In Providing Another Chance: Resetting Recidivism Risk in Criminal Background Checks, Shawn Bushway and his RAND colleagues argue that risk should instead be measured at the time a background check is conducted after an individual has had an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to reintegrate lawfully as well as their propensity to re-offend. They label this the “reset principle,” and argue that this more individualized approach to risk assessment promises to improve the predictive value of criminal background checks. In fact, they propose that it will “strengthen the case that people with convictions can, and usually do, change their ways.”
