At the Protected Class Network, we believe a sentence should have an end date. Yet for many Georgians, a criminal record functions as a lifelong civil penalty, limiting access to opportunity long after a sentence has been completed. 

We, the undersigned, call on Georgia lawmakers to pass a statewide Protected Class ordinance that prohibits discrimination against justice-impacted people in housing, employment, and public accommodations. With this, we will be able to:

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✔ Establish justice-impacted status as a protected class under state law
✔ Prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations
✔ Require individualized assessments rather than automatic exclusion
✔ Align state policy with evidence-based public safety strategies

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Economic Stability Strengthens Public Safety, Housing Access Prevents Cycles of Instability, Removing Blanket Barriers Expands Economic Growth, Civil Rights Protections Reflect Equal Treatment

Across Georgia, thousands of residents face ongoing barriers to economic opportunity, not because of who they are today, but because of a past record. Criminal records function as permanent punishments long after a sentence has been completed.

Justice-impacted people are part of our workforce, our families, and our communities. They deserve civil rights protections that reflect dignity, fairness, and equal participation.

• Nearly 1 in 3 adults in the United States; more than 79 million people, has a criminal record.

• 2.9 million people are currently on probation.

• Nearly 800,000 people are on parole.

• Over 4.9 million people have previously been imprisoned and are now living in our communities.

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These numbers represent workers, parents, entrepreneurs, veterans, and community leaders.

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Research consistently shows that barriers to stable employment and housing increase economic instability and the likelihood of re-system involvement. When people are locked out of opportunity, communities absorb the social and economic cost.

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In Georgia today, employers, landlords, and licensing boards can deny opportunity based solely on a record, regardless of rehabilitation, time passed, or relevance to the position or housing.

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That is not public safety.
That is permanent exclusion.

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Join community members, business leaders, and advocates calling for civil rights protections for justice-impacted people.

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Sign the Petition to Protect Equal Opportunity in Georgia

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