Category: Ex-Offenders

Report Examines Benefits of Training and Employment for Ex-Offenders

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn The employability of ex-offenders returning to society “is a moral imperative and should be a central focal point of the criminal justice reform agenda,” according to a report titled “A better path forward for criminal justice: Training and employment for correctional populations” by the Brookings-AEI Working Group …

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Survey Finds Most Americans Want to Give Ex-Offenders a Second Chance

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn Seven in ten Americans agree that employers should eliminate or reduce blanket-bans that automatically reject job seekers who are ex-offenders with minor and non-violent criminal offenses on their record, according to a national survey conducted by Kelly Services (Kelly) as part of National Second Chance Month in …

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BYU LawX Launches Goodbye Record to Address Flawed Expungement Process

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn On April 29, 2021, Brigham Young University (BYU) Law, a global law school focused on leadership and innovation in the legal field, announced the development of an online resource called Goodbye Record to assist individuals, legislators, and corporate partners in addressing flaws in the expungement process, and …

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Alabama Passes REDEEMER Act to Help Give Ex-Offenders a Second Chance

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has signed into law the Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment and Eliminate Recidivism Act (REDEEMER Act) that “allows for people convicted of misdemeanor offenses and certain nonviolent felonies to have their records expunged,” reported WALA Fox10 News in Mobile, Alabama. The REDEEMER …

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President Biden Proclaims April 2021 as Second Chance Month

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn On March 31, 2021, United States President Joseph Biden proclaimed April 2021 as Second Chance Month and called on all government officials, educators, volunteers, and people to observe the month “with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities,” according to a proclamation posted on the White House website. “During …

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Kentucky Reentry Law Will Give Employers Protection When Hiring Ex-Offenders

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn On April 5, 2021, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed into law House Bill 497 (HB 497) that will create a certificate program to give employers protection from legal barriers and civil liabilities for hiring qualified ex-offenders who have prior criminal records and are trained for a job. …

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New York Proposes “Clean Slate” Bill to Seal and Expunge Criminal Records

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn A “Clean Slate” bill proposed in the New York State Senate would create a two-step process to automatically seal and eventually expunge – or erase or remove completely – certain past criminal convictions so ex-offenders may have an easier time finding employment opportunities, according to a report …

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Second Chance Programs in Memphis TN Help Ex-Offenders Find Jobs

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn In January 2021, the City of Memphis, Tennessee, announced a partnership with grocery store chain Kroger to provide job opportunities to ex-offenders with prior criminal records who graduate from second chance programs to help reduce the rate of recidivism, according to a news report from FOX13 in …

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Audit Finds Utah Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) Failed to Reduce Recidivism

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn A “Performance Audit of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative” report to the Utah Legislature released in October 2020 revealed that despite the passage of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) to reduce the number of people sent to prison and those who re-offend, the audit found rates of “recidivism” …

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Lawsuit Claims Background Checks Violated New York Laws for Ex-Offenders

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn On May 1, 2020, a class action complaint was filed in a New York district court that accused online grocery store FreshDirect “of categorically excluding from employment workers with certain types of criminal records, in violation of New York laws barring race and other discrimination,” Bloomberg Law …

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