Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Help former inmates get jobs
Pennsylvania made headlines last year by enacting a first-of-its-kind “Clean Slate” law, which allows for automatic sealing of certain low-level criminal records if the individual remains crime-free for 10 years.
Now, the business community and groups from the left and right are bucking the partisan divide and coming together to call on our elected officials to prioritize criminal justice reforms that help former inmates get jobs — for the sake of our communities and our economy. We can be both tough and smart on crime by pursuing reforms that reduce crime, save money and help those leaving prison to become productive members of society.
For example, nearly one in five jobs requires a government-issued license or certificate. All too often, these licenses are denied to otherwise qualified applicants based on outdated and irrelevant criminal records. Nearly 3 million Pennsylvanians have some kind of criminal record, and these prohibitions can stand in the way of their economic security. By having employers focus on criminal histories relevant to a job and conducting individualized reviews rather than applying blanket bans, we can set people up for success and grow the pool of talented workers Pennsylvania’s economy and businesses need to thrive.
Probation reform also is important. Almost 300,000 Pennsylvanians are currently under supervision, nearly 20 percent higher than the national average. Probation can be a chance to turn someone’s life around, or it can trap someone in a cycle of recidivism.
Senate Bill 14 and forthcoming House legislation would create incentives for compliance for those on probation, set much-needed limits on the length of probation and implement appropriate sanctions for technical violations. Probation shouldn’t be an extra prison sentence, but rather a step toward ending criminal conduct, redemption for individuals and safer communities.
While “Clean Slate” was a monumental policy achievement, there’s more to do in providing second chances. Today, individuals who have been pardoned or received a full acquittal still live with the stigma of a criminal record. House Bill 440 would put an end to this, providing access to records expungement for individuals who have been pardoned unconditionally or received a full acquittal. If you’re not guilty in the eyes of the law, you shouldn’t be deemed guilty when applying for a job.
Finally, a three-bill package offers landmark, data-driven criminal-justice reforms that would streamline community supervision, prioritize proven interventions and implement a smarter system of parole that cuts out bureaucratic lag time. This package dramatically would improve crime victims’ rights and use a portion of the savings to boost public safety.
Our organizations are working together to continue Pennsylvania’s efforts toward a safer, smarter and fairer criminal justice system. We look forward to working with leaders of both parties in the Legislature and with the administration to help us grow the economy, improve our criminal justice system and keep Pennsylvania No. 1 for second chances.
This op-ed was submitted on behalf of Gene Barr, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry; Beth Anne Mumford, state director of Americans for Prosperity; Nathan Benefield, vice president and COO of The Commonwealth Foundation; Elizabeth Randol, legislative director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania; and Holly Harris, executive director of The Justice Action Network.