By Rep. MICHAEL CAHILL, D-Newmarket

I don’t know what shows up when doing a background check on Joseph Lascaze.

He likely has not been pardoned by the Governor and Council or had the conviction annulled.

So, the ACLU either didn’t do a background check or found his post incarceration actions more indicative of who is today than his past. Members of the commission couldn’t praise him enough yet many who have “made mistakes” don’t have an opportunity to “move on with their lives.”

They can’t even get an interview,  they must check “the box” because they have a prior conviction.  One wonders how many employers would hire someone who is otherwise qualified if they knew not only about their crime but their rehabilitation.

Last week, Amy Johnson received a pardon but in the 16 years since her offence, she’s been unable to find employment with earnings sufficient to provide for her family, in effect adding many years to the sentence she was given and served.

 People need access to employment as soon as possible after release. Voting rights don’t pay the rent or put food on the table.  In 2019, two Ban the Box bills were considered with the Governor vetoing Senator Feltes’ SB100 http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/billText.aspx?sy=2019&id=992&txtFormat=html and signing mybill,  HB 253 http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/billText.aspx?sy=2020&id=306&txtFormat=html but not before it was gutted by the Senate amendment exempting the private sector.

Nearly all public sector jobs, through state or federal law require a clean background check so the net result of HB 253 is the status quo. The ACLU advocated for the House to concur with the Senate’s neutering amendment which it did because “something is better than nothing” but in the end, it’s still nothing.

Michael Cahill
State Representative
Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
Rockingham 17
Newfields, Newmarket

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