Ban the box …

This has been gaining momentum. 

Politicians want to eliminate the box on job applications that ask whether the applicant has a criminal conviction.  Obama has told Federal agencies to eliminate that check box; several states and many big cities like Philly also want to see it disappear.

Supporters of “ban the box” legislation claim it’s prejudicial. They believe a criminal record shouldn’t automatically disqualify someone from a job. 

Well of course it’s prejudicial. It does discriminate against people with a criminal conviction. 

There’s a remarkably simple solution:  don’t commit a crime in the first place. The probability of being convicted for a crime you didn’t commit is very small. Problem solved. 

We all see where “ban the box” is going. It’s right there with Obama’s decision to start releasing prisoners he feels shouldn’t still be doing time. It also follows the movement to overturn state laws that deprive convicted felons from the right to vote. 

Why is this suddenly such a big deal?  Speaking frankly, it has to do with race and politics 

We have a Presidential election coming up next year.  Democrats are worried about turning out their black base, especially since it’s likely their candidate will be a rich white woman with somewhat dicey credentials when it comes to black issues.   

Democrats need blacks that turned out for Obama to come out for Hillary.  Obama got upwards of 95% of the black vote when he ran; Hillary is a horse of a different color. She’s not black nor does she have the charisma Obama displayed on the campaign trail.   

In addition to worrying about his legacy, Obama has been criticized by black leaders for not doing enough for blacks even though blacks voted for him in overwhelming numbers. He hasn’t helped blacks with jobs.  He hasn’t done much about systemic black poverty. 

To connect the dots, consider this: Blacks are disproportionately represented in our prisons, accounting for almost 40% of prisoners while less than 14% of the general population.

With such a high percentage of blacks of all ages in the penal system – on probation, on parole, or still incarcerated – “ban the box” and restoring felons’ rights to vote have a lot of appeal to the black community. These also have great appeal to liberals who think our criminal justice system is inherently unfair – letting rich bankers and swindlers off the hook while doling out draconian sentences for “victimless” crimes like drug use and possession.   

Now, it’s actually pretty hard to get convicted of a crime anymore, especially a felony and especially if someone is a first-time offender. Prosecutors routinely try to plead-down cases wherever possible particularly in big cities to save time and clear their caseloads.

Felony possession charges get knocked down to misdemeanors all the time except in the most grievous cases. First-timers often get off with a warning or probation at worst.  In Philly, they don’t even get that -- there’s simply a fine for possession of small amounts of pot.  

Instead of trying to combat crime – or preventing crime – liberal politicians now want to do the opposite:  minimize the consequences of committing a crime.  In doing so, they are attempting to make criminal conduct an acceptable thing.  They are taking away one of the few remaining reasons not to commit a crime in the first place:  a criminal record. 

“Banning the box” is being presented as a way to give people who’ve made a mistake a second chance.  Well, there are mistakes – like driving without your headlights on.  But committing a home invasion is not a mistake.  Nor is embezzlement, arson, burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, attempted murder, or rape.  Nor is dealing heroin.  

These are felonies for good reason. When someone is convicted of a felony, it means a judge and possibly a jury have weighed the facts and determined based on the evidence that someone committed a serious crime, not just a mistake.   

As far as “second chances,” the reality is many people with criminal records have already had a second chance.  And a third chance.  And maybe a fourth chance.  Many started as a juvenile delinquent – excuse me, what Loretta Lynch and our Justice Department now call a “justice-involved youth” – and worked their way up to the big leagues. 

And now we shouldn’t hold any of that against them. 

This is insane.  And dangerous.  Would you hire a bookkeeper with a criminal record for embezzlement?  Would you hire a locksmith with a burglary conviction?  Would you allow someone with a criminal assault record to work at a nursing home? 

Apparently Obama and big-city politicians don’t see a problem with any of that. They think you shouldn’t either.

Soon you may not be able to ask about any prior convictions upfront. You will be allowed to ask in follow-up interviews, but even then, without a background check, how will you know?         

There’s an old adage among criminals that “if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.” In our new progressive world it may not matter as much.