If you’ve been convicted of a felony and are trying to get back into the workforce, various resources are available to help with job placement. Finding a job after your release can help you begin a new life, find meaningful opportunities and reintegrate into your community.
In this article, we detail job assistance programs for people with felony convictions.
Job programs for incarcerated individuals
Here are three resources that can help you find a job if you have a felony conviction:
Work Opportunity Tax Credit
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal government program offering a tax credit to incentivize employers to hire previously incarcerated individuals and applicants from other groups with work entry barriers, such as veterans and recipients of temporary assistance and food stamps. Individuals must be hired within one year of being convicted of a felony or being released from prison for the felony.
The WOTC program provides employers with a credit of up to $9,600 annually for every employee meeting the qualifying criteria. How much credit employers can claim is based on what specific category the individual falls under within the specified target groups, the individual’s total wages received in the first year of work, and how many hours they worked.
Federal Bonding Program
The Federal Bonding Program is the second government assistance program that helps justice-impacted individuals find employment by reducing the risk of hiring them. The program sells employers an insurance policy safeguarding them against potential theft, forgery, larceny, or other intentional losses of value caused by at-risk employees covered by the policy.
At-risk individuals include those with criminal backgrounds, individuals in treatment for addiction, and those with little work experience. The bond lasts for six months and usually covers $5,000 of damage, though businesses can sometimes request coverage up to $25,000. The Department of Labor issues coverage and begins the first day of employment. Once the six-month period is up, employers may pay for additional coverage.
Felony Record Hub
This free website is full of comprehensive support for individuals who have recently been released from prison. It extends well beyond a list of employers and job types; Felony Record Hub also offers information about housing, legal rights, various aid programs, and community connections. The mission of Felony Record Hub is to assist ex-offenders in all aspects of re-entry into society.
The website also hosts a blog with useful information for ex-convicts seeking employment. It covers articles about large employers’ policies on hiring justice-impacted individuals, background checks, book reviews, how to find and apply for grants, and many other pertinent subjects.
Two similar resources that help justice-impacted individuals transition from incarceration are Help for Felons and HireFelons.org.
Initiatives to help justice-impacted individuals get jobs
In addition to job placement programs, many initiatives are available to create opportunities for people with a felony conviction and end the stigma associated with having a criminal record. Two widely known enterprises are:
Ban the Box
Ban the Box is a movement started by ex-offender advocates encouraging employers to eliminate criminal record questions on job applications. By removing the checkbox asking if applicants have a criminal record, ex-offenders can show their experience and skills without automatic disqualification.
The campaign also advocates minimizing employer accessibility to criminal records until a candidate is further along in the hiring process, helping reduce application discrimination. Ban the Box promotes restricting certain screening questions, how far back they can inquire about an applicant’s criminal history, and at what point they can discuss criminal records in the hiring process. According to the National Employment Law Project, 37 states, Washington D.C., and more than 150 cities and counties have adopted the policy.
Fair Chance Business Pledge
The Fair Chance Business Pledge is a call to action urging employers to give applicants an equal chance to get hired based on their skills, regardless of their criminal record. It also asks companies to commit to other business practices to ensure justice-impacted individuals receive the same treatment as employees who have no criminal record, including Ban the Box. Other practices it promotes are:
- Using accurate background check systems
- Offering internships and on-the-job training
- Attending or hosting job fairs for fair chances of employment
- Providing ex-offenders with business-appropriate clothing, bus passes, and other tools for career success
- Supporting reentry facilities and programs
By promoting fair chance hiring practices, companies help give individuals reentering the workforce a greater chance at a successful life.