Salt Lake City—In honor of Second Chance Month, local leaders and second chance employers will join Rasa Legal and Clean Slate Utah for a panel discussion of the value of hiring and supporting people with criminal records. The discussion will take place on Thursday, April 27, from 6-7 p.m. MDT at The Other Side Academy. 

“Employing somebody who is justice-involved is one of the best ways to reduce recidivism, support working families, and help employers access an untapped labor pool of skilled and loyal workers,” said Noella Sudbury, Founder and CEO of Rasa Legal. “We’ve seen second chance hiring lead to better employee retention and can be an effective way to support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.”

The panel will be moderated by Sudbury and will feature:

• Dave Durocher, Executive Director, The Other Side Academy
• Dr. Sidni Shorter, CEO, Utah Black Chamber of Commerce
• Heather Chase, Executive Director, The Haven
• Jon Hale, Owner, Hires Big H
• Prof. Brian Tease, Cirque Lodge and University of Utah College of Social Work

More than 800,000 Utahns have a criminal record, and the unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated people is 27%. However, research shows that hiring people with records is good for employees, employers, and our economy. It can also lead to more successful recovery from substance use disorder. 

“Removing the barrier of having a criminal record is integral to recovery from substance use disorder,” said Destiny Garcia, Executive Director of Clean Slate Utah. “It could give deserving Utahns access to education, housing, and other basic needs.”

Anybody who is interested is invited to attend the discussion to learn about some of the benefits of second chance employment and the importance of second chances for all. 

Attendees must RSVP at https://SecondChancePanel.eventbrite.com/?aff=PR.

The Other Side Academy is located at 667 E 100 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84102.  Guests may park in the TOSA parking lot or at the Masonic Temple across the street.  The event will be held in the building just west of the mansion.

Media are encouraged to attend the panel discussion. Interviews with Noella Sudbury and Destiny Garcia are available prior to the day of the event. For media inquiries, please contact Emily Moench at [email protected] or (385) 234-1551. 

About Rasa Legal

Rasa is a legal tech company on a mission to provide simple and affordable criminal record expungement. The company developed sophisticated computer software that analyzes criminal record databases and streamlines many of the complex and time-consuming steps associated with determining eligibility for expungement. These affordable expungement services clear a path for access to housing and jobs, higher wages, and a better quality of life for those who have been held back by background checks. For more information, visit www.rasa-legal.com.

About Clean Slate Utah

Clean Slate Utah is 501(c)(3) formed to help raise awareness of Utah’s Clean Slate Law. The mission of Clean Slate Utah is to help people clear their criminal records and access opportunity by:

• Spreading the word about Utah’s Clean Slate law to individuals with records, so they are aware of the law and its positive impact on their lives;
• Providing information about the law and links to free and low cost legal resources to assist individuals who need to go through the petition-based expungement process or obtain a pardon;
• Raising money to help cover the cost of government fees associated with the legal expungement process;
• Helping eligible individuals take advantage of the law to access greater opportunities;
• Elevating the voices and stories of directly impacted people and their families.

About Second Chance Month

On March 31, 2023, President Biden issued a presidential proclamation marking April as Second Chance Month. President Biden declared, “America has always been a land of second chances, founded on fresh starts, new possibilities, and the belief that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.  During Second Chance Month, we recommit to helping people forge the new beginnings they have earned and building a safer and more just society.” …   

“To do that, we need education, job, and substance use programs, during and after incarceration.  My Administration is, for example, investing nearly $1 billion in job training, recovery, and reentry services.  We are implementing changes to the Pell Grant program so people can earn a college degree while still in prison, jumpstarting new lives.  Once they are released, we are helping them to find jobs rebuilding America through our historic infrastructure law; and we have expanded access to small business loans, so no one’s past keeps them from building a better future.”