Strike from the Record: Administrative Burden in Take-up of Criminal Record Expungement

Awarded Scholars:
Nyron N. Crawford, Temple University
Project Date:
Mar 2022
Award Amount:
$30,000

Although criminal record expungement programs and policies are designed to help mitigate the collateral consequences of an arrest or criminal conviction, few proceed through the administrative process. This creates a “second chance gap” and likely perpetuates social, economic, and political inequalities. Justice-involved individuals – those previously arrested or incarcerated – may be disqualified from, or have restrictions placed on, their receipt of public benefits as well as their rights. Some evidence suggests that a clean slate, in the form of record clearance, can boost employment rates and wages and is helpful in reducing re-offending. Why, then, don’t more eligible record-bearers participate in expungement programs? Drawing on focus group and survey data, political scientist Nyron Crawford will examine the barriers that prevent justice-involved individuals from taking up record clearance. 

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