Hold law enforcement officers accountable for misconduct by removing legal shields.
Demilitarize the Police
Limit federal programs that supply local police with military-grade equipment. Promote community-based policing and civilian oversight.
Abolish the Death Penalty
Commute existing death sentences and redirect funding to rehabilitation.
Sentencing Reform & Decarceration
Eliminate mandatory minimums for non-violent offenses; support restorative justice and sentence review.
Abolish Cash Bail
Commute existing death sentences and redirect funding to rehabilitation.
Legalize Cannabis & Expunge Records
Fully decriminalize and reinvest tax revenue into communities.
Ban Forced Labor of All Kinds
End exploitative prison labor, grant incarcerated workers full labor rights, and end all forms of slavery.
Post-Incarceration Rehabilitation
The Labor Party supports a comprehensive, rights-based post-incarceration rehabilitation framework designed to break the cycle of recidivism, ensure economic stability, and protect public safety. This policy establishes structured, well-funded reintegration programs that remove barriers to employment, housing, healthcare, and civic participation, recognizing that successful reentry into society is critical for long-term justice reform.
Employment & Workforce Development
Ban Discriminatory Hiring Practices - Expand “Ban the Box” laws to prohibit employers from inquiring about past convictions on job applications, ensuring fair hiring opportunities.
Termination Justification - Employers that hire individuals without prior knowledge of their criminal history must provide clear, documented justification for termination if a background check is conducted after employment has begun. Terminations based solely on past convictions rather than job performance or workplace behavior will be prohibited.
Exceptions will apply in specific industries where public safety, fiduciary responsibility, or legal compliance necessitate stricter regulations, including but not limited to:
Childcare & Education – Positions involving direct supervision of minors.
Senior & Disability Care – Roles requiring direct care for vulnerable populations.
Banking & Financial Services – Jobs involving fiduciary trust and sensitive financial data.
Other Heavily Regulated Fields – Professions where federal or state regulations impose background check requirements.
Employers in regulated industries must follow due process standards, including notifying the employee, allowing a response, and considering rehabilitation efforts before making termination decisions.
Guaranteed Workforce Development - Provide federal funding for vocational training, apprenticeships, and job placement programs for formerly incarcerated individuals.
Employer Incentives for Second-Chance Hiring - Establish tax credits and wage subsidies for businesses that hire returning citizens.
Entrepreneurship & Small Business Support - Offer microloans, business grants, and mentorship programs for formerly incarcerated individuals seeking self-employment.
Stable Housing & Tenant Protections
Transitional Housing Assistance – Fund publicly managed transitional housing programs for individuals immediately upon release.
Anti-Discrimination Protections in Housing – Prohibit landlords from rejecting applicants based on criminal history alone.
Cooperative & Public Housing Access – Expand public and cooperative housing initiatives to include designated units for returning citizens
Education & Skill Development
Tuition-Free Access to Higher Education & Vocational Training – Guarantee access to community college, technical certifications, and workforce credentialing programs.
Digital & Technological Training – Provide coding boot camps, IT training, and workforce-readiness courses to ensure digital literacy.
Mental Health & Substance Use Support
Expand Access to Mental Health & Addiction Treatment – Ensure individuals have immediate access to counseling, peer support programs, and long-term mental health care.
Mandatory Pre-Release & Post-Release Support Plans – Require correctional facilities to develop individualized transition plans that address healthcare, employment, and social reintegration.
Legal & Financial Assistance
Expungement & Record-Sealing Services – When applicable, provide government-funded legal aid to assist with record expungement to remove employment and housing barriers.
Debt Relief & Financial Education – Offer financial counseling to address outstanding court fees, child support obligations, and reentry-related economic challenges.
Community & Civic Reintegration
Restoration of Voting Rights – Automatically restore voting rights to individuals upon release from incarceration.
Family Reunification & Social Support – Fund programs that assist returning citizens in reconnecting with family and community networks.
Local Reentry Support Centers – Establish community-based resource hubs to provide returning citizens with navigation support for jobs, healthcare, and legal aid.
Restorative Justice & Alternatives to Reincarceration
Expansion of Restorative Justice Programs – Develop alternatives to incarceration that focus on rehabilitation and reconciliation.
Parole & Probation Reform – End punitive parole conditions that set individuals up for failure, replacing them with rehabilitative support systems
Abolish For-Profit Reentry Services – Ban exploitative parole fees and prohibit private companies from profiting off probation services.
Implementation & Oversight
Federal Reentry Program Office – Establish a dedicated agency within the Department of Labor to oversee and fund rehabilitation initiatives.
Local & State Partnerships – Provide grants to states, local governments, and community organizations to implement evidence-based reentry programs.
Mandatory Data Collection & Impact Reporting – Require transparent reporting on program outcomes, employment rates, and recidivism reduction.
