Center for American Progress

Tell Congress To Pass Clean Slate Legislation Now

Second chances can transform lives. In order to give people a meaningful chance at rebuilding their life, we need to reduce the barriers to reentry nationwide. More than 80 million Americans are living with a criminal record that creates barriers to their successful reentry after being incarcerated. Having a criminal record affects employability, wages, the ability to buy a home, and the ability to continue an education. Nearly 75 percent of returning citizens are still unemployed a year after their release, and the incarceration of a family member is associated with a 64.3 percent decrease in a family’s assets.

The stigma surrounding criminal records increases returning citizens’ likelihood of committing crimes in the future and affects their families’ financial security. Legislation that helps ease the record expungement process, such as the Clean Slate Act, can help.

Help provide individuals who have paid their debt to society with a second chance. Tell your representative to ensure people can rebuild their lives after incarceration and promote a safer and fairer society.

Hello,

I am writing to urge your support for legislation that addresses the challenges faced by individuals with criminal records. As many as 1 in 3 U.S. adults have an arrest or conviction record; face immense barriers during reentry; and are prevented from getting a job, a home, or an education. It is imperative that we invest in holistic solutions for people coming home after incarceration to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to our communities.

The impact of a record extends far beyond the individuals themselves; it deeply affects their families and loved ones. Formerly incarcerated individuals and their families often face barriers to reentry including poverty, housing insecurity, and educational challenges, which create consequences that last a lifetime. By supporting legislation that automatically seals a person’s arrest or conviction record after a defined period of time, allowing individuals to petition to have their records sealed, and establishing federal grant programs to provide funding support to states that have passed their own record clearance laws, you can help alleviate the hardships faced by these families and facilitate their successful reentry.

Nearly 9 in 10 employers use background checks in hiring, 4 in 5 landlords use background checks on prospective tenants, and more than 3 in 5 higher education institutions use background checks in admissions. Without meaningful access to employment, housing, and education, it is incredibly difficult for individuals to gain the skills and security required to reconnect with their community. This lack of security and opportunity means individuals are more likely to recommit the offenses that led to their initial arrests.

Furthermore, racially unjust policing and systemic biases result in higher rates of arrest, conviction, and incarceration for people of color, leaving them with a disproportionate share of arrest and conviction records. Following their release, Black and brown people also face amplified challenges and biases when trying to reenter with a criminal record.

I urge you to support federal legislation such as the Clean Slate Act, which automatically seals or clears federal records of nonviolent convictions. Twelve states—including Pennsylvania, Utah, and Michigan—have successfully passed some form of clean slate legislation. Results show that people who have served their time are committed to improving themselves and transforming their lives. Through investing in these initiatives, we can help individuals with criminal records become supported members of society, reduce crime rates, and strengthen communities.

By fostering and implementing second chance policies, you and your fellow policymakers can help lower the barriers that hinder too many Americans with records from successfully rejoining their community, the labor force, and society at large.

Thank you for considering my request to pass clean slate legislation. I trust that you will champion this important cause and work toward creating a more just and equitable society for all.

Sincerely,

{user_data~First Name~Your Constituent}

Learn more about the lasting impact of criminal records from the Center for American Progress: https://www.americanprogress.org/article/news-can-use-research-roundup-re-entry-advocates/

Take Action:

First name

Last name

Email Address

Street

City

State

Zip Code

Country

Cell Phone

c3 Digital Team Contact

Yes, sign me up for the latest updates from CAP.

CAP Events

Action Alerts

General CAP emails

InProgress

Fundraising emails