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A Statement From The White House

On April 26, 2022, President Joe Biden and the White House published a Press Release about Second Chance Month. It started by saying this is a country that is based on laws, second chances and rehabilitation. The release expressed that the President would pardon and commute sentences for three individuals who “demonstrated their commitment to rehabilitation and are striving every day to give back and contribute to their communities.”

The Release also noted that Biden will pardon 75 people who are serving long sentences for non-violent drug offenses. To provide further clarification, it said many of these people would likely have received lesser sentences if they were charged for the same thing now, because most states have legalized certain types of marijuana use.

As People Re-enter Society

Formerly incarcerated individuals often have a difficult time reintegrating into society. Studies have shown that having any type of conviction can be a detriment to people as they try to obtain employment or housing. To help alleviate this problem, hundreds of second chance laws have been passed throughout the nation. Second Chance Month is an observation of this movement and a time to consider how to help more people as they endeavor to have normal lives.

The White House announced new steps that will be taken to assist former inmates. They include:

• A collaboration between the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Labor to invest $145 million for job training.
• New grants for workforce development programs.
• Better opportunities for people to serve in federal government positions. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will publish proposed regulations that remove barriers for previously incarcerated individuals under the bipartisan Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act.
• Additional access to capital for people who have convictions and are attempting to start small businesses.
• Improved services for veterans.
• More support for healthcare, housing, and educational opportunities.

A Formerly Incarcerated Persons Fact Sheet

The White House also issued a Fact Sheet about second chance opportunities. It explained the country must “offer meaningful opportunities for redemption and rehabilitation to empower those who have been incarcerated to become productive, law-abiding, members of society, and reduce crime and make our communities safer.”

This document listed benefits of empowering people to re-enter society, such as:

• Creating safer communities.
• Reducing the unemployment rate.
• Strengthening the economy.
• Helping to end cycles of economic hardship.

What Employers Should Know

Employers throughout the country should be aware of efforts to provide second chances. There are various laws that organizations must follow depending on where they operate, such as when they can run criminal background checks on applicants, volunteers or contractors.

Hiring managers should also be aware that they must not consider any criminal record that has been expunged. We recommend consulting with counsel to ensure your policies are compliant with applicable laws and working with an accredited Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) when ordering background reports.

Background Screening

If your organization needs employment background checks, please contact us. We make efforts to keep up with new and changing laws and can help you customize screening packages for any position. Our experienced team is available to assist you Monday through Friday from 5am to 6pm PT.