Jails to Jobs launches Second Chance Hiring Toolkit for Employers to unlock hidden talent

The Jails to Jobs Second Chance Hiring Toolkit for Employers is our latest endeavor in a long line of efforts to promote fair chance hiring.

At Jails to Jobs we feel that one of the best ways to get more jobs for people with a history of justice system involvement is to encourage more companies to initiate second chance hiring initiatives.

And we know we’re not alone in recognizing the importance of this effort. We began writing about second chance employers more than a decade ago. And over the years, we began to receive phone calls from companies wanting to know how they could create a program of their own.

Jails to Jobs created Second Chance Employers Network

We decided that the best way to do this was to create a special resource devoted to second chance hiring. Nearly three years ago we put together what we call our Second Chance Employers Network. It’s a portion of our website where we highlight companies that have successfully created fair chance hiring programs. We tell their stories. Why they decided to create this type of initiative. Exactly how they did it. What they learned from the experience. The challenges they’ve faced in the process. And what advice they can give to others who are considering hiring those who have been involved in the criminal legal system.

We’ve included employers ranging from I Have a Bean/Second Chance Coffee, a small coffee roastery in Wheaton Ill., and Black Power Redevelopers, an electrical contractor in Omaha, Neb.; to major corporations like Union Pacific and Indeed. The companies cover a wide range of industries – manufacturing, food production, transportation, healthcare and employment agencies, among them.

Our new toolkit can help companies attract new talent

Now we’re taking the next step and have published the Second Chance Hiring Toolkit for Employers.

This toolkit begins by making the case for second chance hiring. Companies are facing a major labor shortage. And 600,000 people released from prisons and 7 million from jails each year provide a huge pool of potential workers. And we cite research that has shown that these individuals predominantly make loyal, dedicated and long-lasting employees.

The Second Chance Hiring Toolkit describes financial resources available to companies who hire from this population. And it then lays out a step-by-step process that companies can follow to create a program. We offer links to lots of resources from groups that include SHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management), Jobs for the Future, the Second Chance Business Coalition and the Manufacturing Institute.

You’ll learn how to create a pipeline of potential employees through employment agencies and community partnerships. These partnerships may not only help you find candidates but may also provide wraparound services after they’re hired.

In addition, the toolkit explains the importance of considering the conviction and how to conduct a fair background check, if companies require them. It also provides advice on what to do once the workers are hired so they will feel welcome and be able to adjust to their new life and become successful in the job. There are also suggestions for moving forward without getting stuck in inertia, overthinking, or excessive planning.

So, if you haven’t already done so, download our Second Chance Hiring Toolkit. And if you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.

Originally posted on February 25, 2025 by Jails to Jobs