Second Chance Month

CSI hosted a community call for Clean Slate Champions during Second Chance Month, and it wasn’t just an event — it was a reminder of what’s possible when directly impacted voices are centered, innovation is embraced, and policymakers lead with courage and compassion. Learn more in this update from Dr. Sheena Meade, CEO.

People of faith have long believed in redemption, renewal, and the sacred dignity of every human being. That's why faith communities in Illinois support Clean Slate. Learn more in this guest update from Rev. Ciera Bates-Chamberlain.

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Too often, media coverage, blog posts, and social media posts about legal system reform are accompanied by harmful, stereotypical imagery, reducing people to the moment of their worst mistake. We have a responsibility to make sure we're not silently reinforcing those stereotypes in our storytelling. Learn more in this update from Morgan Kelly, Senior Marketing & Communications Strategist.

During National Public Health Week 2025, CSI joined two critical conversations to explore how arrest and conviction records affect public health. Learn more in this update from Stacey Ferguson, VP of Marketing & Communications.

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What if your past was the biggest barrier to your health? For millions of people in the U.S., an old arrest or conviction record makes it harder to access the building blocks of a healthy life. During National Public Health Week, we must recognize what the research makes clear: Clean Slate is a common sense public health intervention. Learn more in this update from Caitlin Dunklee, Campaign Strategist.

At CSI, we’re proud to join the nation in observing Second Chance Month. Learn more in this message from Dr. Sheena Meade, CEO.

The stories below highlight a few directly impacted people who are involved in Clean Slate work across the country. Take a few moments to read through their stories and learn more about the impact of redemption… because it’s about much #MoreThanSecondChances.

To truly become people-centric, government agencies, organizations, and employers must humanize the hiring process. This means reflecting on the barriers faced by many and taking actionable steps to dismantle these obstacles. Policy changes are a start, but the real test is in their implementation. Learn more in this blog post from Sha Shikhmuradova, CSI’s Director of Talent and Culture.

The Clean Slate Initiative’s mission includes not only passing Clean Slate policies but also ensuring they are implemented so that automatic record clearance becomes a reality for millions of people in America. While clearing arrest and conviction records can include technical hurdles, those hurdles aren’t insurmountable — especially with the right people at the table.