APEX program seeing uptick in expungement and pardon process

GEORGETOWN, Del. –  The APEX program says one of the biggest barriers for probationers is background checks.

With new legislation, Andrew Duncan of the organization says there’s been a greater push to make second chances more accessible. “Nearly every job does background checks now when people come in  and even in a competitive job market like today the job market is a big barrier which is why the APEX program helps people apply for pardons and expungements,” Duncan said.

That is through the pardon and expungement process. He says he has been seeing more people come in to get these record changes made.

Now, he explains what the difference is between the two options. “The pardon restores civil rights and changes a criminal record to show a pardon was granted. The expungement seals criminal records from appearing on state run background checks,” Duncan said. 

Duncan says with expungements it will be easier for people to get their applications through. The APEX resource is available at every Department of Labor Office.