Milwaukee Common Council Introduces ‘Ban The Box’ Ordinance

Some Milwaukee Common Council members are hoping to permanently remove a question about criminal convictions from city job applications. Similar efforts across the country are part of a campaign called “Ban the Box.”

Shantel Carson, a former felon who has struggled to find work, said removing the question from applications would help people move on with their lives.

“I say we remove that box so a woman like me, who has to take care of a whole household on her own, can get a good paying job, can get the skills that I need moving forward, so that I can hold my family down and help be an asset to this community,” Carson said.

Nearly 70 million people nationwide are affected by the box. On average, 8,600 people a year are released from Wisconsin’s prisons. About 3,600 of them return to Milwaukee, according to the association 9to5, which aims to “strengthen women’s ability to work for economic justice.”

Amy Linder, president of Meta House, which helps women overcome drug and alcohol addiction, said she’s glad the city is taking this initiative.

“But for employers sitting at home, you don’t have to wait for a mandate to do this,” Linder said. “If you’ve got the power to do this in your organization today, use that power for good. You’ll be helping the person standing in front of you, you’ll be helping their family, and you’ll be helping the community, and you’ll be helping your business.”

Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton said Milwaukee needs to embrace people who have made changes in their life after paying their debt to society.

Alderwoman Chantia Lewis said people who made a mistake shouldn’t have to pay for it over and over again, especially when it comes to employment.

Lewis and her co-sponsors Hamilton, Alderwoman Milele Coggs and Alderman Jos‎é Pérez will introduce the proposed ordinance to the other members of the Common Council this week.

The full council will consider the proposal later this week.