American Economic Journal:
Economic Policy
ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)
Can You Erase the Mark of a Criminal Record? Labor Market Impacts of Criminal Record Remediation
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
(pp. 423–56)
Abstract
We investigate whether removing a previously obtained criminal record improves employment outcomes. We estimate the causal impact of criminal record remediation laws that have been widely enacted with the goal of improving employment opportunities for millions of individuals with records. We find consistent evidence that removing an existing record does not improve labor market outcomes, on average. A notable exception is participation in gig work through online platforms, which often screen workers based on their records but not their employment histories. The evidence is consistent with records initially scarring labor market trajectories in a way that is difficult to undo later.Citation
Agan, Amanda, Andrew Garin, Dmitri Koustas, Alexandre Mas, and Crystal S. Yang. 2026. "Can You Erase the Mark of a Criminal Record? Labor Market Impacts of Criminal Record Remediation." American Economic Journal: Economic Policy 18 (4): 423–56. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20240830Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- H76 State and Local Government: Other Expenditure Categories
- J22 Time Allocation and Labor Supply
- J23 Labor Demand
- K14 Criminal Law
- K42 Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
- M51 Personnel Economics: Firm Employment Decisions; Promotions