Nationwide, millions of Americans face barriers to employment due to low-level criminal records. For many, a criminal record, even for a minor offense, can mean years of struggling to find stable work, secure housing or support their families. These barriers not only limit individual opportunity, but also cost our economy up to $87 billion each year in lost productivity and opportunity. 

Last month, Illinois took a major step forward with the signing of the Clean Slate Act (HB 1836), a bipartisan law that expands opportunity and strengthens Illinois’ economy. This new legislation will allow nearly 2.2 million residents to have their low-level criminal records sealed, removing barriers to employment and economic growth.

As the 13th state to pass Clean Slate legislation, Illinois will transform its complex, costly and time-consuming paper-based record system into a streamlined electronic process that can seal records already eligible for clearance. Automating this process means eligible individuals no longer have to navigate complicated legal systems or pay costly fees to clear their records. At its core, this law is about jobs, eliminating obstacles for residents who have fulfilled their justice system obligations. The result: more opportunity for residents and an estimated $4.7 billion in additional wages injected into our local economy annually.

Second-chance initiatives allow employers to tap into a motivated talent pool by considering candidates based on their skills and potential, helping address labor shortages in critical industries such as advanced manufacturing, health care, transportation and life sciences, and ensuring businesses have access to the workforce they need to thrive and contribute to our state’s future.

We should applaud this achievement and the positive impact it will have on individuals, families and communities. But this is just the beginning. Real progress will require collective action from government, businesses, nonprofits and community organizations to ensure residents can benefit from the legislation.

Illinois has long been central to JPMorganChase’s commitment to second chances. Six years ago in Chicago, after our chairman and CEO, Jamie Dimon, visited the North Lawndale Employment Network, JPMorganChase made a commitment to help break down barriers for those seeking a fresh start. Since then, we have hired nearly 2,000 Illinoisans with low-level criminal records, across all lines of business, valuing their skills and focusing on their future, not their past. More private sector companies should do the same.

Our commitment to this work extends beyond our own hiring. Through support for local organizations such as the Corporate Coalition of Chicago, Cara Collective, Illinois Justice Project and Skills for Chicago and our role as a founding member of the Second Chance Business Coalition, we’re working alongside other employers to share best practices and expand fair-chance opportunities across the state. The Second Chance Business Coalition now includes dozens of major employers nationwide, all dedicated to sharing best practices and expanding fair chance hiring. These efforts are changing perceptions, opening thousands of doors for job seekers and helping more residents access meaningful employment and benefitting businesses of all sizes.

With the Clean Slate Act now signed into law, Illinois stands at the forefront of a national movement. But the true impact will depend on the actions we take together. I encourage my fellow business leaders to embrace second-chance hiring, leverage available resources and help unlock the full potential of our state’s workforce.

Together, we can build a more prosperous Illinois — one in which everyone can contribute to and share in the state’s future success.

Curtis Reed is the managing director and a member of the JPMorganChase Illinois Market Leadership Team. 

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