Second Chance Business Coalition

Writing a New Story: This piece from The Guardian reports on the “right-to-be-forgotten” — a growing movement among U.S. newspapers to remove names and delete old crime articles to protect the privacy of individuals with records. Old stories, often lacking the necessary context about a person’s traumas or struggles leading up to the crime, can pop up in background checks — creating barriers to employment even when an individual’s record has been expunged. For employers, the movement underscores the importance of focusing on a job candidate’s qualifications and potential instead of past mistakes. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gT43jCFr For more on the “right-to-be-forgotten,” check out this episode from WNYC Radio‘s RadioLab, which goes more in depth on the thoughtful process: https://lnkd.in/eaM4vMZt

In today's talent market, military veterans represent an exceptional and often overlooked workforce opportunity. More than 19 million Americans are veterans, and they offer industries a powerful blend of leadership experience, technical training, and a proven ability to thrive in complex environments. While most veterans successfully transition to civilian careers, those with arrests and incarceration records face significant barriers in finding career-track employment opportunities. At this event, veterans with justice system involvement who have participated in Justice Through Code will join representatives of the tech industry to explore how hiring programs can create pathways into tech positions. In addition, Veterans Justice Commission Chairman and former US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Commission Director Jim Seward will share highlights of the panel’s work, including its recommendations to promote the hiring of #secondchance veterans and increase other support for former service members transitioning from the criminal justice system to civilian life. Speakers: - Chuck Hagel, Chair of the Council on Criminal Justice Veterans Justice Commission; Former US Defense Secretary and US Senator - Jim D. Seward, Director of the Veterans Justice Commission; Colonel in the US Army; Former General Counsel for South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard - Nan Gibson, Executive Director for Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility at the JPMorganChase PolicyCenter - Aedan Macdonald '24, Executive Director and Founder of Justice Through Code - Nick Curry, Global Head of Emerging Talent Pipelines at Amazon; Navy Veteran - Danny Newton, Justice Through Code, The Flagship Fellow; Air Force Veteran - LeDerius Franklin, Justice Through Code Alumni; Software Engineer at Microsoft; Air Force Veteran --- This event is co-hosted by the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change at Columbia University and the Distinguished Speaker Series at Columbia Business School, Justice Through Code at Columbia University, and the Veterans Justice Commission at the Council on Criminal Justice.

Investing in Community Partnership: With support from SCBC member JPMorganChase, Fort Worth-based nonprofit Pathfinders is helping Texans with criminal records reenter the job market, addressing labor shortages and contributing to the state’s growing economy.   Through its Pathways to Success program — which offers mentoring, financial coaching and family reunification services — Pathfinders has reduced recidivism among participants by 45 percent. The program also supports individuals post-release with practical tools, including resume writing, interview preparation and support navigating the hiring process.   This collaboration highlights the transformative impact of strategic investments in community partnerships, enabling businesses to close labor gaps while creating economic opportunities for individuals and communities alike. https://lnkd.in/gy_-kFuS

Making the Most of 2025: Resolved to expand talent pools and advance inclusive employment? The SCBC helps large employers adopt smart workforce strategies by attracting, hiring and advancing qualified employees with criminal records. Get started with the SCBC Onramps Guide, offering 100 pathways to start or expand your second chance employment program: https://lnkd.in/ebT6yByN

Good for People & the Bottom Line: The SCBC Business Case for Second Chance Employment helps employers make the internal and external case for hiring individuals with a criminal record, outlining how the practice can build a more effective and resilient workforce. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/dFpggip

Save The Date: Join us for the annual Second Chance Forum on April 1, 2025, at the UVA Darden School of Business Sands Family Grounds.    JPMorganChase | Eaton | Business Roundtable | University of Virginia Darden School of Business | Resilience Education

The Right Game Plan: In this episode of The Last Mile Radio, representatives from SCBC member Bank of America and the Los Angeles Rams discuss their joint fellowship program, designed to create career pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals in the professional sports industry. The conversation underscores the importance of transitional support and educational opportunities for second chance talent. It also features insights from a program participant whose success story showcases the transformative impact of corporate commitment to advance second chances. A key factor in the program’s success relates to how BofA is reshaping the narrative around second chance hiring, including by: 1.    Partnering with think tanks to ground discussions in facts; 2.    Working with filmmakers to share real-life stories and amplify second chance voices; and 3.    Joining the SCBC to learn and share best practices across industries. Watch the full episode: https://lnkd.in/dS23JUBg

Guided by Green Factors: Understanding legal requirements can be a significant hurdle for employers exploring second chance hiring. The EEOC‘s “Green Factors,” established in the 1974 Supreme Court Case Green v. Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, offer employers a framework to evaluate candidates with criminal records fairly under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The Green Factors include: ·     Nature and gravity of the offense ·     Time passed since the offense and/or sentence completion ·     Nature of the job being sought Incorporating these factors into hiring practices helps employers meet legal requirements while accessing an often-overlooked talent pool. Learn more in the SCBC Legal Guide: https://shorturl.at/orysK

Proximity is Powerful: This piece from People Management magazine shares insights from Ken Oliver, CIO of The Just Trust and member of the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ), on how proximity helps challenge the pervasive stereotypes that often deter employers from hiring individuals with criminal records.   Speaking at the Workforce & Justice Summit in London, Ken O., who was previously incarcerated, shared: “I love bringing CEOs and executives into proximity with people like me, because once they get in the room and in the space, I’m sure people are probably going to be like, ‘Ken’s normal. He doesn’t seem like he’s been in prison.’"   He added that often, when people meet someone who’s turned their life around, “the fear and stigma dissolve. Suddenly, we’re just human beings, capable of change.”   Underscoring the business case for second chances, Oliver emphasized the resilience and loyalty of employees with criminal records and called for stronger collaboration between business and policymakers to create resources for reskilling and apprenticeships.   Keep reading: https://lnkd.in/ebz6Sk5f

Catalyst for Change: Checkr, Inc.’s new apprenticeship program, Catalyst, offers 12 months of on-the-job training and mentorship to workers with criminal records. For employers, joining the 2025 cohort is a chance to implement second chance hiring practices and access untapped talent — all while receiving financial support from Checkr to offset costs. The program will also partner with the San Francisco Office of Economic & Workforce Development’s TechSF (TechSF OEWD), which provides skills-based training to prepare workers for tech careers, and The Last Mile, which provides education and training as part of an incarceration-to-employment program. Learn more about Catalyst: https://lnkd.in/gbjT3W7y