. >> reporter: rebecca vallas is a lawyer and poverty expert at the left-leaning center for american progress in washington. she and sharon dietrich, ronald lewis' lawyer, published a report last year linking poverty and criminal backgrounds, especially among black men. >> and so it's really an incredibly pervasive problem that impacts whole segments of our community. but it-- this issue also really disproportionately impacts communities of color. >> reporter: employers say they aren't just shutting out everyone with a criminal past, they're being careful and complying with guidelines from the federal equal employment opportunity commission meant to give people second chances. that's according to beth milito at the national federation of independent businesses, which represents 350000 small businesses. a cynical part of me says, "hey, if i sat down and, boy, it looks like someone's got a criminal record and then i've got another candidate who doesn't, i'm going to go with the guy who doesn't have the criminal record," right? >> maybe, maybe not. i think it depends on the nature of th