The Georgia Justice Project presented its annual Grass Roots Justice Award to Delta Air Lines chief legal officer Peter Carter and Delta’s law department on Thursday evening for their help in restricting criminal records that block the nonprofit’s clients from obtaining jobs, housing and education.

Georgia has the highest rate of criminal record-holders in the country, said the Georgia Justice Project’s board chair, Dentons partner Dan Beale. He said 40% of Georgians have a criminal record, and 1 out of 18 Georgians is under correctional control.