"The ability to earn an honest living is a solution to many of the problems individuals face, and this is even more true for people with a record of criminal activity.
When someone is released from prison, finding work is one of the best ways to keep them out of the corrections system for good. But in Michigan, this is often easier said than done.
Prospective employees require a state-mandated license to work for approximately 20 percent of the jobs in Michigan. For a majority of those jobs, which include skilled trades like roofing and painting, obtaining a license means proving you are of “good moral character.” In other words, if you have a criminal record, you are ineligible for a license.
In some professions this makes sense, but in most it would be better for licensing boards to use common sense when examining an applicant’s moral character. A conviction like reckless driving will not impact the ability of a barber to cut hair, but he could still lose his chance at a career as a result of it."
http://www.mackinac.org/arbitrary-licensing-requirements-should-be-scrapped
When someone is released from prison, finding work is one of the best ways to keep them out of the corrections system for good. But in Michigan, this is often easier said than done.
Prospective employees require a state-mandated license to work for approximately 20 percent of the jobs in Michigan. For a majority of those jobs, which include skilled trades like roofing and painting, obtaining a license means proving you are of “good moral character.” In other words, if you have a criminal record, you are ineligible for a license.
In some professions this makes sense, but in most it would be better for licensing boards to use common sense when examining an applicant’s moral character. A conviction like reckless driving will not impact the ability of a barber to cut hair, but he could still lose his chance at a career as a result of it."
http://www.mackinac.org/arbitrary-licensing-requirements-should-be-scrapped