This Powerpoint presentation describes the current statutory and regulatory barriers that exclude ex-offenders from numerous licensed occupations ranging from plumbing to nursing to cosmetology and suggests reforms to lower these barriers. Such reforms can improve economic productivity and reduce crime, as ex-offenders who are employed are three to five times less likely to re-offend.
Criminal Justice
West Virginia can reduce recidivism — Virginia shows how
For decades, America’s response to crime has largely been measured by the number of prison beds it could fill. Politicians competed to be “tough on crime,” while correctional systems focused on punishment rather than rehabilitation. Yet, despite spending billions of taxpayer dollars on incarceration, many states continue to struggle with high recidivism rates and revolving...
July 16, 2026