Summary
Being employed has proven to reduce the chances that people who have recently left prison will reoffend. But for many, jobs that require a state license or certificate can be difficult or even impossible to obtain, even as dozens of states have moved to lift barriers. Special correspondent Cat Wise reports from Oregon for our ongoing series “Searching for Justice.”
For a transcript, click here.
News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
Warm up questions
- Who is Kyeesha Alvarez?
- What program is the Intro to Native American Studies class a part of?
- When was the program first introduced?
- Why did Kiesha Johnson lose her job, according to her?
- How does Jose Salcedo help people?
Focus questions
How does having a criminal record affect the employment opportunities and career aspirations of those who have been incarcerated? What do you think are some other ways a criminal record might make it hard to reestablish a life outside prison?
Media literacy: Where can you find out more about 'Searching for Justice'?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?
For more
What students can do: Discuss as a class — what efforts have been made in Oregon to address challenges that the formerly incarcerated face when trying to get a job?
Check out this lesson plan from the Searching for Justice series: link.
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