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What Is Second Chance Month?

On March 31st 2021, President Joseph Biden released a proclamation via the White House website. It declared April would be dedicated to exploring Second Chance options for Americans who were formerly incarcerated. The announcement started by saying this country must offer “opportunities for redemption and rehabilitation” and provide a path for people to reintegrate into society after serving prison sentences.

The Biden Administration says it is committed to developing a holistic approach to creating safe, healthy communities. Part of this involves establishing a process to expunge certain types of non-violent or otherwise serious convictions.

Why This Declaration Occurred

Some key reasons for creating a Second Chance month include:

• Preventing crime and reducing recidivism.
• Rethinking the criminal justice system, including why people are sent to prison and for how long.
• Reforming the way people are treated when they are incarcerated.
• Preparing individuals to re-enter society.
• Investigating “racial inequities that lead to the disproportionate number of incarcerated Black and Brown people.”

The White House article noted that more than 600,000 people leave federal and state prisons each year and the transition can be overwhelming. It stated there are numerous unfair barriers that are made even more complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, people who have any type of criminal record often have difficulty finding jobs and other necessities. President Biden stressed that these barriers must be removed to help people obtain employment, licenses, credit, housing and the right to vote.

Expectations

Towards the end of the announcement, President Biden called upon “all government officials, educators, volunteers, and all the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.” Examples of this could include:

• Creating new options for expunging minor convictions.
• Implementing Ban the Box laws that call for the removal of questions about criminal records from job applications.
• Asking employers to assess any offenses on a candidate’s background check and determine if they are relevant to the position.

Read the proclamation.

What Employers Should Know

The Second Chance movement continues to grow in the United States. Recognizing April as a time to focus on this will likely lead to additional progress. Employers should be aware of relevant laws where they operate and understand that expunged records cannot be reviewed or considered when making employment decisions.

Running Background Checks

Employers throughout the nation are strongly encouraged to run comprehensive background checks when bringing on employees, volunteers or contractors. These reports provide information that helps hiring managers determine if a candidate is qualified and eligible. They can also show if a person has a serious criminal history that might indicate they pose an undue risk to people or property.

When you need employment background checks, please contact us. Our experienced team can help customize screening packages for any position. We are available to assist you Monday through Friday from 5am to 6pm PT.