Policy Corner
Over 1 million Ohioans with criminal records are eligible to have their records sealed: What are we waiting for?
Published July 2024 in Policy Pulse, A Towards Employment Newsletter Article written by guest author Patrick Higgins The Getting Rehabilitated Ohioans Working (“GROW”) Act, House Bill 460, is a legislative solution to an issue that is widespread throughout Ohio: the pervasiveness of criminal records long after a person has served whatever penalty was imposed for…
Read MoreReal-Time Takes: GROW Act – Collateral Sanctions: Record Sealing
Real-Time Takes A Policy Blogcast GROW ACT – Collateral Sanctions: Record Sealing Interview with Jane Doe This TE Alumni has opted to remain anonymous for this article. July 11, 2024 Interview and article by Gabrielle Fortin For nearly a decade, Jane Doe made “bad decisions, with bad people, in bad places”. She was convicted with…
Read MoreReal-Time Takes: STARs – Success Stories Despite the Odds
Real-Time Takes A Policy Blogcast STARs – Success Stories Despite the Odds Interview with Chrissy Adams and Joan Crosby July 1, 2024 Interview by Brian Balogh & Gabrielle Fortin Written by Gabrielle Fortin Did you know that if you are at least 25, have a high-school diploma but not a four-year degree, and are currently…
Read MoreOpportunity@Work Awards $2 Million to Organizations Accelerating Economic Mobility for Workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs)
NEWS PROVIDED BY Opportunity@Work Jun 25, 2024, 09:00 ET Read the full article at PR Newswire National nonprofit’s latest grant program recognizes eight training and talent development providers committed to helping STARs access career opportunities in high-growth fields WASHINGTON, June 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — National economic mobility nonprofit Opportunity@Work today announced eight recipients of its Powering…
Read MoreAbout Senate Bill 37
About SB37 Senate Bill 37 removes the ability to suspend a person’s license for non-driving related issues, such as unpaid parking tickets, therefore removing the barrier to employment for millions of hard-working Ohioans and businesses that employ them. Ohio sees roughly 3 million license suspensions per year with over 60% of these being for debt-related…
Read MoreReal-Time Takes: Expungements – Coming Soon!
Real-Time Takes A Policy Blogcast Expungements COMING SOON! On April 4, 2023, Ohio Senate Bill 288 went into effect which expands the eligibility for expunging or sealing criminal records and shortens waiting periods for filing a petition with the court. The following offenses cannot be expunged or sealed: 1st or 2nd degree felonies 3…
Read MoreReal-Time Takes: Second Sentence
Real-Time Takes A Policy Blogcast The Second Sentence Interview with Tammy McCrimon & Renee Ditchburn July 7, 2023 Interview by Brian Balogh A recent New York Times article delved into a devastating fact: over 60 percent of those leaving prison in the United States are unemployed a year later. While prejudice against returning citizens is…
Read MoreReal-Time Takes: Job Quality
Real-time Takes A Policy Blogcast Job Quality Interview with Brenden Wyatt & Dondreya Allen June 1, 2023 Interview by Brian Balogh When I ask my kids if they like their job, the first thing they mention is how much it pays – or does not pay. But whatever the pay scale and fringe benefits, the…
Read MorePolicy Corner: Voting With A Record
Voting with a criminal record There is a lot of misinformation out there. Be sure to know your rights. You are eligible to vote as long as you are not incarcerated in jail or prison for a felony conviction. That means, if you are in a half-way house, on probation or parole, on some sort…
Read MorePolicy Corner: June 2020
Policy Corner: We are following the following issues in the statehouse: Fines and fees related to driver’s license reinstatement Legislative Win! HB 285 has passed in the Ohio House and Senate! HB 285 will make permanent the Driver’s License Reinstatement Fee Debt Reduction and Amnesty Program. This is an important policy for Towards Employment participants.…
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