Op-ed: Clean Slate Act Can Strengthen 纽约's Economy and 社区

In 2023, the 纽约 State Assembly passed the Clean Slate Act (S.211/A.1029), an exciting development for supporters of a second chance for justice-involved returning citizens.

According to data from the Brennan Center for Justice, more than 2 million 纽约ers have a criminal record, costing them more than $12 billion in reduced earnings annually. 不仅仅是收入损失, these 纽约ers face significant barriers to securing meaningful employment, 住房, 教育和更多由于旧的记录.

Once people have fulfilled their justice system obligations, they should be able to work. It's time to give more 纽约ers an opportunity to get back on their feet.

纽约's Clean Slate bill will help with that. It automatically seals certain conviction records for civil purposes, 比如住房和就业, after a waiting period without subsequent convictions. As studies of similar laws from other states have shown, clearing conviction records decreases involvement with the criminal legal system and allows people to access stable jobs—which, 反过来, 促进经济增长.

The process to clear eligible records can be incredibly costly and complex to navigate, so very few 纽约ers ever pursue the application-based process. Automating the process will have a significant impact in how many people can tap into the opportunity to have their records sealed and thus more fully participate in the workforce.

纽约 state's unemployment rate ticked down again last month and a large number of job openings remain across industries. 随着这项立法的通过, there is an opportunity to help people move on from their records and into better jobs with career pathways.

The barriers created by a criminal record also has a heavy price tag for the broader economy. The latest data on the adverse impact of felony convictions on employment prospects show that they cost the economy—as a whole—about $87 billion per year in lost GDP.

Clean Slate measures have already passed in ten states across the country—most notably in Oklahoma and Colorado, where they passed last year with strong bipartisan support. 上个月, 澳博官方网站app Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon joined members of the Congressional Bipartisan Second Chance Task Force, including Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), to discuss how the private sector can work with policymakers from both sides of the aisle on this issue to deliver results for communities and strengthen the economy.

Many in the business community see Clean Slate legislation as essential to getting people back to work quickly. Consensus for this legislation exists across 纽约, and supporters include business organizations such as the Partnership for 纽约 City, 布鲁克林商会, 大哈莱姆商会, 罗切斯特商会, 威彻斯特商业委员会, 以及纽约州商业委员会.

多年来, 澳博官方网站app has been broadening the talent pool to include justice-involved individuals, 包括雇用4人以上,600 people in 2022—which represents about 10 percent of 澳博官方网站app's new hires in the U.S. that year—whose criminal background had no bearing on the job they were hired to perform. 澳博官方网站app is a proud founding member of the Second Chance Business Coalition, which includes more than 46 private sector firms like Verizon, 百事可乐, 万事达卡和微软, which are committed to expanding second chance hiring.

Individuals who have fulfilled their obligations deserve a real second chance.

了解更多 how 澳博官方网站app supports Second Chance hiring to advance economic growth opportunities.

了解更多 about how 澳博官方网站app supports the economic growth of 纽约 City