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People impacted by the criminal legal system face significant barriers to finding quality employment and achieving economic security. Jobs are more likely to be low wage with median wages just $10,090 within the first year of reentry. Since many individuals reentering the community from incarceration often face barriers to receiving cash, food, housing, or unemployment assistance, getting a job is imperative for survival.
Job seekers with arrest and conviction records often experience high unemployment rates or limited advancement opportunities as a result of legal and policy restrictions, discrimination, and stigma. Even highly motivated and skilled job seekers with a criminal legal history struggle to find employment and face multiple barriers that must be addressed through policy, programs, and practices that facilitate long-term reentry success.
People impacted by the criminal legal system face significant barriers to finding quality employment and achieving economic security. Jobs are more likely to be low wage with median wages just $10,090 within the first year of reentry. Since many individuals reentering the community from incarceration often face barriers to receiving cash, food, housing, or unemployment assistance, getting a job is imperative for survival.
Job seekers with arrest and conviction records often experience high unemployment rates or limited advancement opportunities as a result of legal and policy restrictions, discrimination, and stigma. Even highly motivated and skilled job seekers with a criminal legal history struggle to find employment and face multiple barriers that must be addressed through policy, programs, and practices that facilitate long-term reentry success.
The Reentry Working Group supports increasing federal support of reentry and workforce
development programs to expand access to training and certification for career-path, skilled employment, including for industries with persistent worker shortages. Specific federal programs supported by the Reentry Working Group include:
These programs provide and expand access to training and certification for returning residents, including in top industries that face persistent worker shortages, such as construction and transportation and logistics as indicated in Q4 2023 employment data. Currently, small businesses are reporting that labor quality remains their top operating problem with 33% percent of owners having openings for skilled workers. Reentry workforce development programs can address the needs of employers; connect returning residents to work to support themselves and their families; reduce recidivism resulting in increased public safety; and help employers hire the skilled and qualified workers they need.
The Reentry Working Group supports increasing federal support of reentry and workforce development programs to expand access to training and certification for career-path, skilled employment, including for industries with persistent worker shortages. Specific federal programs supported by the Reentry Working Group include:
These programs provide and expand access to training and certification for returning residents, including in top industries that face persistent worker shortages, such as construction and transportation and logistics as indicated in Q4 2023 employment data. Currently, small businesses are reporting that labor quality remains their top operating problem with 33% percent of owners having openings for skilled workers. Reentry workforce development programs can address the needs of employers; connect returning residents to work to support themselves and their families; reduce recidivism resulting in increased public safety; and help employers hire the skilled and qualified workers they need.
To meet current need, these programs require increased federal funding and flexibility to support effective reentry services, training, and job placement with employers, especially in industries experiencing worker shortages. Building a holistic system that addresses the diverse reentry and employment needs of individuals with criminal legal histories as well as the needs of employers will both benefit the U.S. economy and increase public safety.
In May 2022, the Biden Administration issued an Executive Order on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety. This Executive Order established a Federal Interagency on Alternatives to Incarceration and Reentry Committee to be chaired by the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy. The Reentry Working Group submitted recommendations to the White House Domestic Policy Council. In April 2023, the White House unveiled their Alternatives, Rehabilitation, and Reentry Strategic Plan. This plan is a multi-year strategy that includes over 100 agency action items, many of which were recommended by the Reentry Working Group.
To meet current need, these programs require increased federal funding and flexibility to support effective reentry services, training, and job placement with employers, especially in industries experiencing worker shortages. Building a holistic system that addresses the diverse reentry and employment needs of individuals with criminal legal histories as well as the needs of employers will both benefit the U.S. economy and increase public safety.
In May 2022, the Biden Administration issued an Executive Order on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety. This Executive Order established a Federal Interagency on Alternatives to Incarceration and Reentry Committee to be chaired by the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy. The Reentry Working Group submitted recommendations to the White House Domestic Policy Council. In April 2023, the White House unveiled their Alternatives, Rehabilitation, and Reentry Strategic Plan. This plan is a multi-year strategy that includes over 100 agency action items, many of which were recommended by the Reentry Working Group.
To learn more about workforce development policy and download related resources, please click through the tabs below.
Issue brief published in January 2024 by the National Employment Law Project on the importance of Fair Chance hiring. Download here
Report published in May 2021 by the National Employment Law Project on the importance of Fair Chance hiring. Download here
Issue brief published in April 2023 by the National Employment Law Project on Fair Chance Hiring for Employers. Download here