Title
Amending Chapter 9-3500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards," by adding certain provisions to clarify that the prohibitions on use of criminal records provided herein also include records arising from the juvenile justice system, and adding definitions; all under certain terms and conditions.
Body
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 9-3500 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 9-3500. FAIR CRIMINAL RECORD SCREENING STANDARDS.
ยง 9-3501. Legislative Findings and Purpose.
(1) The City Council of the City of Philadelphia finds that:
(a) Persons with juvenile and criminal records suffer from pervasive discrimination in many areas of life - employment, housing, education, and eligibility for many forms of social benefits; and
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(f) Criminal background checks, which often include juvenile records, by employers have increased at a record rate, with a vast majority of employers in the U.S. now screening their workers for criminal records; and
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(i) Obstacles to employment for people with juvenile and criminal records and other barriers to re-entry are creating permanent members of an underclass that threatens the health of the community and undermines public safety.
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(k) In 2016, there were nearly 2,800 juvenile dispositions in the Philadelphia juvenile justice system. For each of these young people, a juvenile record documenting their court involvement is widely accessible to individuals beyond the court system. Like adult criminal records, these records impose barriers on youth as they grow into adulthood and seek employment and education opportunities. Research confirms-and the law recognizes-that youth have the capacity for change and rehabilitation, and yet records continue to erect barriers to youths' success as they grow into adulthoo...
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