Clearing Barriers to Opportunity

Since Pennsylvania passed its Clean Slate law in 2018, 40 million criminal records have been sealed, eliminating a key barrier to employment and opportunity for over one million residents. The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry was an important partner in getting the law passed. “It’s helped us develop relationships with non-traditional constituencies,” said Gene Barr, the president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber. “It’s changed much of the public perception of our organization.”

The Clean Slate Initiative is a national bipartisan coalition working to empower states to automate the process for clearing certain criminal records for individuals who remain crime-free for a set period of time. One in three Americans has some type of criminal record, potentially creating lifelong barriers to opportunity. Chambers across the country are taking on the issue to address workforce shortages and reduce obstacles to employment.

In Utah, the state’s realtor association was experiencing issues with a rigorous process that was causing problems for people who had minor issues on their records. It was cumbersome and caused prospective realtor members to be held out of the market. The association reached out to the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance for help. “In addition to the moral imperative, we wanted to talk to our members, our elected officials and the public about the economic imperative,” said Derek Miller, the president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “It was important for us to be a business-led effort." 

Both chambers took on the Clean Slate before the pandemic, as workforce development was, and continues to be, a major issue. “For us, this was all about maintaining a strong economic ecosystem,” said Miller. “It’s important for us to be able to bring back employees into the workforce.”

However, hurdles still exist, like questions on job applications about criminal records, the stigma around hiring and getting these laws passed in state legislatures. Plus, chamber members need to also be on board. “You have to make the case with your members,” said Barr. The Pennsylvania Chamber held webinars on re-entrant employment and hosted events to advocate for and explain the legislation. In Salt Lake, the chamber wrote opinion pieces and started tilling the ground to get people prepared for the concept while communicating with members about what it would mean for them.

As for what’s next, the Pennsylvania Chamber is working on probation reform and a second chance jobs board. Utah recently started with record expungement under their Clean Slate initiative after a COVID delay. “It’s often said that America is a country of second chances so that really resonated,” said Miller.

Additional Resources:

• Second Chance Business Coalition: SCBC is a cross-sector coalition of large, private-sector firms committed to expanding second chance hiring and advancement practices within their companies.
• SHRM Getting Talent Back to Work: A multi-faceted program for HR professionals, hiring managers and front-line supervisors designed to equip them with the actionable knowledge and tools needed to attract, hire, and retain people with criminal records.
• The Just Trust - The Just Trust looks across political spectrums and state lines to advance the hard work of advocates, build creative alliances, center the work of directly impacted individuals, and sustain the calls for reform among the mainstream.
• REFORM Alliance - REFORM Alliance aims to transform probation and parole by changing laws, systems and culture to create real pathways to work and wellbeing

Additional ACCE Resources:

• Chamber Case for Supporting Clean Slate
• ACCE Smart Justice Resource Guide
• Open and Fair Hiring Practices Flyer from the LA Chamber (login required)