Georgia ranks 4th nationwide in incarceration rates. One out of every 18 people are in jail, on probation, or on parole. And about 40 percent of Georgians have a criminal record.

These are just a few of the startling statistics on criminal justice in the Peach State. We know that one of the most significant consequences to a criminal record is the enormous barrier it poses to employment. Here again, Georgia is one of only a handful of states where a criminal offense stays on an ex-offender’s record forever. It can’t be expunged after a given period of time.

At Breakthrough 2019, we heard from Doug Ammar of the Georgia Justice Project who shared about criminal justice reform and its link to giving people a second chance at employment. The wonderful news is that a job is one key way to help ex-offenders not repeat their crimes and lead a fulfilling life.

Check back soon for more content from Breakthrough 2019!