Economic Mobility

Access to meaningful employment is a key component in reducing recidivism and creates pathways to increased economic mobility. Yet people with juvenile and criminal records—especially Black people—suffer from an alarmingly high and stubborn unemployment rate. Our team works with states and local communities to reduce structural barriers and expand access to quality career technical education, training programs, and other workforce supports that increase employment opportunities for people with records.

Economic Mobility| Reentry

Fair Chance Licensing Project: States Expand Access to In-Demand Jobs

Corrections agencies are grappling with a unique combination of public safety challenges, including stubborn rates of recidivism and…

Expanding Access to Health Care Jobs for Workers with Criminal Histories

Expanding Access to Public Employment for People with Criminal Records

Beyond Confidentiality: Modernizing Criminal Record Clearance Policies in the Digital Age

Limiting Employer Liability: Addressing the Perceived Risks of Hiring Workers with Criminal Histories

Fair Chance Licensing Project: States Expand Access to In-Demand Jobs

Reducing Structural Barriers to School and Work for People with Juvenile Records

After the Sentence, More Consequences: A National Report of Barriers to Work

Removing Structural Barriers to Employment: A Playbook for Every State

Improving Equity and Access to High-Quality CTE for Youth and Young Adults in the Justice System

Laying the Groundwork

Creating Systemwide Change to Promote Recidivism-Reduction and Employment Readiness

Integrated Reentry & Employment Strategies: Pilot Project Process Evaluation Report

On Track: How Well Are States Preparing Youth in the Juvenile Justice System for Employment?

News & Analysis

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State-by-State Analysis Finds that Fair Chance Licensing Reforms Can Address Worker Shortages

November 10, 2021

As states struggle with labor shortages, the Fair Chance Licensing Project provides…

Oregon Launches New Initiative to Reduce Barriers for People with Criminal and Juvenile Records

October 5, 2021

Oregon state leaders launched a new initiative in late August to improve…

It’s Time to Revisit Many of the Work Barriers People with Criminal Records Face

April 26, 2021

COVID-19 has left state and federal policymakers with painfully long to-do lists.…

How States Can Reduce Structural Barriers to School and Work for People with Juvenile Records

March 16, 2021

A first-of-its-kind analysis from the CSG Justice Center examines education- and employment-related…

How States Can Dismantle Employment Barriers for People with Criminal Records

February 2, 2021

A new report from the CSG Justice Center highlights the nearly 30,000…

Advancing Justice in a Year of Crisis: Our 2020 Annual Report

December 23, 2020

State and local justice systems faced unprecedented challenges in 2020. We look…

Thaddeus Watts Has “Been Through the Storm.” Workforce Training Helped Him Weather It.

October 26, 2020

Few receive training in Kansas prisons. Thaddeus Watts is one of the…

Officials Reduce Barriers to COVID-19 Loans for People with Records

June 15, 2020

Federal officials on Friday agreed to ease restrictions that blocked some people…

Joshua Gaines

Deputy Policy Director, Impact

Josh Gaines focuses on issues involving the collateral consequences of criminal conviction, barriers to work, and relief from the long-term impacts of a criminal record. Through the Reentry 2030 initiative, he provides direct technical assistance to state leaders and other