I was incredibly saddened to see your article detailing how trapped so many Floridians are by their criminal records (Florida workers with criminal records trapped by temp agencies, report finds, 18 November). My work often takes me into Florida’s prisons, where I help people prepare for their strongest possible futures upon their release. But a record quickly creates barriers to finding a job after prison, pushing many people toward exploitative temp agencies like those highlighted in this piece.
One way to solve this issue is to automate the record-sealing process. While Florida technically has a process for expunging eligible records after a predetermined amount of time, the time and money it takes prohibit those who need it most from accessing it. Thirteen states and Washington DC have already passed clean-slate laws to remove unnecessary red tape and expand access to opportunity.
Automated record-sealing would make it easier for people to find permanent employment by removing the stigma of an old arrest or conviction record in the hiring process. An estimated 6.2 million adults in Florida have an arrest or conviction record, which means that millions of Floridians stand to benefit if we passed an automated record sealing policy here.
Importantly, Florida would not have to take on this challenge alone. One of Florida’s very own, Laurel Lee, introduced a bipartisan bill in Congress earlier this year to allow states with automated record sealing or expungement laws to apply for federal infrastructure grants. As she put it: “People who have worked to turn their lives around after a criminal conviction deserve the opportunity to move forward, not be held back by administrative barriers.”
The need for solutions to this problem is clear. I hope Florida’s legislature takes notice – and action – so that we can provide every Floridian with a genuine second chance.
Erica Averion
Executive director, Florida Foundation for Correctional Excellence
