This week, the Council of State Governments (CSG), through its Justice Center, released its “Fair Chance Licensing Project[,] an unprecedented effort to track 13 key fair chance licensing practices across all 50 states. The project also provides resources for lawmakers, business leaders, workforce organizations, and community advocates to explore how fair chance licensing can help address the nation’s current worker shortage.”  CSG added that “[a]s states struggle with worker shortages, one potential solution is clear: allow more people to pursue occupations and professions that require a license.

The CSG Justice Center will host

a briefing on Nov. 18 that will provide an overview of fair chance legislative reforms happening across the county. The event will showcase the CSG Justice Center’s…Fair Chance Licensing Project—an unprecedented effort to track 13 key fair chance licensing best practices across all 50 states. The presentation will include an overview of barriers to work for people with criminal records and a summary of the 13 legislative licensing policies across all 50 states. It will also explore how fair chance licensing could help address the nation’s current worker shortage.

Participating in the briefing will be Dr. Nicole Jarrett, Director, Corrections and Reentry Division, CSG Justice Center; Joshua Gaines, Project Manager, Corrections and Reentry Division, CSG Justice Center; and Chidi Umez, Deputy Program Director, Corrections and Reentry Division, CSG Justice Center