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Everyone deserves a second chance.
But in the past, many job seekers with criminal records have found it difficult to re-integrate in the workforce. The dreaded check-the-box-question, “Have you been convicted of a crime in the past 10 years?” can be a huge obstacle.
Change to this approach by employers has been slow, but change is happening.
In 2016, 19 large, influential employers gathered at the White House with President Barack Obama to sign The Fair Chance Business Pledge– which represented “a call-to-action for all members of the private sector to improve their communities by eliminating barriers for those with a criminal record and creating a pathway for a second chance.”
A few years later, the federal “Ban the Box” law – formally known as The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019 (FCA) – was enacted to prohibit federal employers, including private companies with federal contracts, from asking about arrest and conviction history before a conditional job offer. Employers can still inquire about criminal history, including a background check, after a conditional offer is made.
Additionally, 37 states and 150 cities and counties across the country have adopted similar ban the box laws, according to the National Employment Law Project.
With potential employers being more open, at least publicly, to hiring former felons, here’s how job seekers with criminal records should navigate the job hunting process as they attempt to enter the workforce.
Obstacles Felons Face Finding Jobs
When trying to reintegrate into society, formerly incarcerated individuals already are up against the eight ball – without even factoring in a felony on their record.
“It’s different from place to place, but typically you get $200 – enough to get some clothing and a bus ticket, and you have to figure it out from there, “ says Adam Sanders, Founder and Reentry Advisor at The Relaunch Pad, an organization that helps felons find…
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