Tucson, AZ, April 9, 2024 – Rasa Legal today announced valuable events and other opportunities to engage in “Second Chance Month,” giving hope to the more than two million Arizonans with a criminal record.
On March 29, 2024, President Joe Biden proclaimed April as Second Chance Month, emphasizing that “America was founded on the promise of new beginnings. During Second Chance Month, we recommit to building a criminal justice system that lives up to those ideals so that people returning to their communities from jail or prison have a fair shot at the American Dream.”
In alignment with this initiative, Rasa Legal in Arizona will be hosting a free panel event on April 23rd from 6-7:30 PM. This event will feature Megan Page from the Pima County Public Defender’s Office, Brad Roach from the Pima County District Attorney’s Office, Professor Andy Silverman from the University of Arizona College of Law, and Charles Pyle, Executive Director of Second Chance Tucson. The event will be held at the YWCA Southern Arizona and aims to be an informative discussion on how supporting formerly incarcerated people is good for public safety, strengthens our economy, and supports working families. Registration for this event can be found at rasa-legal.com/az-panel.
“An old criminal record shouldn’t be a life sentence to poverty,” said Noella Sudbury, Founder and CEO of Rasa Legal. “Criminal record clearance restores a person’s freedom and dignity, and gives people a second chance at employment, housing, education and opportunity.”
President Biden’s proclamation further underscores the importance of Second Chance Month: “If we pursue this work together, our communities will be safer, stronger, and more just. It will make families and communities whole and help grow our economy, giving everyone a fair chance. I have always believed that our Nation’s best days are ahead — and that is true for every single American too. This month, we recommit to fulfilling the fresh promise that every second chance holds.”
Half of all children in the U.S. have at least one parent with a criminal record, keeping many families in poverty. Research shows that a parent’s record has an impact on their child’s future earnings and opportunities, leading to the perpetuation of that poverty across generations.
People without records (or with expunged records) are 63% more likely to get a job interview, and average wages go up by over 20% just one year after record clearance.
Nationally, there are many avenues to engage in Second Chance Month. The National Reentry Resource Center offers a comprehensive list of events at https://nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/events/second-chance-month-2024.
For media information, please contact Emily Moench at (385) 234-1551 or [email protected].
About Rasa
Rasa is a legal tech company on a mission to provide simple and affordable criminal record clearance, including expungement, sealing, set-asides, rights restoration, and certificates of second chance. The company developed sophisticated computer software that analyzes criminal record databases and streamlines many of the complex and time-consuming steps associated with record clearance. These affordable legal services clear a path for access to housing and jobs, higher wages, and a better quality of life for those who have been held back by background checks. For more information, visit www.rasa-legal.com.