A measure pending in the Illinois legislature would make it possible for some convicted felons to work in schools.
Convicts and children? These are two things that don’t go together. That’s the current law, and it prevents felons from working in schools, volunteering or even delivering food to school cafeterias.
But a plan from State Representative Kelly Cassidy, a Chicago Democrat, would change the school code to allow some people with felony convictions to be considered for school related jobs, after maintaining a clean record for several years.
It’s drawing support, even from the Illinois Policy Institute, a conservative think-tank. Policy analyst Bryant Jackson-Green says the plan aligns with their goal of reducing Illinois’ prison population.
“Fort-seven percent of people who leave prison end up back there within three years. But when they have jobs, we see that number go down to about 15 percent.”
The bill does not require schools to hire anyone, it simply allows school officials to consider applicants who have certain non-violent criminal convictions.