Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is weighing in on criminal justice reform at a national summit this week.
The Operation Reform conference is focusing on re-entry solutions for former inmates. Gillum is speaking on Banning the Box, along with mayors Lenny Curry of Jacksonville and Oliver Gilbert of Miami Gardens. Gillum says society shouldn’t continue to punish former inmates after they’ve done their time.
“In our legal system we’re not allowed to be charged and convicted twice for the same crime. But unfortunately it seems that you can be penalized and pay penalties forever after a mistake,” he said.
The Ban the Box initiative calls for the removal of questions about an applicant’s criminal record on job applications. The summit features a diverse lineup, including speakers from the ACLU and the Charles Koch Institute. Issues on the agenda include the school to prison pipeline, mental health and law enforcement.
