The Austin Chronicle wrote a great article about fair chance hiring and the work that is being done locally to Ban the Box citywide. We are so proud that they quote and acknowledge the activism of many of our XOffenders’ Council members in the article! Read the article here.
Read MoreWe recently posted several new reports and resources related to reentry on our Publications & Policy Information page. Here are brief summaries of these new resources. Click to links to read the reports! Substance Use & Housing National Leadership Forum Convening Report by CSH and the National Council for Behavioral Health For the past year, a broad cross-section of […]
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On September 14, our Planning Council voted on our 2016 leadership. We are excited to announce that Sarah Pahl Worthington will serve as Chair, Helen Gaebler as Vice Chair, and Darwin Hamilton as the at-large Executive Committee member! A huge thanks to Laura Sovine for her service as Chair this year – here she is […]
Read MoreIn limited circumstances, Texas law allows you to remove information about an arrest, charge, or conviction from your criminal records. This means that all information about the offense is destroyed. Once your record is expunged, you may deny the incident occurred. With limited exceptions, you will no longer need to tell landlords, employers, or others […]
Read MoreThe City of Austin is seeking public feedback on proposed policies that could potentially provide those with criminal histories a better chance to get a job. Proposals include requiring private-sector employers to remove the criminal history question on job applications, known as “Ban the Box,” or “Fair Chance,” and delaying background checks until after the […]
Read MoreSince February 2009, Travis County has participated in an ongoing justice reinvestment project, initially collaborating with the Urban Institute. The Urban Institute merged their justice reinvestment efforts with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) to better reflect the initiative’s national scope. In FY12, Justice Planning (JP) submitted an application for JRI grant […]
Read MoreWe were excited to be mentioned in an article in the Austin American-Statesman about the challenges that ex-offenders face in reentering the workforce, and what is being done locally to remove barriers to reentry: The Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable – a coalition of government officials, business leaders, and former inmates – is working on these types […]
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Please Join Us! The Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable is hosting a community film screening of “Evolution of a Criminal”, a critically acclaimed documentary that explores race, class, education, and the prison system, through the personal experience of the director himself. The film screening will be followed by a Q&A with the film director Darius Clark […]
Read MoreOn May 21st, the Austin City Council passed a resolution to consider requiring private employers in Austin to follow fair chance hiring practices. Council Member Greg Casar introduced the item, co-sponsored by Mayor Steve Adler, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and Council Member Ora Houston. The resolution directs the City Manager to provide staff support for […]
Read MoreA new report by the Center for American Progress, “One Strike and You’re Out: How We can Eliminate Barriers to Economic Security and Mobility for People with Criminal Records”, reveals the barriers that Americans with criminal records face in accessing employment, housing, public assistance, education, family reunification, and more, and how the challenges associated with […]
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