4735654 Public Roundtable Notice on PR20-619, "Sense of the Council on the Need for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to Establish a Returning Citizens Policy Resolution of 2014"

Council of the District of Columbia                                     

Committee on Economic Development

Notice of Public Roundtable

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20004

 

 

COUNCILMEMBER MURIEL BOWSER, CHAIRPERSON

COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 

ANNOUNCE A PUBLIC ROUNDTABLE

 

On

 

PR20-619, the Sense of the Council on the Need for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to Establish a Returning Citizens Policy Resolution of 2014

 

February 19, 2014

9:00 AM

Room 412

John A. Wilson Building

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

 

 

On February 19, 2014, Councilmember Muriel Bowser, Chairperson of the Committee on Economic Development, will hold a public roundtable to consider Proposed Resolution 20-619, the Sense of the Council on the Need for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to Establish a Returning Citizens Policy Resolution of 2014.

 

In the District, about 2,500 returning citizens are released from prison each year, and there are as many as 60,000 individuals—almost 1 in 10 residents—with a criminal record.  Access to education, housing, and employment are significant challenges for returning citizens, and a key factor in recidivism rates.  The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (“WMATA”) is an entity with more than 12,000 employees, and provides good work opportunities with job  training and advancement potential.  To ensure rider safety and protect WMATA assets, the Authority has a criminal background check policy that determines when an applicant’s criminal record will exclude them from being hired.  The screening policy was amended in November 2011, resulting in a far more strict and punitive process that can permanently bar individuals from working for WMATA for relatively minor convictions, no matter how long ago they occurred. PR20-619 therefore urges WMATA to revise its background check policy to consider an applicant’s criminal record in a more holistic review process and make a greater effort to hire returning citizens.

 

The public hearing will begin at 9:00 AM in Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. 

             

Individuals and representatives of community organizations wishing to testify should contact Judah Gluckman, Legislative Counsel to the Committee on Economic Development, at [phone], or [e-mail] and furnish their name, address, telephone number, and organizational affiliation, if any, by the close of business February 18, 2014.  Persons presenting testimony may be limited to 3 minutes in order to permit each witness an opportunity to be heard. Please provide the Committee 20 copies of any written testimony.

 

If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record.  Copies of written statements should be submitted to the Committee on Economic Development, Council of the District of Columbia, Suite 110 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004.