Second Chance Hiring: Resources for People with Criminal Records

Having a criminal record creates barriers to employment, but many employers now embrace second-chance hiring. Here are resources to help you find work and rebuild your life.

Second Chance Employers

Many major companies have committed to fair-chance hiring, including Walmart, Home Depot, Target, JPMorgan Chase, and many others. Some specifically recruit people with records. Research “second chance employers” in your area.

Reentry Programs

• American Job Centers: Provide employment services for all job seekers
• Reentry organizations: Specialize in helping formerly incarcerated people
• Workforce development programs: May offer training and job placement
• Faith-based programs: Churches often run reentry ministries

Know Your Rights

• Ban-the-box laws delay criminal history questions in many states
• EEOC guidelines limit use of criminal history in hiring decisions
• Some convictions can be expunged or sealed – explore your options
• Certificates of rehabilitation may help in some states

Understanding Second Chance Hiring

Second chance hiring refers to the practice of employers willingly hiring people who have criminal records. More than seventy million Americans have some form of criminal record, and for many, that record creates significant barriers to finding stable employment even years or decades after their conviction. Research consistently shows that employment is one of the strongest factors in reducing recidivism, meaning that when people with records can find good jobs, they are far less likely to reoffend. Recognizing this, a growing number of employers have adopted second chance hiring policies. Major companies including Walmart, Target, JPMorgan Chase, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Greyston Bakery, and many others have publicly committed to fair chance hiring practices. These employers evaluate candidates based on their qualifications and the relevance of their record to the job rather than applying blanket bans that exclude everyone with a criminal history.

Ban the Box and Fair Chance Laws

Ban the Box is a nationwide movement that encourages employers to remove the checkbox on job applications that asks whether an applicant has a criminal record. The idea is to delay the background check conversation until later in the hiring process, giving applicants a chance to be evaluated on their merits first. As of 2025, more than thirty-seven states and over one hundred and fifty cities and counties have adopted some form of Ban the Box or fair chance hiring law. These laws vary in scope. Some apply only to government employers, while others extend to private employers as well. In some jurisdictions, employers are prohibited from asking about criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made. The federal government adopted Ban the Box for its own hiring process in 2019. If you have a record, familiarize yourself with the fair chance laws in your state and city, as they may provide important protections during your job search.

Resources for Job Seekers with Records

Several organizations specialize in helping people with criminal records find employment. The Center for Employment Opportunities provides transitional jobs, job coaching, and permanent job placement services in multiple states. Safer Foundation operates primarily in the Midwest and offers comprehensive employment services including job training, placement, and retention support. Goodwill Industries offers job training and employment placement in communities across the country, and many local Goodwill organizations have programs specifically designed for people with criminal backgrounds. Your state’s Department of Labor or Workforce Development agency can connect you with reentry-focused employment programs, and many American Job Centers have staff dedicated to helping justice-involved individuals. The National HIRE Network at hirenetwork.org maintains a directory of reentry services by state. Many community colleges also offer workforce development programs that are open to people with records and can help you earn industry-recognized credentials that improve your employment prospects.

Record Expungement and Certificates of Relief

Depending on your state and the nature of your conviction, you may be able to reduce the impact of your criminal record through legal remedies. Expungement, also called expunction, effectively seals or destroys your criminal record so that it no longer appears on standard background checks. Many states have expanded their expungement laws in recent years to cover a broader range of offenses and to create automatic expungement processes for eligible records. Some states offer certificates of rehabilitation or certificates of relief from disabilities, which are official documents acknowledging your rehabilitation and can help overcome legal barriers to employment, licensing, and housing. Pardons are another option in some cases. To explore whether you qualify for any of these remedies, contact your local legal aid office, public defender’s office, or a reentry services organization. Cleaning up your record can dramatically expand your job opportunities and eliminate one of the biggest barriers to rebuilding your life.

Understanding Second Chance Hiring

Second chance hiring refers to the practice of employers willingly hiring people who have criminal records. More than seventy million Americans have some form of criminal record, and for many, that record creates significant barriers to finding stable employment even years or decades after their conviction. Research consistently shows that employment is one of the strongest factors in reducing recidivism, meaning that when people with records can find good jobs, they are far less likely to reoffend. Recognizing this, a growing number of employers have adopted second chance hiring policies. Major companies including Walmart, Target, JPMorgan Chase, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Greyston Bakery, and many others have publicly committed to fair chance hiring practices. These employers evaluate candidates based on their qualifications and the relevance of their record to the job rather than applying blanket bans that exclude everyone with a criminal history.

Ban the Box and Fair Chance Laws

Ban the Box is a nationwide movement that encourages employers to remove the checkbox on job applications that asks whether an applicant has a criminal record. The idea is to delay the background check conversation until later in the hiring process, giving applicants a chance to be evaluated on their merits first. As of 2025, more than thirty-seven states and over one hundred and fifty cities and counties have adopted some form of Ban the Box or fair chance hiring law. These laws vary in scope. Some apply only to government employers, while others extend to private employers as well. In some jurisdictions, employers are prohibited from asking about criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made. The federal government adopted Ban the Box for its own hiring process in 2019. If you have a record, familiarize yourself with the fair chance laws in your state and city, as they may provide important protections during your job search.

Resources for Job Seekers with Records

Several organizations specialize in helping people with criminal records find employment. The Center for Employment Opportunities provides transitional jobs, job coaching, and permanent job placement services in multiple states. Safer Foundation operates primarily in the Midwest and offers comprehensive employment services including job training, placement, and retention support. Goodwill Industries offers job training and employment placement in communities across the country, and many local Goodwill organizations have programs specifically designed for people with criminal backgrounds. Your state’s Department of Labor or Workforce Development agency can connect you with reentry-focused employment programs, and many American Job Centers have staff dedicated to helping justice-involved individuals. The National HIRE Network at hirenetwork.org maintains a directory of reentry services by state. Many community colleges also offer workforce development programs that are open to people with records and can help you earn industry-recognized credentials that improve your employment prospects.

Record Expungement and Certificates of Relief

Depending on your state and the nature of your conviction, you may be able to reduce the impact of your criminal record through legal remedies. Expungement, also called expunction, effectively seals or destroys your criminal record so that it no longer appears on standard background checks. Many states have expanded their expungement laws in recent years to cover a broader range of offenses and to create automatic expungement processes for eligible records. Some states offer certificates of rehabilitation or certificates of relief from disabilities, which are official documents acknowledging your rehabilitation and can help overcome legal barriers to employment, licensing, and housing. Pardons are another option in some cases. To explore whether you qualify for any of these remedies, contact your local legal aid office, public defender’s office, or a reentry services organization. Cleaning up your record can dramatically expand your job opportunities and eliminate one of the biggest barriers to rebuilding your life.