Shift the course. Change the outcome.
SHIFT empowers individuals with criminal records to reclaim agency over their lives by removing systemic barriers, providing tailored resources, and fostering community support, so every participant can master their own destiny and build a brighter tomorrow.
Even after serving their sentence, a criminal record continues to punish—blocking access to jobs, housing, and education, and trapping individuals in a cycle they’ve already paid to escape. SHIFT exists to break that cycle.
Employment
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Over 60% of formerly incarcerated people are unemployed one year after release (Prison Policy Initiative, 2018).
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Applicants with a criminal record are 50% less likely to receive a callback or job offer (National Institute of Justice, 2017).
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1 in 3 adults in the U.S. has a criminal record, limiting access to many professional licenses and job opportunities (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2020).
Housing
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79% of public housing authorities and nearly all private landlords use criminal background checks to screen applicants (HUD Office of Policy Development, 2015).
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Individuals with a criminal record are almost 5 times more likely to experience homelessness (Prison Policy Initiative, 2018).
Education
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Over half of colleges ask about criminal history during the application process (Center for Community Alternatives, 2015).
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This practice has been shown to discourage up to 62% of individuals with records from completing applications.
Income and Economic Impact
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A criminal record can reduce lifetime earnings by over $500,000 on average (Center for Economic and Policy Research, 2010).
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Formerly incarcerated men earn 40% less annually than those without records (Brookings Institution, 2018).
Civic Participation
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4.6 million Americans are disenfranchised due to felony convictions—most of them people of color (The Sentencing Project, 2022).
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If someone is disenfranchised due to a felony conviction, they may not be allowed to vote in local, state, or federal elections—even though they are otherwise a citizen.
Quick Summary
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A criminal record can:
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Cut off access to jobs, housing, and education
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Severely reduce income and financial stability
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Increase risk of homelessness
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Strip voting rights and civil engagement
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Continue punishment long after time is served
Also,
Criminal records don’t just hurt individuals—they drain the national economy by:
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Blocking workforce participation
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Depressing lifetime income
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Increasing reliance on public benefits
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Fueling recidivism and re-incarceration costs
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Shrinking tax revenue and consumer power
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Policies that support record expungement, fair chance hiring, and reentry programs could unlock billions in economic growth and reduce poverty and crime.
Mission
We are dedicated to aiding individuals with criminal records by providing them with essential support, information, and resources. Our goal is to promote understanding, eliminate stigma, and drive positive change within the criminal justice system.
