“Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” For an ever-increasing number of Americans, this question is often the end of the line when filling out job applications. This past summer, the Washington, D.C. City Council passed a measure that forbids asking about prior convictions on most job applications, a move that several other states are considering.

The inability to find meaningful work after release from prison is one of the leading causes of recidivism. Marc A. Levin of Right on Crime puts it this way:

“There’s been a shift in people away from wanting to get even. People are focused now on getting results. It really is a great benefit to public safety if ex-offenders are able to get jobs, find places to live and get occupational licenses — whether it’s from the perspective of the ex-offender or those of us who are going to live next to them.”

Can convicts with good employment opportunities avoid recidivism? Read more at nytimes.com