Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives to Help Chambers Implement Fair Hiring Practices in their Communities

By CSG Justice Center staff

LtZN9UwEThe Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), in partnership with the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, has been awarded a $500,000 contract to help support businesses in hiring people with criminal records. The proposal was selected by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and the National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) in a competitive process from a pool of more than 60 applicants.

Throughout the one-year contract period, ACCE—a professional society comprising members of more than 1,200 chambers across the country—will survey its members to determine their knowledge, interest, and experience in advancing fair hiring efforts in their communities. ACCE will then provide information and technical assistance to chambers based on the results of the survey, and chambers that are already leaders on the issue will assist their peers in expanding their capacity to help to employers in their communities implement fair hiring policies. Chambers will also gain access to resources and trainings on strategies to engage employers in hiring people with criminal records through ACCE.

Additionally, ACCE will convene an advisory group of employers and other stakeholders—including people with criminal records and consumer reporting agencies—to discuss best practices in the use of background checks in hiring decisions and to develop strategies to better track and compare data on employees with and without criminal records, among other things.