herod, a Democrat from Denver and advocate for addiction treatment who will serve as vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee when the legislature gavels in on Jan. 4." "A state budget analyst told lawmakers last week that private prisons are about full, prisoners are sleeping in
