Recently, I have discussed North Carolina’s expungement and certificate of relief processes as possible ways to address the impact of a criminal conviction. These options generally pertain to individuals who have only been through the criminal process once and have relatively minor convictions.

 

However, individuals with multiple convictions and those who committed serious offenses and have served significant prison time face difficult situations. They are unable to remove the existence of a prior conviction through the expungement process and often struggle to overcome the stigma of a criminal record. When these individuals commit themselves to changing their lives and making a positive impact on society, they must focus on alternatives.

 

Community resources are one option for individuals trying to better their lives but struggling to find work due to their criminal history. For example, Capital Area Reentry serves the Triangle area. For more information on the organization and its services, click here. Similarly, the NEW Reentry Council serves Nash, Edgecombe, and Wilson Counties in the eastern part of the state. Click here to learn more about this organization.

 

Furthermore, some jurisdictions are supporting the “ban the box” initiative, which is designed to help prior offenders improve their hiring chances by requiring employers not to include a criminal history question on a job application. Employers would instead wait until later in the hiring process to consider an applicant’s background. Click to see a recent summary from the National Employment Law Project.

 

President Obama supported “banning the box” for federal positions. In North Carolina, the House passed a bill to “ban the box” for some state government positions during the last session. Click to read more. It will be interesting to see if this movement continues to gain traction across the country.