What is “Second Chance HirING”?
One in every three adults have a criminal record - approximately 77 million Americans.
Securing employment with a criminal record after incarceration can feel like being trapped in invisible handcuffs, creating an exhausting struggle that takes a toll on a person’s well-being. While the success of a person’s reentry is reliant on a multitude of factors, it is proven that employment is a significant one.
Background barriers to employment, whether direct or indirect, can significantly impact an individual's ability to secure and maintain a job.
Navigating employment gaps, probation or parole conditions, transportation challenges, and housing instability makes the search for a livable wage challenging, to say the least. Often, just getting the opportunity to apply and be considered for a position is completely out of reach.
What is Second Chance Hiring?
Second chance hiring is the practice of employing individuals who have a criminal record or have faced significant barriers to employment. Employers that practice second chance hiring focus on the potential of a person rather than their past actions.
Second chance hiring offers up a massive talent pool that is highly talented and overlooked. Studies show that “second chance hires” are deeply loyal to their employers. Additionally, hiring from this talent pool boosts employment rates, reduces the reliance on financial supports, and contributes to economic stability.
When companies embrace second chance hiring, they demonstrate a commitment to creating equitable opportunities and the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Moreover, the stigma of having a criminal record decreases and stories of success through employment are on the rise.
How to Join the Conversation of Second Chance Hiring
Employers can partner with nonprofit reentry programs, like RISE, to develop career pathways for second chance employment.
RISE offers holistic programming, both inside and out of prison, to prepare individuals with workforce readiness when they have a criminal record. Additionally, RISE works with employers on implementing fair-chance hiring practices, motivational interviewing your candidates, and additional training to ensure success from all parties involved.
If you or your company would like more information on second chance hiring, contact December Muhammad, Director of Employment Service, here.
