Скачать или смотреть Ken Oliver: Fighting for Freedom Through Knowledge

At the time of this recording, Ken Oliver was the Vice President of Checkr.org and the Executive Director of the Checkr Foundation, where he leds efforts to expand fair chance hiring and create economic opportunities for justice-impacted individuals. Previously, he was a leader in criminal justice reform and reentry advocacy, using his legal expertise and lived experience to drive policy change. Ken’s journey is one of extraordinary transformation—wrongfully sentenced to 52 years to life under California’s Three Strikes Law, he not only fought for his release but also played a pivotal role in dismantling the unconstitutional solitary confinement practices within California prisons. His impact extends beyond advocacy, influencing major criminal justice policies and fair hiring initiatives through his leadership at Checkr, a company known for revolutionizing background checks and securing over $400 million in funding while championing second-chance employment.

Ken shares his harrowing yet inspiring story of being incarcerated under a draconian sentencing law, spending nearly nine years in solitary confinement, and emerging as a legal strategist who successfully challenged the system from within. He details how his relentless pursuit of education—reading hundreds of books and mastering constitutional law—became his path to freedom. Ken discusses his role in organizing the largest prison hunger strike in U.S. history, which led to sweeping reforms in California’s use of indefinite solitary confinement. He also sheds light on the systemic barriers justice-impacted individuals face post-incarceration, emphasizing the importance of economic empowerment through employment and business ownership. His work at Checkr redefines what’s possible for returning citizens, proving that fair chance hiring is not just an ethical imperative but a profitable and sustainable business strategy.

Episode Outline:

(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:01:07) Sentenced to Life Under Three Strikes Law
(00:02:59) Surviving and Thriving in a Level 4 Prison
(00:05:00) Redefining Leadership in Prison
(00:07:26) Targeted by the System for His Knowledge
(00:10:27) The Battle Against Solitary Confinement
(00:14:22) Fighting Back with the Law
(00:17:00) Organizing Hunger Strikes for Reform
(00:19:54) Winning His Own Freedom
(00:24:00) Transitioning from Prison to Professional Life
(00:27:30) Checkr and Economic Justice for Justice-Impacted People
(00:31:45) The Power of Fair Chance Hiring
(00:35:10) Reforming the System from the Outside
(00:39:25) Empowering Justice-Impacted Individuals Through Education
(00:42:50) Future Goals for Systemic Change
(00:46:15) Final Reflections and Call to Action

Episode Resources:

Checkr Website https://checkr.com
Checkr LinkedIn   / checkr-inc  
Checkr X   / checkr  
Stanford Law School Three Strikes Project Website - https://law.stanford.edu/stanford-thr...