Reform CORI Laws, Protect Workers!

Are you having trouble getting employment, a promotion, housing, loans, insurance, entrance to college! 
Because you have a C.O.R.I. (Criminal Offender Record Info)? Is that record wrong, supposed to be cleared? Are you just concerned the Criminal Record information is too public and not accountable? Come out and show your support for reforming the system to make it fair and useful!

Don't miss the Boston City Council vote!
WE MUST PACK THE HOUSE!  Two resolutions will be voted on regarding CORI reform at the Boston City Council. One is a very comprehensive and strong resolution introduced by councilors Murphy, Turner and Flaherty calling on the State legislature to reform CORI.

Wednesday August 3, 2005
Boston City Hall
Be there at 10:30 to lobby your councilor
Meeting starts at 11:00
Wear Red to Show Your Support!

A victory reception will be held in the Piemonte room immediately after the vote! Join us on August 3rd and be a part of history!!! For more information call the Mass Alliance to Reform CORI  at: 617-541-4111 or Massachusetts Jobs with Justice at 617-524-8778

Share your support with the Boston City Council!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Support CORI Reform

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I just wanted to let you know that I support reform of the CORI System.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
August 02, 2005


Background Information

 Why reform the Criminal Record System (CORI)?

  • The system is flawed, in that it is based on names not fingerprints or social security numbers.  People with the same name have had records confused and switched.  In this day and age of identity theft, too many people are at risk of being wrongly identified with a criminal history.  This can lead to people being denied jobs, housing, and education.
  • The reports are difficult to read and contain charges that have been dropped, aquitted, and/or found not guilty of.  If your boss has trouble with a schedule, do you think he/she can read a report on someone's background and understand it? The system needs to be reformed to allow people to understand what they are reading and how it pertains to the idividuals associated with the record.  Qualified people are being denied jobs because these reports are confusing and contain information that employers should not have.
  • Why does a landlord or Home Depot need to know if you were arrested at a protest in the 60's?  We recognize that certain people should not be allowed to work with vulnerable populations such as the elderly, but there should also be a limit to who really need to know a workers' background.  There needs to be guidelines on what information is private (ie juvenile records, not guilty) and who is qualified to receive that information.
  • We are not talking about sex offenders, we are talking about reforming the system for those who have served time for lesser a offense such as bounced checks. 

  • 2.8 million people in Massachusetts have a Criminal Record– Black, White, Latino, parents, young people, grandparents alike.

  • CORI is a worker's rights issue because it keeps people working in low wage jobs and does not allow workers to seek work they may be more than qualified for.  More employers are demanding CORI checks before a worker is hired, leaving lower end jobs as the only openings for people with a record. This limits workers' access to healthcare and benefits too.

    For more information please visit http://www.unionofminorityneighborhoods.org/cori.htm
    or  http://www.mlri.org/cori_project