The change we seek
What WE Believe
Leaders of the Justice 4 All campaign have selected an issue to tackle together: the problem of employment barriers for people with criminal records.
All people can change, our justice system needs to belong to all of us, and our communities won’t truly be safe until we invest in people. We need to eliminate the culture of fear that mainstream society has regarding people with criminal records. We need to move from an emphasis on prison, punishment, and being “tough on crime” to a focus on rehabilitation, civic engagement and reintegrating people with past records into the community.
We reject an economy in which people with prior records make up an exploitable underclass, permanently shut out from wealth and prosperity. Employers are part of our community, and they have a responsibility to help build a strong economy that works for all of us. We need major employers to be part of opening opportunities for people with prior records so that folks can put their pasts behind them and live healthy, dignified lives.