Why a Business Coalition Wants More Employers to Overlook Criminal Records in Philly
When North Philadelphia native Wallace Peeples was released from prison after 20 years in 2017, he was unsure how to step back into society.
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That’s what the national Second Chance Business Coalition is trying to do. It has 50 companies as members, including media companies like NBCUniversal — which is owned by Comcast — and financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase.
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On Wednesday, during a legal clinic inside the JPMorgan Chase Bank branch in West Philadelphia, which doubles as a community center near 52nd and Market Streets, several pro-bono attorneys worked with people trying to clear their criminal records.
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The West Philadelphia legal clinic focused on individuals seeking pardons for their crimes, which requires approval from the governor.
The process for a pardon can take years, but it’s worth the wait, said Jeff Rosenthal, attorney with Blank Rome who volunteered at the legal clinic.
“It can change a person’s life,” he said. "The success rate is very high. It opens doors for new opportunities, higher-paying positions, education, and housing opportunities.”
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"Why a Business Coalition Wants More Employers to Overlook Criminal Records in Philly," by Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza was published in WHYY on April 4, 2024.