The Hatch Program, run by Playa Vista Jobs (PVJobs) in Los Angeles, provides construction training programs to formerly incarcerated individuals. Currently, there are nearly 1,000 people actively enrolled in their 10 federal, state, and local programs. The participants get the chance to learn in a stable, safe environment and receive basic needs like regular meals, as well. The Hatch Program consists of three phases and prepares the participants for jobs, with a focus on the

Battle Tested is based in Ohio and reimagines reentry by providing sustainable support to restore the lives of returning citizens. They understand that the people who transition from incarceration back to their communities face many challenges, including lack of clothing or hygiene items, difficulty finding affordable housing, challenges securing employment, and lack of peer support and compassion. Meeting these basic needs can be overwhelming and costly. Battle Tested was f

We are very excited to announce that the Honest Jobs website has a new look and updated features! We hope the new design creates an even better experience for job seekers, employers, and partners. Here are things you can expect when visiting our site: 1. New Look We created a more appealing and user-friendly design, which reflects our modern, scalable approach to fair-chance hiring. We believe this change will elevate our brand and provide an improved experience for everyone

Interviewing with a felony is frustrating for many reasons. You want to be upfront and honest about your past, but you don’t want to eliminate your chances of getting the position. At Honest Jobs, our purpose is to minimize this stress throughout the hiring process and match you with second-chance employers who are open to accepting your situation. It is important for you to understand how to explain your background in terms of the values you have gained and the lessons you h

Business leaders are looking to HR for strategies and innovations to address pressing talent-related challenges. Fair-chance hiring is a strategic, innovative solution to improve talent acquisition, retention, engagement, and DEI efforts. What is fair-chance hiring? It is the practice of assessing job candidates with criminal records on a case-by-case basis. It typically involves the Nature-Time-Nature test, which considers the nature of the offense, how long ago it occurred,

With Mother’s Day is coming up, we'd like to highlight National Bail Out ’s efforts to coordinate the Mama’s Day Bail Out. The goal is to bail out as many Black mothers and caregivers as they can, so they can spend Mother’s Day with their families. The Collective also offers employment opportunities and fellowships, so that, following the bail out, released mothers can build a better future for themselves and their children. By contributing to #FreeBlackMamas , you are suppor

Honest Jobs is working hard every day to provide chances to people who face barriers to employment due to their criminal records. April is Second Chance Month and just wrapped up for 2022. We wanted to give you three tips on how you can be part of the great cause of providing second chances to justice-involved people. 1. Get informed Watch the TED Talks from TEDxSan Quentin , a recent event with the theme: Challenging Fears After Prison. The speakers will expand and challenge

Hope for Prisoners is a re-entry organization in Las Vegas, NV, which helps people successfully reenter their communities after being incarcerated. They offer a variety of training programs that help formerly incarcerated people strengthen skills important for employment readiness, and overall success for reintegration, to help them support themselves and their families going forward. “Prior to prison I was making choices because of other people, not for myself. One day I wo

There are more and more felony-friendly job opportunities on the job market and Honest Jobs is committed to helping you connect with these second-chance employers. However, looking for a job with a felony conviction comes with its unique challenges, and reentering the job market after incarceration requires a different preparation process to be successful. Here are a few ideas to help you overcome some of the biggest challenges you'll face if you have a record and are trying

This March, 109 formerly incarcerated people in North Carolina received a deposit of $500 directly into their bank accounts. The first of 12 monthly payments were dispensed through the Excel Pilot Program from the nonprofit organization StepUp Durham . The objective of Durham’s guaranteed income or Excel Pilot Program is “to evaluate guaranteed income’s effects on recidivism and re-incarceration, employment, economic security, and income volatility, as well as physical func

Greyston Bakery started in 1982 with the goal to employ individuals who faced significant barriers to employment. They call their hiring process “Open Hiring”, which means no interviews, background checks, or resumes are required to get the job. They truly believe that everyone deserves a chance to work towards a stronger future and support themselves, their families, and their communities. Greyston offers transitional employment , providing re-entry services for justice-invo

Interviewing with a criminal record is challenging for many reasons. At Honest Jobs, we are here to help you connect with second-chance employers who are willing to hire ex-felons. We aim to reduce uncertainty and stress throughout the hiring process. Being prepared for an interview is one of the most important parts of proving that you are interested in working for the company and you are the right fit for the job. As part of a series of blog posts, today, we would like to s

Prison Arts Collective ’s mission is to encourage communication, empathy, self-expression, and reflection through the arts. Their approach has helped hundreds of currently and formerly incarcerated individuals heal and transform their lives for the better. “We want to help support them to see themselves as artists, writers, colleagues, friends, peers, students, teachers and mentors. It offers them an opportunity to reconnect or to even connect for the first time to more posit

If you have a criminal record, before jumping into the job market, it would be wise to review this survival check list. You may have already taken care of some, if not all, of these - or you may have to spend the next month or two working them out. Below is a list of things that are critical to finding and maintaining most types of employment: Social security card State ID or driver's license Email address Phone number Mailing address Access to a computer and internet (Home,

For many people, regaining financial independence after incarceration is one of the greatest barriers to a stable life for themselves and for their families. Upon release, many people struggle to find housing and stable employment. That contributes to recidivism and poverty. “The evidence tells us that one of the biggest indicators of success after leaving prison is economic stability,” says Bay Area TimeDone member Succatti Shaw . “With proper resources and support, American

To be great at interviewing is a valuable skill, and is especially important when you have a criminal conviction. It often takes a lot of preparation to get in front of a hiring manager and explain your conviction. It can be an exhausting and stressful process, but it gets easier and you will feel more prepared every time. We’ve talked about how to explain your criminal record to an employer , but that is a small part of the overall interview. Here are some tips on how to imp

There are systematic barriers that prevent formerly incarcerated people and underserved communities from accessing banking products and services. These barriers include high minimum account and identification requirements. What is second chance banking? Second chance banking helps people who face systemic barriers gain access to financial products and services. Banks who offer second chance banking have accounts with lower requirements and minimal fees. They do not review ban

On the 21st of March, 1960 police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid "pass law". The UN General Assembly proclaimed this day as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, to be commemorated annually. The aim is to put more effort internationally in eliminating all forms of racial discrimination. In the U.S., data about racial inequality are disturbing in every stage of the c

The problem of mass incarceration affects not only affect the individuals incarcerated, but also their families - especially their children. In New York State alone, there are 105,000 children who have a parent in prison (Source: Children of Promise, NYC (CPNYC) ). Because of parental incarceration, the children experience uncertainty and trauma at an early age. Executive Director Sharon Content founded Children of Promise, NYC (CPNYC) to support them. The organization “reim

Honest Jobs helps job seekers with criminal records across the country find employment, while making it easier for fair-chance employers to identify and retain great talent. Austin, TX. (March 11, 2022) – Today, Honest Jobs, Inc., the leading national job platform focusing on fair-chance employment, announced that it has closed a $1.5M seed round. The mission of Honest Jobs is to be the Hub where people with criminal records come to build careers and employers come to fin