CO, LA, VT: More states enact major “second chance” reforms

[ccresourcecenter.org 6/11/18]

In recent weeks, three more states — Colorado, Louisiana and Vermont — have enacted laws intended to make it easier for people with a criminal record to find and keep employment, or otherwise to regain rights and status. We are just now noting Wyoming’s amendment in March of more than a dozen occupational licensing laws, to impose new limits on how criminal record may be taken into consideration by licensing agencies.

In the first five months of 2018 alone, a total of 21 states have enacted legislation to improve opportunities for people with a criminal record, with more similar laws evidently on the way. States have enacted several different types of “second chance” laws this year.

On May 25, Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed into law an expansion of the state’s expungement authority for both adult and juvenile offenders, reducing waiting periods and other eligibility criteria for qualifying felony and misdemeanor convictions. The new law also authorizes courts to expunge non-conviction records 12 months after the conclusion of the case, without need for a petition from the defendant, and without regard to the nature of the offense. This is the third time in recent years that Vermont has extended eligibility for expungement.

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On stuff like this there is always a list of “eligible” crimes ! I’ll bet sex offenses are not on the expungement list…

Preparing inmates for IT jobs…

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/2140834-soul-of-it-the-last-mile-prepares-inmates-for-tech-jobs?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook#sf191504837

The article and comments speak of trust, as in trust not to steal or take advantage of people. As a successful business owner, I’m forced to stay small because of different trust issues:

1. Trust staff to care as much for my customers as I do.

2. Trust staff not to out me to clients and threaten my livelihood.

I was happy to NOT see preclusions for sex offenses in the article and the comments are encouraging.

Some of us didn’t even have a “first” chance. The registry is “one and done.”

Probably that and murder. Every other crime gets off. Bs if ask me.