Marion Barry seeks anti-bias protection for those with ‘past arrests and convictions’

Yet, D.C. leaders have signaled that they plan to aggressively pursue more opportunities for ex-offenders. Earlier this year, the D.C. Council approved a bill that prohibits city agencies from asking about someone’s arrest record on an application or during an initial job interview.

But extending the policy to the private sector could split the 13-member body.

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“It’s probably not a good idea,” said council member Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3). “You need to go slow here, because you need to realize there are many reasons you want to consider prior incarceration for jobs, or housing or whatever it may be, such as putting an embezzler at a bank.”

Although he would not speculate on the bill’s chances, Barry said he was contacting each of his colleagues to try to win their support.

“Nobody expects a bank to hire a bank robber,” said Barry, who is seeking reelection next year. “But there are a number of jobs out there that people can do regardless of . . . a record. A lot of guys are going to prison and [come out] having developed skills and are qualified to do a whole bunch of jobs.”

Michelle Natividad Rodriguez, a lawyer at the National Employment Law Project , said that a growing number of states and cities are embracing anti-discrimination policies for ex-offenders.

“With technology being what it is, maybe five, six, seven years ago, if you had something in your past, you could maybe get away with it,” Natividad Rodriguez said. “But now, these things are just haunting you. Something they did in their teens or 20s keeps coming back, and they are having problems getting a job.”

But Rick Rosendall, vice president for political affairs for the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, said that the District’s Human Rights Act was developed to protect those who faced discrimination for “arbitrary circumstances.”

“People do background checks for a reason . . . and that is not arbitrary discrimination,” Rosendall said.

Barry said his proposal is a matter of basic fairness for those who have done their time.