Biden Administration announces actions to promote reintegration
Reprinted below is a list of the actions announced on this day by the Administration to promote successful reentry and rehabilitation. Notably, the list includes an intention to expand action to business capital by justice-affected entrepreneurs:
Expanding Access to Business Capital. The Small Business Administration will publish a notice of proposed rulemaking, that, if adopted, would remove barriers to eligibility for people with criminal history records who want to start a small business.
We understand that the new SBA proposal will be to eliminate almost all inquiries about criminal history on SBA own application forms, and no cease SBA’s policy of conducting “good character” inquiries based on criminal history. Instead, it will permit SBA lenders to conduct their own inquiries about a loan applicant’s criminal history if they choose to do so. We will post about this new rule as soon as it is published for comment in the Federal Register.
We will have further comment on some of the other proposed actions described below as they relate directly to collateral consequences.
April 28, 2023
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action During Second
Chance Month to Strengthen Public Safety, Improve Rehabilitation in
Jails and Prisons, and Support Successful Reentry
America is a nation of second chances. Our nation must provide people who have been incarcerated meaningful opportunities for redemption and rehabilitation. America was founded on fresh starts, new possibilities, and the belief that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Yet, for people returning home to their communities from jail or prison, obstacles often stand in the way of turning this promise into a reality.
Bipartisan elected officials, faith leaders, civil rights advocates, and law enforcement leaders agree that our criminal justice system can and should reflect core values that promote safer and stronger communities, such as tackling the root causes of crime, improving individual and collective outcomes, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are delivering the highest degree of public safety and equal justice.
That’s why, today, the Biden-Harris administration is releasing an evidence-informed, multi-year Alternatives, Rehabilitation, and Reentry Strategic Plan to strengthen public safety by reducing unnecessary criminal justice system interactions so police officers can focus on fighting crime; supporting rehabilitation during incarceration; and facilitating successful reentry. The plan builds upon President Biden’s Safer America Plan – his comprehensive strategy to prevent and combat gun crime and violence – and outlines more than 100 concrete policy actions to improve the criminal justice system and strengthen public safety by leveraging data, research, and proven successful strategies from state and local governments across the country.
The Strategic Plan supports justice-involved persons and promotes public safety by utilizing a whole-of-government approach through which the Biden-Harris administration will:
- Expand access to health care;
- Secure access to safe and affordable housing;
- Enhance educational opportunities;
- Expand access to food and subsistence benefits;
- Create and enhance job opportunities and access to business capital;
- Strengthen access to banking and other financial services; and
- Reduce barriers to the ballot box for eligible persons.