Last year, OFJ was successful with reinforcing a law referencing licensing and certification. In Maryland, nearly 60 occupations list a license, certification or registration as a prerequisite to employment. Some of these licensing methods automatically barred an individual from receiving a license if they had a past conviction. The law now encourages ex-offenders to pursue careers which requires licensing and certification. It establishes the policy of the State to encourage the employment of nonviolent ex–offenders and to remove barriers to their ability to demonstrate fitness for Occupational licenses or certificates and prohibits certain departments of State government from denying an occupational license or certificate to a certain applicant solely on the basis that the applicant has previously been convicted of a crime. Simply put, people convicted of a nonviolent offense cannot be denied an occupational license or certificate solely because of incarceration.
We know most individuals who have considered getting licensed or certified in an occupation are oblivious to the law’s existence and OFJ hosted an informational forum and invited everyone including those directly affected out to take part. The forum consisted of various colleges, institutions and those whom are affected by this to engage in a question and answer dialouge.
OFJ want to ensure that people are made aware of the opportunities this law allows. This would most likely increase the population of ex-offenders seeking a higher education thus affording everyone a fair right to employment and education.