Roughly 115 people attended our first Viewpoint Luncheon in Madison, A Fresh Start: When Do Employers Have a Right to Know? which explored the state’s current expungement framework and the pros and cons of potential policy reforms. For an estimated 1.4 million Wisconsin residents with criminal records, employers’ ability to access those records may be a major impediment to employment. Should there be greater opportunity for such individuals to have their criminal records expunged? What types of limitations should be placed on their ability to do so? How do Wisconsin’s current expungement policies compare to neighboring states, and what would be the impact of specific policy changes?
Senior Researcher Joe Peterangelo began by reviewing the findings of A Fresh Start, our recent research that uncovered the atypical nature of expungement policy in Wisconsin. Then, we heard from a panel of key stakeholders: Shanyeill McCloud, Clean Slate Milwaukee; Ismael Ozanne, Dane County District Attorney; Elise Rommes, Wisconsin State Council of the Society of Human Resource Management; and Kelli Thompson, Wisconsin State Public Defender. Wisconsin Policy Forum President Rob Henken moderated the panel discussion.
WisconsinEye covered the event – you can watch it here!
Wisconsin Public Radio also has coverage of the event. Read and listen here!
Check out photos from the event here.
Thanks to our sponsors for their support of this event:
