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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.
