For advice on helping ex-felons, Cincinnati City Council turned to Tamaya Dennard
Cincinnati City Council will consider legislation that would make it easier for people convicted of crimes to find work and housing − a plan suggested by convicted felon and former Councilwoman Tamaya Dennard.
The all-Democratic council has long worked to help those who served their time have a second chance at success. Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney wanted to continue that work and reached out to Dennard, sparking the conversation.
"I met with Tamaya as part of her job and asked, 'What are the barriers that citizens are facing?' " Kearney said.
The motion to be discussed Tuesday at a committee meeting asks the administration to look into a trio of measures that would help convicted criminals.
The motion was brought forward by Kearney and Councilman Scotty Johnson – a former police officer – but it's the first time Dennard has voiced her opinion via the council process since she left office.
Dennard now works in the Cincinnati office of the Center for Employment Opportunities, a national nonprofit whose mission is to help convicted criminals get jobs.
In a statement to The Enquirer, Dennard said her work to help "justice-impacted people" began during her tenure on City Council. She fought for marijuana decriminalization to apply retroactively and worked on inclusive rental policies.
"My personal advocacy on purge and repeal is the result of ongoing conversations I had with retired Judge Nadine Allen," Dennard said. "Her compassion for others and her deep understanding of the law combined with my desire to make Cincinnati a more just city for everyone spurred some awesome ideas."
What happened to Tamaya Dennard?
Dennard was elected to City Council in 2017. She resigned in 2020 after being arrested on federal corruption charges.
She pleaded guilty and served an 18-month prison term. She took this new job after being released in April 2022.
Stopping a 'lifetime of destabilization'
The motion up for consideration as part of council's Public Safety and Governance Committee calls for three things:
Dismissing all warrants that are seven years old or older for nonviolent misdemeanors.
Repealing city laws that call for mandatory sentencing beyond what is required by the state.
Overturning the city's policy of delaying employment for people until five years after their conviction.
"It only takes one interaction with the legal system to create a lifetime of destabilization of someone's livelihood and housing," Dennard wrote in her statement to the city supporting the law. "The government should not exacerbate those challenges with draconian and archaic policies and laws that do nothing to acknowledge the disparities created by the criminal legal system."
Center for Employment Opportunities spokesman Matt Sutton said more than 150 municipalities have passed initiatives to de-emphasize the backgrounds of applicants.
"These cities have been able to accomplish more because their workforce is more robust," he said.
The motion before the committee is to request a report on the feasibility of taking the three actions. If passed out of committee, the city administration would be asked to complete the report within 90 days. After the report is received, it would be up to City Council to decide whether to introduce any new legislation.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: City Council to consider justice reform proposed by Tamaya Dennard
