Congressman Cohen Introduces Bill to Help Reformed Ex-Offenders Re-Enter Workforce

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice and a strong advocate for reform of the nation’s racially-biased criminal justice system, today introduced legislation to give rehabilitated ex-offenders who have repaid their debts to society a fair chance to compete in today’s job market. The Congressman’s legislation, the Re-Integration of Ex-Offenders Through Technology Act, would incorporate technology literacy programs into the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) offender re-entry job assistance programs, which provide job training and assistance to ex-offenders who have served their time and are seeking to contribute to society through gainful employment.

“It has been proven that recidivism rates are significantly reduced when an ex-offender has a decent job and community support in place,” said Congressman Cohen. “But too often, those who have already paid their debts to society face significant barriers when looking for a job. We can and should ensure that readiness is not one of those barriers. My Re-Integration of Ex-Offenders Through Technology Act will help lower recidivism rates by providing rehabilitated ex-offenders with the tech literacy skills they need to compete for many of today’s jobs and it will help ensure a qualified workforce for small business owners.”

The Re-Integration of Ex-Offenders Through Technology Act would decrease the likelihood of ex-offenders reoffending by removing barriers to employment and making it more attractive for employers to hire them. By including advanced technology literacy education in reentry assistance programs, the nation would see a reduced risk of recidivism and a significant increase in the contributions of ex-offenders to the nation’s economy.