Fast Facts

1 in 3 adults in the United States has an arrest or conviction record that limits their ability to work, obtain housing, and engage in civic life. Having a record, even an arrest record, is a significant barrier to economic mobility.

94% of employers use background checks when hiring. (Nelson, 2019)

90% of landlords use background checks on prospective tenants. (Nelson, 2019)

72% of colleges and universities use background checks on prospective students. (Stewart & Uggen, 2019)

The estimated loss in gross domestic product every year resulting from shutting people with records out of the workforce is $78 - $87 billion. (Barber & Bucknor, 2016)

There are more than 42,000 state and federal regulatory restrictions that limit the ability of people with a record to access meaningful opportunities to build a better life. (National Reentry Resource Center)

Less than 10% of people get their records cleared within five years of becoming eligible. (Chien, 2020)

An arrest or conviction record reduces a job seeker’s chance of getting a callback or job offer by nearly 50 percent. (Pager et al., 2009)

America now has more people with arrest or conviction records than it does four-year college graduates. (National Center for Education Statistics)

On average, people who received record clearance were 11% more likely to be employed and saw an over 22% increase in income within one year. (Prescott & Starr, 2020)