* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Stokes
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Request for State Action - Ban the Box for College Applications
For the purpose of calling on the State of Maryland to take all necessary steps to eliminate questions about criminal background from Maryland college applications to ensure that all Marylanders get a fair chance at improving themselves and their communities by pursuing a college education.
body
Recitals
Baltimore has been a leader in efforts to ensure that returning ex-offenders are given a fair chance to find jobs by banning the practice of screening out all individuals with criminal histories in the early stages of job applications. These efforts have given countless ex-offenders a real chance to turn their lives around through gainful employment.
Unfortunately, ex-offenders seeking to improve their lives by pursuing higher education all too frequently still face the same kinds of stigmatizing questions on their college applications that are now banned from employment applications. In fact, a recent study found that nearly half of all Maryland colleges asked applicants to disclose their criminal history, and most schools requesting this information have been found to funnel those who check “yes” for questions asking about criminal history into alternate admissions processes with more arduous requirements.
Merely asking these questions, and making applicants aware of the d...
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