Author name: Admin

New Working Paper on the Impact of Debt-Based License Suspension Reform (April 7, 2025)

At least 10M Americans have lost their licenses for reasons unrelated to driving. What is the impact of reforming license suspension practices and restoring licenses to drivers? Using CPS data and a staggered diff-in-diff design, our new working paper suggests an unexpected payoff – measurable increases in state-wide employment when reforms are of high-quality and […]

Technological Developments & Tools in the Criminal Legal System Webinar (April 4, 2025)

By Alivia Dawson, 2nd year undergrad student, Berkeley   The Paper Prisons Initiative recently presented our Racial Justice Act (RJA) tool, forthcoming “Digital Juneteenth” expungement notification campaign with the Santa Clara Public Defender, and how AI tools can be leveraged to increase access to justice, before hundreds of public defenders during a webinar on Technological Developments

Illinois leaders rally for Clean Slate Bill to modernize record-sealing system (Feb. 5th, 2025)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS) — On February 5, a coalition of Illinois leaders, advocates, and community members gathered at the Illinois State Capitol Building Rotunda to rally support for the Clean Slate Bill. This legislation aims to modernize the state’s record-sealing system by replacing the outdated petition-based model with an automated system. The bill seeks to remove

2024 Summary of North Carolina Expunctions (Oct. 7, 2024)

NORTH CAROLINA (NC Justice Center) -A criminal record often gives rise to significant barriers to gainful employment, affordable housing, family unification and a variety of other essential benefits and opportunities. For assistance in understanding the statutory barriers to opportunities that may arise because of a criminal record, please use the UNC School of Government’s Collateral Consequences

Exploring the Promise of the Racial Justice Act Tool (Aug. 12, 2024)

BERKELEY, Ca. (Berkeley Law) – Berkeley Law’s Paper Prisons Initiative, led by Professor Colleen V. Chien, recently unveiled an innovative database aimed at helping defendants and people convicted of crimes challenge a charge, conviction, or sentence under the California Racial Justice Act (RJA).  The initiative’s Racial Justice Act Tool, which is currently in beta mode, reports on data provided 

RJA Blog: A Daughter’s Hope for Justice and Reunion (July 30, 2024)

By Adriana R., Age 17 My name is Adriana, and I am a 17-year-old African American child from Riverside County, California. I have never seen my father face to face… When I was still in my mother’s belly, my father was arrested for a case that would forever impact my life and upbringing.  On December

RJA Blog: The Fight for Mr. Williams’s Freedom (July 30, 2024)

By Esther Wolczynski, CEO of Checkmate My name is Esther Wolczynski, and I’m honored to lead the work of the non-profit agency CheckMate as the CEO. Our mission is to enhance individuals’ quality of life and increase accessibility to resources by providing safe, inclusive, and uplifting experiences for all families in San Joaquin County. Our

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