One of the obstacles formerly incarcerated people face is automatic disqualification from jobs & higher education opportunities. Just by honestly checking "Yes" to the question of "Do you have a criminal record?", MILLIONS of people are barred from opportunities to better their lives. Yes, there are around 5 million formerly incarcerated people in the U.S.The #BANTHEBOX movement aims to remove criminal background questions from college & employment applications.

The Peace, Justice and Human Rights Working Group on Race and Mass Incarceration at Florida Atlantic University is proud to host “Ban the Box @FAU? A Conversation,” on 4/5, 4PM EST on Zoom. Led by Dr. Wendy Hinshaw, the event will feature speakers from across Florida and the US, including Jonathan Bleiweiss from the Florida Justice Center, Noel Vest from Unlock Higher Ed, and Bureau of Justice Assistance Fellow Ángel Sánchez, to discuss the impact of criminal background questions on college admission applications, the barriers facing students with previous justice involvement, and how to unlock higher education access in Florida.