John Oliver examines the backlash to the U.S. bail reforms in numerous states, which requires those arrested, but not yet convicted, to pay collateral to a local jail. He calls out that this system keeps people unjustly locked up, since those who can’t afford to pay remain behind bars. Roughly two in three people held in local jails across the country have not been convicted of a crime. "The system is rife with traps keeping people locked up: bail hearings often last just a f

When it comes to the justice system, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions that have persisted over time. Unfortunately, these myths often prevent people with criminal records from getting hired, even when they are the best candidate for the job. In this blog article, we will dispel some of the top myths about hiring people with criminal records. Myth # 1 - Most employers don’t hire people with criminal records. This is simply not true. According to a study by the SHR

Erin pointed out that information to help people understand and navigate the criminal justice system is incredibly limited. There are things she wishes she'd known earlier. She also struggled finding employment that matched her skills. Using Honest Jobs, she found a fair-chance employer within a week, allowing her to build her life back. She plans to go back to school to pursue her dreams. Hear her tell her story in the video below: Interview Transcript: What experience do yo

The Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) launched a groundbreaking coalition called the Workforce and Justice Alliance (WJA) to help deliver criminal justice reform across the country. Honest Jobs is proud to be part of the alliance, along with MOD Pizza, Georgia-Pacific, Kelly Services, Checkr, Televerde, Small Business Majority, and CleanTurn. 1 in 3 Americans have a criminal record and 19 million have a felony conviction. Mass incarceration is a huge driver

Honest Jobs is always happy to share stories of formerly incarcerated people who have overcome challenges and turned their lives around. In today’s blog, we would like to introduce you to Andrew Gibbs-Dabney, the Founder and CEO of Livsn. Gibbs-Dabney made some bad choices due to addiction and faced 40 years to life in prison. He entered rehab and was given a chance at sobriety, serving 6 months in correctional facilities in Arkansas. After he beat addiction, Gibbs-Dabney wen

Many employers rejected Ben based on his criminal record, without looking into or asking for details of the crime. Using Honest Jobs, he didn't just find a job, he landed his dream job within two weeks. Hear him tell his story in the video below: Interview transcript: What was your experience looking for a job before you found Honest Jobs? Ben: “It is hard if you have a criminal history to find somebody that's even going to let you get your foot in the door to talk to them ab

Mark was denied many jobs because of his background, and had difficulties finding employment meeting his qualifications. Honest Jobs helped him feel more at ease about his situation and he found a job where his skills are greatly appreciated. Hear him tell his story in the video below: Interview Transcript: What was your experience looking for a job before you found Honest Jobs? Mark: “Obviously, I have a criminal history. But aside from that, I'm really experienced. I've don

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) is planning to offer a digital tracking system in their prisons to support addiction therapy for inmates, especially for women. "We are excited to begin this cutting-edge treatment for our female inmates who suffer from addiction," said SCDC Director Bryan Stirling. The program is funded by the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services and it is the first of its kind in a U.S. prison. The tracking so

An article on Oxford University Press’s Academic Insights for the Thinking World (OUPBlog) highlights the results of a research conducted by Kenzie Latham-Mintus, Monica Deck, and Elizabeth Nelson. They studied the long-term health consequences of mass incarceration in the United States. The study highlights that although men are incarcerated at higher rates, women experience greater negative effects on their physical and mental health. Moreover, the study shows Women of Col

Sarah got rejected for jobs because of the assault charge on her criminal background. Using Honest Jobs, she found a job where she is not being judged for her past and she can support her five children financially. Her future goal is to give back to her community. Hear her tell her story in the video below: Interview Transcript: What was your experience looking for a job before you found Honest Jobs? Sarah: “It was a third degree assault. It was a big mistake that I made, but

Hot Chicken Takeover is an Ohio-based restaurant chain who decided to make a difference when it comes to hiring its employees. Joe DeLoss, the owner of Hot Chicken Takeover, wanted to focus on giving opportunity to people who have significant barriers to employment because of the criminal justice system. The company’s mission is to address the problem by hiring people who might be denied elsewhere. Currently, almost 40% of its 172 workers have come out of the justice system.

In Roy's experience, formerly incarcerated people mostly get jobs that are physically demanding and underpaid. Using Honest Jobs, he found a job what he likes and where he feels valued. Hear him tell his story in the video below: Interview Transcript: What experience do you have with the criminal justice system? Roy: “I’ve been to prison, I’ve been arrested a few more times after prison. It's a lot of people that serve their time and just want to continue their life, and move

1 in 3 adults have some kind of criminal record in the U.S. and around 600,000 people come home from prison every year. Recidivism often comes from lack of opportunity and insufficient community support. TimeDone Ohio is a Cleveland-based program that helps individuals who have been recently released from prison. They make an impact on factors such as finances, housing, and life-skill trainings to help justice-involved people get back on their feet after incarceration. “We’re

DeVito believes that some of the most hard working people come out from prison, since they appreciate the opportunity to work and contribute to society even more. DeVito found a fulfilling job that doesn't just help him get back on his feet, but also helps him with his education. Hear him tell his story in the video below: Interview Transcript: What was your experience looking for a job before you found Honest Jobs? DeVito: “Obviously, I made my mistakes, I fully own up to t

Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Senator Cory Booker, a senior member of the Small Business Committee have urged the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make loans accessible to entrepreneurs with a criminal record. “Given the critical importance of entrepreneurship for justice impacted individuals and returning citizens, it is important that we ensure they have access to SBA programs. Opening up these program

Willie got arrested at a very early age and he was incarcerated for 14 years. Upon release, he had never had a job, which caused a lot of challenges during his job search. Using Honest Jobs, he started working within a month! His ultimate goal is to open his own business where he can give chance to people in similar situations. Hear him tell his story in the video below: Interview transcript: What experience do you have with criminal justice system? Willie: “I went to prison

We are incredibly proud to share that 1,000 employers have signed up to Honest Jobs' platform, to proactively source candidates who've been impacted by the criminal justice system. We are very thankful for our team and the dedicated employers who allowed us to reach this milestone. 1,000 is just a start! A note from our Founder & CEO, Harley Blakeman, celebrating this exciting and important milestone: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6973300218175836162/

Honest Jobs is one of the five innovators who were selected for the 2022 Reconstruct Challenge. The five winners each receive $100,000 from Access Ventures to implement their solutions in the Louisville and Southern Indiana region over the next 12-18 months. Honest Jobs works to help justice-involved job seekers find employment fast and its platform already has nearly 1,000 fair-chance employers and 30,000 job seekers with criminal history. The site processes on average of 3,

Kenneth didn't know how hard it is to find a job with a criminal record until he found himself in that situation. He was looking for a job for 12 months. Then, with the help of Honest Jobs, he found employment within a couple of hours. Hear Kenneth share his story in the video below: Read the full interview with Kenneth here: What was your experience looking for a job before you found Honest Jobs? Kenneth: “I have a couple of second degree assaults on my criminal background.

Daeqwon knows the struggle of finding a job with a criminal record. He had been looking for jobs for many months without any luck, when he found Honest Jobs. With Honest Jobs, he found employment within a week! Hear about his experience in the video below: Read the full interview with Daeqwon here: What was your job searching experience before and after you found Honest Jobs? Daeqwon: “I got a domestic charge. This is the month my court date actually happens, June 23rd. To re