It’s Public Service Recognition Week!

Mounting research indicates that there are significant benefits for our communities in helping men and women that have been in prison, jail, or on probation find employment.

Unfortunately, some employers remain reticent to hiring someone who is or has been involved in the justice system, as evidenced by the need for laws such as Ban the Box, which, among other things, makes it illegal for an employer to inquire about criminal history prior to making a conditional offer of employment. In the District’s highly competitive and saturated job market, gainful employment remains an intractable challenge. For some, it is further compounded by the additional challenges posed by their history of involvement with the justice system.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Other Agencies and Providers Joined Trip and Related Event More than 100 men who soon will be released from prison met one-on-one this month with staff from the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) and other community partners during visits that took place at two correctional facilities. Associate Director Cedric Hendricks led a…

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] CSOSA has been working with the DC Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management to change the narrative around hiring people who have been involved in the criminal legal system. Many talented individuals struggle to find gainful employment because of their criminal record. One out of every three adults in the United States…